Sainsbury’s boss: We’ll avoid worst of Christmas supply issues November 4, 2021 Supermarket Sainsbury’s said it experienced a boost to profit in its half-year results, thanks to higher grocery sales – and its CEO said it was well-placed for Christmas despite supply chain uncertainty. For the 28 weeks ended 18 September, the grocer reported underlying profit before tax of £371m, up 23 per cent versus the first [...]
Sustainability: ‘Who is ultimately accountable? The board and the CEO’ October 14, 2021 A business’ board and chief executive are the ones ultimately accountable for creating a sustainable company with COP26 on the horizon, according to DS Smith’s sustainability lead. “Sustainability should, as a function, should make itself superfluous,” said Wouter van Tol, head of sustainability at the London listed packaging giant. Speaking at a sustainability roundtable earlier [...]
Activists launch alternative climate summit to protest inaction at COP26 November 7, 2021 Climate activists disappointed with government inaction during the first week of discussions at COP26 have launched a counter conference. The People’s Summit for Climate Justice kicked off today and will run until Wednesday, hosting around 200 online and in-person sessions which platform the voices of people hit hardest by the climate crisis. People’s Summit Programme [...]
Insurers grapple with transition to a greener world August 10, 2022 Last week, a coalition of thirteen of the UK’s major insurers vowed to cut their supply chain emissions as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s (SMI’s) sustainable supply chain pledge. In signing the SMI pledge, the 13 insurers and brokers – including Axa, Phoenix, Lloyd’s, and Direct Line – vowed to work with their suppliers [...]
Electric dreams: Volt founder on the rise and rise of the electric bike August 5, 2022 Between the oven-like temperatures on the tube, the promise of rail strikes stretching into infinity and the ever-present threat of another airborne pandemic, things are looking up for the e-bike industry. Last year saw a record 22m e-bike sales according to the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry, a 10 per cent increase on the [...]
It’s time to recognise our businesses would benefit from devil’s advocates May 27, 2022 As corporate speeches go, it was eventful. Last week, Stuart Kirk, head of responsible investing at HSBC’s asset management division, delivered a provocative speech entitled “why investors need not worry about climate risk.” One week and a media storm later, Mr Kirk is no longer a head of responsible investing. Instead, he has been suspended, [...]
UK ‘impact’ startups gain £2bn firepower in 2021, driven by climate tech sector November 29, 2021 Impact startups in the UK – defined as those founded to actively build solutions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – have raked in £2bn in investment this year, according to a new Dealroom analysis. As investors grow increasingly wary of corporate greenwashing, so-called “impact investing” in companies that are founded to generate positive [...]
Fossil fuel fashion: half of clothing made from non-recycled plastic, think tank says June 11, 2021 Half of fast-fashion items sold by online brands like Boohoo and Missguided, are made solely from non-recycled plastics, a think-tank has said today. Think tank Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) urged the government to impose a new tax on such clothing made from non-recycled plastic like polyester. Income from the suggested clothing [...]
Carbon trading could create a green mask for companies to hide behind May 10, 2022 When the Integrity Council – an independent governance body – announced they were drawing up a set of global values for voluntary carbon markets in March, it seemed like an answer to many prayers. Compulsory carbon markets, where regulated companies must use carbon allowances to justify their annual emissions, have been accepted as an effective [...]
Government to force big business to reveal green credentials October 18, 2021 The government will force big businesses, large money managers and institutional investors to reveal their sustainability credentials under a fresh green reporting regime launched today. Under the new rules, launched by the Treasury, every investment product must for the first time ever break down the environmental impact of the activities it funds. Businesses will have [...]