Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

DEFINITION: A concept which encourages a company to take responsibility for its impact on environmental and social wellbeing. CSR is a broad movement which encompasses a variety of issues such as human rights, corporate governance, responsible sourcing and environmental footprints.

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The sustainability communications handbook: Engaging with different audiences

Communication is a vital component of any organisation’s strategy – and an aspect which businesses of all sizes and sectors will have to continually fine-tune as digitisation progresses. Similarly, sustainability is now widely considered to be a business-critical consideration and a must-have for staff, consumers and investors alike.
100 board-level employees at the UK's largest companies were surveyed by IPSOS Mori, on behalf of the Carbon Trust

Survey: Two-thirds of UK businesses will include climate risks in this year's financial reports

Two-thirds of the UK's largest 100 companies are planning to incorporate climate risks in their annual financial or combined report this year as client, investor and customer demand for transparency on sustainability issues grow.
The majority of survey respondents (65%) believed that corporates already had to include sustainability impacts in profit calculations

Survey: Consumers want corporates to include sustainability in profit calculations

Around four in ten members of the UK public believe that corporations should include social and environmental impacts in their profit calculations, a new survey has found.
Most corporates are failing to meet all requirements of the EU’s Non-Financial Reporting (NFR) Directive, the report warns

CDSB: European corporates failing to track climate change impacts

Less than half (44%) of European corporates are currently tracking how climate challenges will affect their business models in the future or disclosing the full extent of their environmental impacts.
The Sustainable Business Covered podcast episode returns to edie Live 2019 in the form of an on-stage panel discussion

LIVE Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Leadership in the post-CSR era

The Sustainable Business Covered podcast returns, this time we're broadcasting LIVE from a panel discussion at the UK's largest sustainability and energy exhibition, edie Live. In this episode, four industry experts discuss how sustainability leadership is undergoing a transformation.
The edie team updated this live blog throughout the duration of the two-day show

As it happened: edie Live 2019 (Day One and Day Two)

Relive the biggest sustainability and energy event of the year - edie Live 2019 - with our blog, which captured all the key talking points, quotes and discussions from expert speakers as they happened. 
The panel discussion was the first taking place at the Sustainability Keynote Theatre this year

13 top tips for strengthening sustainability leadership in the face of 'Climate Emergency'

EXCLUSIVE: During Day One of edie Live 2019, a panel of expert speakers gave their top tips for businesses looking to "ride this green wave" and become more resilient climate leaders during an era of unprecedented public awareness.
There's still time to register for a free, two-day pass to the show

edie Live 2019: Green ambitions to be turned into ACTION as show doors open

Thousands of energy, CSR sustainability professionals are descending upon the NEC Birmingham today (21 May) as edie Live 2019 officially opens its doors - and there's still time to register for a free two-day pass to the conference.

The 'Words & Numbers, #2: The making of a Sustainability report'

CtrlPrint: The world leading remote authoring service for corporate reports & collaterals has once again looked at the reporting landscape and produced an insightful and valuable report for all those concerned with Sustainability Reporting.
<p>This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development</p>

Teemill's closed-loop T-shirts and carbon-neutral cement: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
<p>£1.4bn of the financing for Tideway's £4.3bn 'super sewer' project is accounted for by green bonds</p>

How SDG alignment helped Tideway engage key investors

EXCLUSIVE: Several companies to have aligned their strategies with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have claimed that doing so has improved communications and created a more joined-up approach - but for Tideway, a further benefit has been gaining investor buy-in.
<p>Wall's has already reached 40,000 people across 76 Madagascan villages through its programmes for vanilla farmers</p>

New Wall's tool lets consumers track positive vanilla supply chain impacts

Unilever-owned ice cream brand Wall's will launch a new digital tool enabling consumers to track how their purchases are empowering people in the communities which form its vanilla supply chains in Africa.
<p>Tesco became the first UK supermarket to disclose its food waste data in 2013</p>

Tesco slashes food waste by 17% in one year

Supermarket giant Tesco has published its annual food waste figures, revealing that it wasted 17% less food by weight during 2018-19 than during the previous 12-month period.
<p>230 of The Body Shop's UK stores are covered by the scheme</p>

