Do Investors Really Care About Sustainability?

The answer: Yes!  An increasing number of investors recognize the link between companies’ environmental and financial performance.  Traditional investors who typically weeded out “sin” businesses in their portfolios have shifted their focus to sustainable investing—positively screening for companies committed to sustainable development.  They’re seeking to invest in companies actively addressing the world’s environmental, developmental and resource challenges, thereby positioning them to deliver long-term, favorable returns.

CSRwire Talkback’s contributors Libby Bernick of Trucost (NA) and Liesel van Ast highlight other examples of mainstream investors’ increased focus on sustainability as a means of unlocking value.  For example, in 2012, investors favored carbon-efficient companies.  And, institutional investors are increasingly disclosing the environmental performance of their portfolios not only to increase awareness about risks, but also to respond to increased pressure for greater transparency.  To learn more about why investors really do care about sustainability, read more of CSRwire’s Talkback here.

–Margie Flynn

BrownFlynn names Cora Lee Mooney Senior Consultant, Sara Martin Analyst

BrownFlynn is pleased to announce a promotion and a new addition to the Firm: Cora Lee Mooney has been named Senior Consultant and Sara Martin has been brought on as an Analyst.

Cora Lee has been with BrownFlynn since February 2011.  With a Master’s degree in Philosophy and more than 12 years of university teaching experience, Cora Lee was brought on to lead BrownFlynn’s training efforts, including the Firm’s certified Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) course.  In addition to leading BrownFlynn’s training practice, Cora Lee also manages several of BrownFlynn’s national and global clients both in the public and private sectors. She has extensive experience in corporate training and curriculum development, university instruction and consulting.  Principal and Co-owner Barbara Brown commented, “Cora Lee is adept at taking complex sustainability topics and making them understandable and, ultimately, actionable for our clients. She’s fast become an instrumental part of our leadership team.”

Sara joins BrownFlynn as an analyst and will apply her experience linking culture, the environment and economic development to assist our client teams in advising companies on how best to integrate sustainability into their business practices.  After receiving her Ph.D. in Anthropology from SUNY Stony Brook, Sara has been an adjunct faculty member in the Cuyahoga Community College department of anthropology and sociology. Her prior experience includes time spent as a project manager for organizations such as the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Help for Honduran Children Foundation, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, as well as at Stony Brook University. Her unique perspectives will benefit BrownFlynn and its clients.

Read the full press release on CSRwire here.

How do we achieve sustainable capitalism?

In an article published by CSRwire today, the state of our economy was discussed as well as methods to remedy it. In a study called The Phoenix Economy, it concluded that this is not a simple recession or double-dip varient, but a fundamental restructuring that may take decades to work through. The phoenix, who bursts into flames and rises from the ashes a new bird, is a good metaphor for the type of sustainable economy experts are proposing.

This type of economy is explained in the Manifesto for Sustainable Capitalism, written by former Vice President Al Gore and former Goldman Sachs investment banker David Blood. Gore and Blood argue that, “We are once again facing one of those rare turning points in history when dangerous challenges and limitless opportunities cry out for clear, long-term thinking”.

The authors recommend five key actions for sustainable capitalism. Some people argue that it’s strange an organization like Generation Investment Management is calling for the next item on the sustainability agenda, however because the focus is shifting to a global overhaul of capitalism this seems like the logical path for the next 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years.

What are your thoughts? Does The Phoenix Economy and Manifesto for Sustainable Capitalism make sense, and/or is it the best solution for the state of our economy? Can we afford to work on our economy for the next 50 years? Discuss!

Michael Muyot’s response to Jeffrey Hollender’s 10-point plan

On Wednesday, Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation, gave an interview to CSRwire outlining a ’10 Point Plan’ to refocus and rebuild the U.S. economy. To review the plan please click here.

Yesterday, Michael Muyot, President of CRD Analytics, countered Hollender’s plan with a plan of his own. Here is what he had to say:

Jeffrey, thank you for your poignant and timely ideas on how to Rebuild the American Economy & Way of Life. Instead of adding items, I’d like to make a suggestion for an Action Plan to ensure successful execution. As someone who has also been at the forefront of the Sustainability movement I think there’s enormous challenges to being successful with making the changes you listed above. The cards are stacked against us. Here’s what I think may be a framework to get started: