Impact Brief: ESG comes under the microscope while green business shines
Welcome to the Impact Brief your monthly dose of sustainability and purpose in business. We scan the horizon for brands and businesses purposefully turning roundtable business ideas into real action and delivering our findings straight to your inbox every month.
The past several weeks, months, even years have been heavy times in so many ways. With raging wars, gun violence that has destroyed so many young lives, basic access to rights that seem to be on the verge of collapse, ongoing effects of climate change across the world, and of course the pandemic that now seems to be just playing out in the background. It's no wonder you probably missed the newly released UN Report on Disaster Risk Reduction - in fact, no news outlets actually covered the release given all the deeply horrific things already going on.
It's another signal for all of us to get serious about all the elements in our world we affect - yes climate change is part of that. To summarize 'societal collapse' is inevitable if we don't get to work.- now. "The best defense against future shocks is to transform systems now, to build resilience by addressing climate change and to reduce the vulnerability, exposure, and inequality that drive disasters".
This is not meant to scare you but get you motivated to continue to create change, and if you haven't started seriously consider exploring how concepts such as ESG, Sustainability Strategy, and Social Purpose or all of the above can help on the path to creating positive social and environmental impact through your work and that of your business(s). Below is a consolidation of thought-provoking reports and articles, news, and capped off with the new green unicorns!
CONVERSATIONS IN IMPACT
Disaster Risk and Your Business
Don't miss this one. Based on 3 key agreements for change including Agenda 2030, Sendai Framework, and the Paris Agreement. The report is comprehensive in its evidence, and evaluation, and ultimately provides clear recommendations and benchmarks for moving towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
Read The Global Assessment Report on DRR 2022
50 Green Rocketships
We love a list - especially when it features some of the fastest and most innovative green companies in Canada. It's great to see so many familiar brands being featured for their dedication to impact. Check out the list below.
Meet the 50 Fastest-Growing Green Companies
The Next Decade Could Be Even Worse
Imagine a decade in the future - what will life be like? Peter Turchin has an idea. He believes we are in a spiral of 'elite overproduction' that there is no return from and that the mathematical models of impact show an inevitable societal collapse. It's an interesting read for all of us in this space, and as the author of the article states - he hopes the history we all collectively create proves Turchin wrong.
Read the Article in the Atlantic
ESG is not a Scam
Despite what Elon Musk and Peter Thiel say - ESG is not a fad, hate factory or a scam. Implementation of change, highlighting the ugly truths, and poking at what could be done better always brins out the critics. That is no different from our pursuit of sustainability, and the implementation of tools such as ESG for compliance. Anticipate more discourse on this as compliance becomes the norm.
Read the opinion piece in Corporate Knights.
Tech and Carbon Intensity
Tech and net-zero commitments need a reality check. Technology, is pervasive in our lives but also carbon intense. And unlike what you would imagine it's not just NFTs and Bitcoin mining that is upping the energy consumption. Activities such as streaming your favorite Netflix show are massive contributors. Our carbon footprint is only going up without much mitigation or planning of how to reduce it.
Read more about Tech and Carbon Intensity
Scaling Circularity
Just because we want to will it, it isn't always so. An extensive research study led by Ivey Business school explored the impact of a circular model on the food system. What they found - circularity doesn't always lead to a reduction of emissions or positive environmental impact. Circularity doesn't equate to sustainability.
State of Corporate Purpose
Benevity releases its annual future of Corporate Purpose report in business. 'The report highlights the top five trends shaping the future of corporate purpose in 2022: the need for businesses to step up in difficult times, the search for purpose as the root of the Great Resignation, new empowered approaches to DEIB, the evolution of corporate philanthropy into stakeholder philanthropy and the rapid rise in importance of purpose and ESG for investors, shareholders and boards.'
Find the State of Corporate Purpose Here
Impact News
Flow launches a carbon offset in the e-commerce cart.
Climate risk is financial risk.
Why Tesla's ESG rating isn't that great.
Digital transformation is leading to a more sustainable future.
A Universal Standard for Sustainability Reporting - would be amazing.
Shein's: The unacceptable face of throw-away fashion.
ESG adversaries underestimate the force behind the movement.
What we lose by not talking about 'Sustainability' only ESG
ESG and purpose are NOT interchangeable
How leaders can accelerate the adoption of sustainable strategies
Lessons in sustainability - The Nigerian Way.
We will leave you with some thought-provoking words from Al Gore. If we don't care then who will care about the future - we need a collective epiphany to take action. As Al Gore says we have a choice to make.
We hope you found inspiration to take the first steps to build social purpose into your business! If you like our brief please share!
We appreciate you joining this journey and your interest in making the world a better place through business. We would love to hear from you. Send us a note with your thoughts and ideas for more areas we should be exploring.