The Body Shop launches in-store take-back scheme for plastic packaging

Health and beauty retailer The Body Shop has launched a multinational take-back scheme for its plastic packaging, after consumers voiced concerns that not all of the brand's packaging is accepted by local authorities under kerbside recycling schemes.
<p>At least 2 billion people around the world do not have their rubbish collected</p>

Report: Mismanaged waste 'kills up to a million people a year globally'

Mismanaged waste is causing hundreds of thousands of people to die each year in the developing world from easily preventable causes, and plastic waste is adding a new and dangerous dimension to the problem, a report has found.
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Henkel's black plastic solution and Amsterdam's diesel ban: The sustainability success stories of the week

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The webinar showcased specific examples of how businesses have aligned their green ambitions with the Global Goals

Seven top tips for aligning your business strategy with the SDGs

During a "power hour" webinar hosted by edie on Wednesday (8 May), experts from Hilton, Thai Union, Asia Pulp & Paper and Centrica Business Solutions advised on aligning business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, edie rounds up the key takeaways.
The top-ranked companies are M&S, Tesco, British American Tobacco and Morrison’s

M&S, Tesco, rank among top UK businesses for modern slavery compliance

Supermarket giants Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Tesco have been named among the corporates leading the FTSE 100's drive for better compliance with the Modern Slavery Act (MSA), in a new ranking of the nation's largest publicly listed organisations.
The scheme will be rolled out to all staff across the Trust's nine hospitals

Manchester's NHS Foundation Trust launches gamification staff behaviour change scheme

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has become the first NHS Trust to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, in a bid to encourage its 20,000+ employees to develop habits which improve the organisation's environmental impact while also boosting their own wellbeing.
Staff and students at Cambridge University have long been lobbying for its management to divest from companies in the fossil fuel industry

Cambridge University agrees to explore fossil fuel divestment plan

The former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has welcomed an "urgent change" by Cambridge University, after it agreed to provide fully costed plans setting out how it could divest multibillion-pound endowments from fossil fuel corporations.
TCFD uses scenario analysis to map company performance against various global warming trajectories

Can TCFD recommendations communicate a business response to the 'climate emergency'?

Against a backdrop of Extinction Rebellion protests and declarations of a "climate emergency", businesses will need to articulate their role in combatting climate change. Could the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures' (TCFD) recommendations create the ideal framework to do so?
As SMEs and luxury brands bolstered their sustainability efforts during 2018, high street giants failed to follow suit, the report claims

Report: Fashion sector stalling on sustainability progress, with high street giants holding industry back

The global fashion industry's overall efforts to operate more sustainability have slowed by one-third on a year-on-year basis, with actions failing to decouple emissions from the sector's rapid growth in a way that would align with the Paris Agreement's aims.
Selfridges is famed for its Foodhalls and claims it is the first department store to remove palm oil from this department

Selfridges completes palm oil phase-out nine months ahead of schedule

Department store Selfridges has announced that it has achieved a goal of removing palm oil from 100% of its own-brand grocery products nine months ahead of schedule.

This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Etihad's plastic-free flight and Uber's public transport push: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
(L-R): The SRA's development director Juliane Cailloutte-Noble; AB InBev’s global director of sustainability investments and accelerator Maisie Devine; IBM Global Markets’ vice president for marketing Caroline Taylor and Kingfisher's head of sustainability Caroline Laurie

Seven top tips for making your organisation a purpose-led business

As businesses start to redefine their role in society, purpose has become an essential part of any company's social licence to operate. Here, edie rounds up seven top tips from green economy leaders on finding and communicating your organisation's reason for being.
Carbon Tracker has warned oil and gas firms about being too

Report: Oil and gas firms failing to disclose climate-related financial risks

The world's largest oil and gas firms must disclose more information on the financial risks that climate challenges will pose to their business, or face losing investment and stakeholder trust.
The draft vision includes a requirement for all water companies to set sustainability targets reaching 15 or more years into the future

Water firms urged to collaboratively develop "net-positive" vision for the sector

UK water firms are being urged to co-develop and jointly adopt a new long-term sustainability strategy for the sector, set to have an overarching aim of the industry "having the most positive impact possible on society and the environment".
The Tracker found that 22% of businesses placed net-zero carbon as a top two priority

Environment ranks behind health and wellbeing as main business priority

Environmental issues such as the circular economy and net-zero carbon targets have been highlighted as a main priority by more than one-third of UK businesses, second only to health and wellbeing, according to a new Responsible Business Tracker.
The ambition into action webinar is now available to watch on demand

