Business and Economics

According to a Deloitte report, information about a company's environmental conduct directly impacts its market value. The report from is titled, “Drivers of Long-Term Business Value: Stakeholders, Stats and Strategy.” The research drew on an MIT study of US publicly traded companies from 1980 to 2009. The 30 years of data reviewed in the study showed that stock prices dropped an average of 0.65 percent within a two-day window following the release of negative environmental news. The risks from bad news appear to be greater than the benefits of good news. As reviewed in the study, investors tended to react...

After dropping Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certification, Apple succumbed to pressure and reversed its decision. In June Apple announced that it will withdraw from EPEAT, than on Friday July 13, Apple said it will return to EPEAT certification program (with the exception of its new MacBook Pro Retina model). The decision says two things, the first it says that Apple will go where the money is. What is really noteworthy is that fact that the public is interested in green certification and it is willing to let companies know about it.  The soon to retire Apple hardware SVP...

The Business community may offer the best hope of saving the world from the ravages of environmental decay. In the context of the difficult economic times we are experiencing corporate initiatives may be our best hope for slowing the progression towards worsening environmental calamity. As reported in The Guardian, Peter Bakker corporate, the president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Business (WBCSD), "believes that the corporate sector currently offers the best opportunity for saving the world." In the wake of the disappointing outcome at Rio+20, Bakker is on a "mission to encourage business to implement change at scale." He...

The United Nations Global Compact Corporate Sustainability Forum saw more than 150 tangible commitments from the business community. Business leaders pledged sustainable policies and joined a call for world leaders to usher in "a green industrial revolution" to save the planet. The 1200 CEOs made voluntary commitments to greater energy efficiency, reforestation, a lower carbon footprint and other green policies. This is all part of their policy recommendations which will be presented to heads of state at the conference. According to a UN Global Compact release, these pledges are "time-bound, measurable commitments on which corporations are required to report annually."There...

The fifth edition of the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5) was published on June 6, 2012. This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report indicates there are major issues related to water, marine pollution and fish stocks Water Of the 30 environmental goals examined in relation to water, only one goal – that of increasing access to clean drinking water – shows significant progress. But less progress has been made in rural areas, especially in Africa and the Pacific. Despite some improvements, water quality remains the largest cause of human health problems worldwide. At the same time, climate change and further population growth are likely to result in...

There are a host of different legal options and requirements for companies who wish to be socially engaged. As reviewed in a May 25 Forbes article, here is a summary of five legal forms available to socially-minded companies. They include Benefit Corporations, California's Flexible Purpose Corporations, Maryland Benefit LLC, L3Cs and B Corporations: 1. Benefit Corporations This is a new class of corporation, pioneered by the Berwyn, Pa-based nonprofit B Lab. B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. It is already law in seven states most recently Illinois...

You won't hear traditional investment managers say this: The Earth is warming, some formerly abundant resources are becoming scarce, populations are increasing, and the global economy is beginning to change to reflect these realities. Green Alpha® Advisors seeks to identify, and purchase shares in companies that put their businesses in the path of these changes - companies with business models that both disrupt business-as-usual and represent the next, green economy. They focus on companies with proven, profitable businesses. They still believe in buy and hold, and they reject the notion that the true value of a good company changes ten...

Updated January 25, 2024 Sustainability is a dynamic field with new trends and initiatives emerging at an ever-increasing pace. For decades sustainability was little more than a marketing and public relations buzzword, but 2024 may prove to be the year that sustainability comes of age. The urgent need for action is being driven by an unmistakable warming trend. Last year was the hottest year on record in the hottest decade in history.  To make matters worse, the global heating trend appears to be accelerating. This heat is fueling dangerous feedback loops and driving extreme weather events all around the world....

The stock market has not performed well in 2011 and green stocks are no exception. If the US can maintain its current trajectory and Europe can avoid slipping into recession, 2012 may prove to be a better year for the alternative energy and cleantech sector. The overall environment was not the only drag on stocks in 2011, the Chinese flooded the market with cheap solar panels, bringing the price down and taking some solar companies with it. Canaccord Genuity has its “Best Ideas” list for the CleanTech sector in 2012 and they are focused on companies which are adopting trends...

Ford and Zipcar are collaborating to deploy hundreds of car-sharing vehicles in college campuses. Car sharing is a more environmentally sustainable approach to transportation than ownership. It is an important way of minimizing traffic and emissions. Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford will provide $300,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations and universities.Through the collaboration with Ford, Zipcar is able to offer $10 off the $35 annual membership fee for the first 100,000 new University members to sign up, plus $1 off the Zipcar hourly rate for the first 1 million hours of use on any...