Mobilizing Your Board on Materiality Today

Many corporate practitioners are rethinking how to do an even better job of making sustainability an indispensable topic on the board agenda. One sure-fire and appropriate way of doing this, is turning your materiality matrix into a colorful kaleidoscope. The DJSI questionnaire clearly underpins the importance of Materiality as it has evolved into an independent criterion.

Integrated Thinking by Integrated Doing

Mid-November, the 2015 results of the Dutch Transparency Benchmark were released. The benchmark is an annual research since 2004 on the content and quality of corporate social responsibility reports of Netherlands-based companies. Its goal is to provide transparency and promote the development of corporate social reporting among the largest companies.

Sustainable Innovation in the Chemical Industry

Innovation is quite essential for organizations that compete in rapidly changing markets being under pressure of for instance shifting customer demands and global challenges. But a strong culture of innovation is not an easy feat. Data research on innovation in the chemical industry reveals that 49 percent of chemical organizations recognize that establishing an innovation culture is a challenge for their organization. The underlying reasons for the struggle of chemical companies are related to the number of projects and long decision paths before an innovation is actually implemented. So how can organizations overcome this hurdle?

RobecoSAM Yearbook 2016: Emerging Risks and Opportunities

Increasingly, companies consider sustainability not only as a means of mitigating or avoiding risks, but also for seizing new opportunities that can give them a competitive edge. In line with these developments, changing investor demands and business environments have been driving change in the DJSI-assessment.

The 24-Hour Stakeholder Pressure Cooker

As part of broad sustainability agendas, stakeholder management has gained significance as a result of increased transparency, reporting regulations and the understanding that stakeholder influence will determine a company’s “license to grow”. Appreciating the issues that key stakeholders value most, can make drive competitive advantage.

McDonald's Ambitious Targets for 2020

Although McDonald’s is not typically perceived as one of the frontrunners in sustainability, it has built up a sound track record recognized by leading benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Great Place to Work, and Fortune. Over the past few years, the company has been working on a global sustainability framework and collaborated with stakeholders to define goals for the year 2020. Where is the company on its sustainability journey and how is McDonald’s collaborating with locally operating companies?