Seven tips for turning your organisation's green ambitions into ACTION

During a sustainability leadership webinar hosted by edie last week, representatives from Tideway, Business in the Community (BITC), WSP and EDF Energy gave their advice for sustainability and energy professionals looking to turn green ambitions into tangible actions. Here, we round up their key takeaways.
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London's low-emission buses and Ralph Lauren's recycled plastic shirts: The sustainability success stories of the week

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These surveys explore the changing attitudes of shoppers and SMEs to the plastic pollution problem

In numbers: How businesses and consumers are adapting to the war on plastic

Plastics is a sustainability topic that rarely dies down and the past few weeks were no different. Here, edie rounds up the key findings of several new surveys on attitudes to plastics, capturing the changing opinions of businesses and consumers alike.
This year's Index is the first to award any brand a ranking of more than 60%

Fashion Revolution Week: Adidas, Reebok and Patagonia top sector transparency rankings

Sportswear giants Adidas and Reebok and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia have been named as the corporates leading the fashion sector's drive for greater transparency around supply chain activity, in a new ranking of 200 of the industry's largest companies.
Walmart hopes the move will encourage greater disclosure and innovation from suppliers. Pictured: Solar arrays operated by Walmart China

Walmart partners with HSBC to launch green finance programme for suppliers

As part of a partnership with HSBC, US-based retail giant Walmart has developed a green finance initiative that rewards suppliers for setting, meeting or exceeding ambitious sustainability aims.
<p>Earth Day is observed in 141 countries across the globe, and is always marked with a flurry of action from the business community</p>

Xerox's reforestation drive and KFC's science-based targets: Sustainability success stories for Earth Day

While many of us in the UK will be enjoying the bank holiday break today (22 April), the global business community has been busy making pledges, events and announcements to mark Earth Day. This round-up highlights some of the best sustainability success stories to mark the occasion.
Finisterre’s founder Tom Kay and Turtle Doves founder Kate Holbrook join Fashion Revolution for the podcast

Sustainable Business Covered Podcast: Who Made My Clothes? A Fashion Revolution Week special

To mark Fashion Revolution Week 2019, episode 61 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees reporter Sarah George quiz some of the key figures helping to make the fashion sector a more planet-friendly and ethical industry.
The coalition was founded at the Paris One Planet Summit in 2017 and is convened by Banque De France

Coalition of central banks urge finance sector to 'raise the bar' on climate action

A coalition of 36 central banks and regulators, including the Bank of England and the World Bank, have issued a rallying cry urging all stakeholders across the global sector to address climate challenges by "greening" the financial system.
More than 6,200 people across Hull have signed up to receive food through OLIO to date

Costa joins Hull redistribution scheme to combat food waste and hunger

Coffee chain Costa has joined a collaborative, business-led initiative which uses a food sharing app to help tackle food waste and food poverty issues in Hull.
Unilever is now eight years into its ten-year Sustainable Living Plan

Unilever reveals mixed progress towards Sustainable Living Plan goals

Unilever has posted strong progress towards its manufacturing waste, low-carbon energy and water abstraction goals, while also revealing that is it off-track to meet its sustainability commitments regarding the consumer-level water and waste footprint of its products.
The We Mean Business Coalition represents 889 companies with $17.6trn in market capitalisation collectively

We Mean Business boss: Companies must 'embed' ESG to survive low-carbon transition

EXCLUSIVE: In the face of pressing climate challenges, the business and finance sectors must now collaborate to ensure that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are embedded in all financial decisions to spur the creation of a zero-carbon economy.
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Sydney's renewables aim and Ikea's 'Outstanding' store: The sustainability success stories of the week

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The bags will be available for 98 cents. Image: Walmart

Walmart launches reusable bag range and spurs progress on supply chain emissions

The world's largest retailer, Walmart, used its annual sustainability summit to reveal that checkouts at its US stores will offer reusable bags made from post-consumer recycled content for the first time, alongside an update to its Project Gigaton supply chain emissions programme.
The UN Global Compact has previously warned that firms which do not communicate both positive and negative contributions to all 17 Global Goals could soon lose out on investment

SDGs becoming a 'new compass' for sustainable investing, survey finds

More than half of institutional investors to have incorporated environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into their frameworks are using the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guideline, a new survey has found.
Trump appointee David Malpass has said that the World Bank's climate change action plan remains a priority for the organisation

