Social Responsibility

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    ClimeCo unveils certification program for sustainable products

    The environmental services company’s new certification aims to help companies communicate their sustainability initiatives and consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

    By • Sept. 12, 2024
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    Christopher Doering/ESG Dive
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    Molson Coors latest company to revise DEI policy

    The beer giant will no longer participate in a scoring system by the Human Rights Campaign and will tie executive incentives to business performance, not “aspirational representation goals.”

    By Christopher Doering • Sept. 6, 2024
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

    This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.

    By ESG Dive staff
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    Coca-Cola must face greenwashing lawsuit: D.C. Appeals Court

    The appeals court reversed a prior dismissal, ruling environmental nonprofit Earth Island Institute made plausible allegations the beverage company overstates its environmental efforts.

    By • Sept. 4, 2024
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    ESG controllers: The newest finance hires

    Depending on the company’s structure, the specialized controllers often report to the corporate controller or the CFO, Deloitte’s Kristen Sullivan said. 

    By Maura Webber Sadovi • Sept. 4, 2024
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    Vanguard supported zero E+S proposals in 2024: report

    The lack of support for environmental and social proposals comes after the nation's second-largest asset manager supported just 2% in 2023.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024
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    Ford responds to DEI slowdown, outlines talent strategy

    The car company clarified that it does not use “hiring quotas” or link compensation to “the achievement of specific diversity goals.”

    By Caroline Colvin • Sept. 3, 2024
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    Lowe’s demolishes its DEI programming

    Reports indicate that Lowe’s looked into changing its talent strategy following the Supreme Court’s 2023 college admissions decision.

    By Caroline Colvin • Sept. 3, 2024
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    ‘New dynamics at play’: Jack Daniel’s maker ends DEI initiatives

    Brown-Forman Corp. cited a shifting legal and external landscape for its decision, as one prominent anti-DEI activist claimed credit for putting pressure on the company.

    By Ryan Golden • Aug. 29, 2024
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    Shein reports 2 cases of child labor in its supply chain

    The fast fashion giant discovered the cases last year, and suspended orders from the manufacturers pending “appropriate remediation.”

    By Laurel Deppen • Aug. 26, 2024
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    BlackRock’s support for E+S proposals whittles away in 2024 proxy season

    The nation’s largest investment manager noted a rise in shareholder proposals focused on environmental and social matters and  anti-ESG filings.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
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    How to build social activism into your governance structure

    Companies don’t have to retreat from activism to avoid backlash if they align their values with their business in a way that makes sense, a law professor says.

    By Robert Freedman • Aug. 21, 2024
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    DEI job postings are down. Why do these roles lack longevity?

    Diversity departments are vulnerable to trends, but HR pros can reconfigure their approach.

    By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 15, 2024
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    Anti-ESG proposals drove the increase in ESG proxy submissions: Morningstar

    “For the first time, the growth in new resolutions was dominated by proposals from ‘anti-ESG’ filers,” per Morningstar Sustainalytics’ director of stewardship research and policy.

    By • Aug. 13, 2024
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    Wells Fargo faces lawsuit for alleged sham DEI hiring effort

    The bank is said to have interviewed diverse candidates for jobs that were already filled or for which they weren’t qualified to polish its DEI credentials.

    By Robert Freedman • Aug. 6, 2024
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    "Vanilla Extract" by Brian Boucheron is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Ingredients in peril due to climate change

    As global temperatures shift and weather events devastate agricultural land, some ingredients and crops are in jeopardy. One expert shares advice.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Aug. 5, 2024
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    Amid DEI cuts, Microsoft works to distinguish itself from those responding to ‘woke’ backlash

    While some companies axed DEI roles due to “woke” backlash, the motivations of other companies may be more nuanced.

    By Caroline Colvin • July 29, 2024
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    COP29 president lays out climate action priorities ahead of summit

    Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev said he’s committed to boosting climate finance and finalizing the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 at this year’s summit.

    By • July 23, 2024
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    Bias in hiring, performance evaluations can derail corporate DEI goals

    The Conference Board’s “Bias Interrupters” framework offers a way to foster inclusion and control for legal risk.

    By Carolyn Crist • July 23, 2024
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    Courtesy of Tractor Supply
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    Deep Dive

    Tractor Supply retreats on DEI, climate after ‘anti-woke’ backlash. Now the real fallout begins.

    The retailer's pullback of its corporate diversity and climate efforts could alienate some customers, employees and investors.

    By Daphne Howland • July 15, 2024
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    GM shareholders vote down 3 ethical supply chain proposals

    Responding to the proposals, the automaker defended its existing practices for supplier agreements and operational policies.

    By Kelly Stroh • July 15, 2024
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    Sustainability is a key factor in improved financial performance: KPMG

    Indicators like lower carbon dioxide emissions, land environmental impact reduction and business ethics policies are linked to increased gross profit margin, per a study of 2,617 companies.

    By Suman Bhattacharyya • July 11, 2024
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    Generative AI gains foothold in ESG landscape

    The increased use of artificial intelligence in ESG, beyond reporting, was on display at the Amazon Web Services conference last week.

    By • Updated July 8, 2024
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    Supreme Court blocks enforcement of EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule

    The 5-4 decision was criticized by clean energy advocates who said the court failed to address the “public health harm that occurs during the pendency of the stay granted.”

    By Robert Walton • June 28, 2024
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    Nestlé introduces sustainably sourced chocolate brand

    The confectionery offering, which uses cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance, will be available in airports around the world.

    By Christopher Doering • June 25, 2024
  • funding contest open only to Black women is likely discriminatory, says 11th Circuit
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    11th Cir. deals another blow to corporate DEI programs

    The federal appellate court ruled 2-1 that a competition designed to award grants to businesses owned by Black women likely violates federal civil rights law. 

    By David Weisenfeld • June 21, 2024