New World Bank chief confirms commitment to environment

Donald Trump's choice to run the World Bank has moved swiftly to allay fears that his appointment will lead to a softening of the organisation's approach to climate change.
Failures to meet air pollution regulations cost the EU economy €24.6bn, the study found Pictured: London, where 10 air pollution alerts have been issued since May 2016

Report: Failure to implement clean air laws cost EU €24bn in 2018

By failing to meet targets and regulations set out in EU environmental laws, Member States collectively cost the bloc's economy almost €55bn last year, a new report from the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment has found.
Bournemouth University's sustainability team plumped for the JUMP scheme following its success at Swansea University and the University of Chichester, Smith told edie

How gamification is helping Bournemouth University engage staff with the SDGs

EXCLUSIVE: With 169 targets and 232 indicators across 17 large-scale sustainability challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are often seen as a communications challenge due to their scope and scale. But by using gamification, Bournemouth University has managed to engage the majority of staff with the vast SDG agenda.
Shell is thought to be responsible for about 2% of all global carbon emissions. Pictured: Shell's Appomattox project in the Gulf of Mexico

Shell taken to court over climate impacts and alleged human rights 'violations'

Oil and gas giant Shell is facing legal actions over "slow" progress in reducing its emissions, improving its human rights protections and eliminating oil spills, with green campaign group Friends of the Earth's (FoTE) Netherlands arm claiming its current business model is "wrecking the climate".

Co-op's overarching aim is 100% physically certified soy across its supply chain by 2025

Co-op targets 100% sustainably sourced soy through credits scheme

Supermarket chain Co-op has set a new, ongoing target of sourcing 100% sustainably certified soy across its supply chains, after joining global Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS).
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Budweiser's plastic football pitch and Arval's EV chargers: the sustainability success stories of the week

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The GRI chair claimed that a cooperative approach would be essential in spurring action towards the SDGs

GRI calls for business and governments to partner on SDGs

The chairman of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) had called for greater collaboration and cooperation between businesses and national governments in order to achieve the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SRA has called on hospitality and leisure businesses to keep more food on plates - not in bins

Is it time for the hospitality sector to align to the SDGs?

The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has called on the food industry to follow the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to achieve the innovation required to accelerate climate action.
The Good Times from a Good Place strategy has various goals to be achieved by 2025 and 2030

Pernod Ricard targets SDGs and regenerative agriculture as part of 2030 goals

Beverage giant Pernod Ricard has today (3 April) launched a new sustainability roadmap aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that commits to ambitious new targets relating to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity, recyclable packaging and a science-based carbon target.
The global drinks firm launched a new sustainability strategy on 3 April 2019. Images: Pernod Ricard

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the Green Room with Pernod Ricard's Vanessa Wright

Welcome back to the green room - edie's exclusive interview hub for sustainability leaders, brought to you as part of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast. Up next to provide the insights of a leading sustainable business: Pernod Ricard's vice president of global sustainability Vanessa Wright.
The tool aims to help the sector overcome the challenges of

Fashion firms urged to log global supply chains on new digital open-source map

Fashion giant C&A's charitable arm, the C&A Foundation, has teamed up with geospatial technology firm Azavea to develop a new open-source digital map aimed at helping fashion retailers, suppliers and designers to boost their transparency efforts.
This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Danone's ultra-sustainable factory and Hilton's soap recycling: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
400 UK landmarks will take part in tonight's spectacle, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Image: Vlad Balin/WWF-UK

One hour, no power: Millions of kWh of energy to be saved as landmarks switch off for Earth Hour

The UK alone could avoid the use of more than nine million kWh of energy during this year's Earth Hour, as landmarks across the globe turn off their lights in a bid to highlight the scale of global environmental challenges.
With the world’s population widely expected to grow to more than nine billion people by 2050, demand for protein and, therefore, soy, is set to grow exponentially

Aldi targets 100% sustainably sourced soy by 2025

Supermarket chain Aldi has pledged to source 100% sustainably certified soy across its supply chain by 2025, including soy used as animal feed.
Iceland's managing director has revealed that the palm oil ban has come at a cost of

'I certainly didn't do it for sales': Iceland boss sheds fresh light on palm oil phase-out

Iceland's managing director Richard Walker has discussed his decision to ban palm oil from the retailer's own-brand products for the first time since the phase-out was completed in January, claiming that the move has helped to "democratise environmentalism".
The move builds on ASOS's pledge to eliminate modern slavery from the supply chains of its 87,000 own-brand lines

ASOS urges fashion sector to take tougher action on modern slavery

Online fashion retailer ASOS is calling on other firms in the sector to take stronger action to eliminate modern slavery from their supply chains, after teaming up with several of its third-party brands to develop a five-point "roadmap".
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Panasonic's zero-carbon factories and Ford's $850m EV plant: The sustainability success stories of the week

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(L:R) Veris Environmental Finance’s chairman James Atkins; CISL founder and director Polly Courtice; he European Commission’s director general for the environment Daniel Calleja Crespo and The Economist’s business editor Jan Piotrowski

How can business transform unsustainable economic models from within?

We are only able to enjoy our current standard of living due to economic growth. But with emissions, resource consumption and social inequality all rising under capitalism, will the economic model need to be completely overhauled to ensure a sustainable future?
SSE will also require all senior management to be judged against the delivery of the 2030 strategy

SSE launches new corporate strategy aligned to SDGs

UK energy firm SSE has unveiled a new sustainability strategy for 2030 aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that will deliver a 50% cut in carbon intensity, trebling its renewable electricity output and facilitating the uptake of 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK.
The fashion industry is believed to produce 80-100 billion garments a year and account for one-tenth of global carbon emissions

UN launches global alliance to combat fast fashion's biggest sustainability challenges

The United Nations (UN) has launched a new alliance aimed at uniting businesses to combat the fashion sector's biggest environmental and social challenges, including waste, carbon emissions and modern slavery.
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Nestlé's plastic-free pouches and James Bond's electric car: The sustainability success stories of the week

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CCEP's plastic packaging contained 27.6% recycled material in 2018, up from 24.8% in 2017

Europe's largest Coca-Cola bottler reveals progress on plastic reduction

Europe's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler used 27.6% recycled content in its plastic bottles last year - more than ten times the beverage sector's global average proportion of 2-3%.
The BCI-certified cotton sourced by fashion brands in 2018 was equivalent to 1.5 billion pairs of jeans

Fashion industry sourced record amount of sustainable cotton in 2018

Fashion brands and retailers collectively sourced more than one million metric tonnes of sustainably certified cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) last year, breaking the industry standard operator's record.
Primark’s Sustainable Cotton Programme currently covers 28,000 farmers, with the retailer aiming for 30,000 by the start of 2022

Primark launches jeans made with 100% sustainably sourced cotton

Fashion retailer Primark has launched its first range of jeans made with 100% sustainably certified cotton, after expanding its sustainable cotton farming and sourcing scheme.
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Dow's Project Butterfly and Ikea's EV charging push: The sustainability success stories of the week

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Around 51% of sustainability professionals globally are women - but is the business community doing enough to support them?

International Women's Day: How can sustainable businesses truly promote gender equality?

EXCLUSIVE: Corporate efforts to champion women's rights across supply chains and within communities are not matched by internal actions, with some boards failing to understand the opportunities offered, making gender and inclusion activities feel like a "tick-box exercise".

National Apprenticeship Week: The skills you need to become a great sustainability leader

To mark National Apprenticeship Week (4-8 March), edie recently spoke with a selection of renowned sustainability leaders to find out what skills are essential for up-and-coming professionals to succeed in their careers.
The forest conservation efforts of more than 120,000 farmers will be monitored under the scheme

Mondelez turns to satellite mapping in fight against deforestation

The owner of Oreo and Cadbury's Dairy Milk has pledged to map all farms covered by its sustainability scheme using satellite technology by the end of 2019, as it strives to eliminate deforestation from its key sourcing regions.
More than 9,000 companies have pledged to support the SDGs to date, but reporting is yet to be unified

Corporate reporting bodies launch framework championing SDG alignment

A coalition of corporate reporting framework providers and CDP have published new advice aimed at unifying the business community's approach to reporting in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Scottish Power's £2bn renewables pledge and Dublin's zero-emission post: The sustainability success stories of the week

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The eight-page guide provides a step-by step guide to implementing and monitoring 'green office' schemes

How to green your office: edie launches free guide for businesses

Sustainability and energy professionals wishing to implement a 'green office' programme within their organisation now have access to a comprehensive guide outlining practical tips for implementation.
The SRA is calling on hospitality firms to bolster their climate, plastic and meat-reduction actions

Hospitality trade urged to step up to the plate on climate action

Foodservice firms across the country have been called upon to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change, through a new report by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).
Take a look through all of the month's most-read news stories, and click the links below to read them for yourself

More plastic pledges, rising CSR stars and #ThisIsACrisis: Top 10 sustainability stories of February 2019

As the shortest month of the year draws to a close, we take a look back at February's biggest sustainability and energy stories. The round-up includes Iceland's plastic-free produce, Amazon's carbon-neutral shipments, edie's new 30 Under 30 initiative and the 'Sustainability Oscars'.
The report argues that megatrends such as population growth and migration have caused a

Plastics and biodiversity: Forum for the Future spotlights sustainability's biggest challenges

Global non-profit Forum for the Future has named plastic pollution and biodiversity loss as two of the "fundamental" sustainability challenges of the 2020s, arguing that governments and corporates have not yet adopted holistic, long-term solutions to these issues.
Bafta estimates that more than 500 students will complete the one-year course within its first year

Bafta launches training scheme for TV's rising sustainability stars

As awards season comes to a close, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has unveiled plans for a new sustainable film and TV programme aimed at helping those in the screen industries lead the sector's low-carbon transition.
Of its 53,000 employees, Henkel has trained around 50,000 under its sustainability engagement scheme

How employee engagement has pushed Henkel's sustainability ambitions to new heights

EXCLUSIVE: Henkel's decision to bolster its sustainable packaging strategy last year was largely driven by the ambitions of a workforce of 'sustainability ambassadors', the company's director of sustainability management has revealed.
CDP has claimed that companies like Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Kraft Heinz are poorly-prepared for the low-carbon transition

CDP: Consumer goods giants prioritising plastic alternatives over low-carbon innovation

As consumer demand for plastic-free and plant-based products soars, large consumer goods firms are prioritising vegan products and recyclable packaging over low-carbon innovation, new research by CDP has concluded.
The latest iteration of the annual report ranks 150 global companies across four key animal ethics areas. Image: Sam Frost/WSPA

Report: British firms leading animal welfare practices, but laggards remain

Some of the UK's largest food firms, including Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Cranswick, have been named as the corporate leaders on animal welfare issues in a new report which names the likes of Mars, Subway and Starbucks as laggards in this space.
The commitment will cover more than 100 of Waitrose & Partners' own-brand lines

Waitrose pledges to source 100% Fairtrade cocoa by the end of 2019

Supermarket giant Waitrose & Partners has committed to sourcing only Fairtrade cocoa for its own-brand confectionary products by the end of the year, in a bid to help improve living standards for its cocoa farmers.
This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Evian's reusable water bottles and VW's 'carbon-neutral' EVs: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
These 30 youthful visionaries will have the opportunity to develop their sustainability skills and knowledge throughout the year through bespoke content and events

Rising stars of sustainability: edie's 30 under 30 class of 2019 revealed

Aspiring young sustainability, CSR and energy professionals from the likes of the BBC, innocent Drinks, Formula E and Harrods have been announced as the inaugural members of edie's brand new 30 Under 30 initiative for 2019.
Join the edie team for exclusive interviews with some of the most recognisable sustainability leaders

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Polman's pearls of wisdom, Ikea's super-sustainable store & George's goodbye

The edie team returns to the podcast studio to reflect on the recent Sustainability Leaders Forum and Awards. Meanwhile, Sarah takes a tour of Ikea's latest sustainable store, and George delivers his final 'success story' as he leaves the team to join Defra.
The report warns that the plants, insects and organisms considered crucial to food production are in 'steep decline'

World's food supply under 'severe threat' from loss of biodiversity, UN warns

The world's capacity to produce food is being undermined by humanity's failure to protect biodiversity, according to the first UN study of the plants, animals and micro-organisms that help to put meals on our plates.
The scheme enables Lidl stores to donate surplus items directly to community organisations in their local area

Lidl's community food redistribution scheme surpasses 58,000 meals in Manchester

Since moving to donate surplus food directly from its stores to local community causes last February, Lidl has provided more than 58,000 meals to those in need in Manchester, the supermarket has revealed.
Do you have a favourite climate-based film? Leave your suggestion in the comments

The Sustainability Oscars 2019: Celebrating the best of climate activism

The film awards season reaches its grand finale for 2019 on Sunday in the form of the Oscars. But for those wanting an alternative to "Black Panther," and "A Star Is Born", edie has created a - by no means official - round-up of the best climate-related films and documentaries.
Google’s parent company Alphabet has been ranked first in the new index

Clean200: Low-carbon corporate investments outperforming those in fossil fuels

By investing in low-carbon products and renewable energy procurement, 200 of the world's largest corporates have continued to deliver strong returns against stock market averages, despite global political, social and economic tensions.
Aldi UK and Ireland is set to donate more than two million meals to those in need this year

Aldi launches new regional redistribution scheme in bid to slash food waste

Discount supermarket chain Aldi is set to directly donate surplus food from 24 of its UK stores to local charities after partnering with product redistribution platform Neighbourly.
case studies will appear on the edie website every month, alongside exclusive blogs and podcast segments

edie launches new case study series highlighting business action towards the SDGs

In an effort to mobilise business contributions towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), edie has launched a new best-practice case study series highlighting how businesses are helping to achieve the Global Goals.
This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Hydrogen delivery scooters and Olympic medals made from e-waste: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Richard Ellis explained the importance of using the SDGs to communicate the business benefits of running CSR initiatives

How SDG alignment helped Walgreens Boots Alliance prove the profitability of sustianability

EXCLUSIVE: By aligning the company's sustainability strategy with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Walgreens Boot Alliance's sustainability team have been able to secure "far greater" boardroom-level support for its actions, the company's vice president for CSR has revealed.
The collaborative project has seen Network Rail purchase eight 'spray trains', which are designed to distribute herbicides in a resource-efficient manner

Network Rail partners with water firms to tackle chemical contamination

A collective environmental stewardship programme from Network Rail and several of the UK's largest water companies is now protecting more than 600 vulnerable drinking water sources from herbicides, the rail infrastructure manager has announced.
More than three billion tonnes of cocoa are produced every year, with the majority being grown in West Africa

Valentine's Day: How the cocoa supply chain is falling in love with ethical practices

Chocolate remains the most popular gift for Valentine's Day, but climate change and environmental pressures are already creating tensions along the global supply chain. Here, edie explores how the food and drink industry is working to make its reliance on cocoa more sustainable.
(L-R): The Woodland Trust’s Beccy Speight; Whitbread's James Pitcher; ENGIE's Jamie Quinn; Kellogg Europe’s Rupert Maitland-Titterton and edie's Luke Nicholls

How can sustainable businesses prosper post-Brexit?

As the Brexit deadline looms and the UK struggles to place an agreeable deal on the table, leading sustainability and energy experts have called on the nation’s business community to maintain progress towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy without support from Government.

This weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Verizon's green bonds and Nike's clean energy deal: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

WATCH: Paul Polman's inspiring Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech

EXCLUSIVE: edie's Lifetime Achievement Award-winner and former Unilever chief executive Paul Polman has issued a rallying cry for businesses to take corporate responsibility onto the next level by collaboratively ramping up climate action and championing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The JUMP scheme enables NTU to encourage activities that align with Nottingham City Council’s target of becoming a net-zero-carbon city by 2028

Nottingham Trent University signs up to JUMP employee engagement initiative

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has become the 11th University to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, as it attempts to encourage its 4,000 staff members to develop habits that boost sustainability and wellbeing.
Carlsberg is one of four companies to have set science-based targets in line with 1.5C, along with BT, Tesco and Pukka Herbs

Carlsberg progressing towards carbon-neutral status

Onsite renewable arrays and low-carbon packaging innovations have helped Carlsberg to achieve a 20% reduction in its relative carbon emissions since 2015, as it strives to become a 'net-zero' carbon business by 2030.
Mike Barry provided insights into how sustainability professionals can create a mindset shift to scale sustainability across the business community and wider society

Mike Barry: Five steps to go from good to GREAT sustainability leadership

EXCLUSIVE: Speaking on-stage at the Sustainability Leaders Forum in London yesterday (6 February), Marks & Spencer's (M&S) director of sustainable business Mike Barry offered up his five key steps that all sustainability professionals should embrace to become "great leaders".