Makeup Makes Money

Avon alleviating poverty? No, really. Goes to show that any business model, not just B-corps have the potential to “do good”. Distribution is key to Avon’s noted success in lifting developing country sales women into the middle-income demographic for their country. Read more.

Filed under: Challenges, ESG, Innovation

Business Done Better: How a Dirty Industry Cleaned Up and Profited

An idea and a change in mission brought one company within the “dirty” industry of textile manufacture into the clean, with good financials to boot! Read it here on Bloomberg.

Filed under: ESG, Innovation, Uncategorized

For Cause or Cash

Whatever the reason investors chose to invest in more sustainable businesses, it appears to pay off. Here’s the latest, compliments of Bloomberg.

Filed under: ESG

US State Department: Advancing Entrepreneurship Through Social Responsibility

It’s encouraging to see leadership agencies advocate corporate shift to a more holistic view of the business ecosystem. It’s more particular to note that this article/speech stems from the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Economists are not always the first to promote a “full circle” perspective of business, though they certainly are not the last.

In addition to promoting CSR, triple bottom line, and other aspects of good corporate governance, the speech points out noted companies for their excellence in CSR, namely TOMS Shoes. As an add-on, Patagonia’s corporate ethos treads well in the TBL space as a company that exemplifies green, corporate governance, and stated profits.

What can current, emerging, and future entrepreneurs take away? Think dynamically about your business and how all aspects of your business are integrated. Business decision impacts have broad implications: What can the entrepreneur manage? Which are risks? Which are opportunities? Make sure the entrepreneurial viewpoint is dimensional, as profits appear to be increasingly circular and far-reaching as opposed to linear and finite.

Filed under: Challenges, ESG, Governance, Innovation, Social Entrepreneurs

Big business makes sustainable trash a sexy investment opportunity

The deal snapshot of Waste Management’s purchase of a majority stake in Garick says little about the details of the purchase. However, what is clear is sustainable enterprise is BIG enterprise. Recently, WM has been making investments into companies within the organic composting market.

Major companies, like WM, have opened their eyes to the opportunities in the marketplace for sustainable business models, practices, and products. The door is opening for social enterprises to position themselves in alignment with larger corporations that serve as compliments to their market, distribution, and service. Who knows, perhaps there is even investment in the opportunity. This synergy is also a boon for investors looking for earth-loving and social investments.

-FYI, WM stock gained just over 3% the day of the announcement.

This is not a recommendation for the purchase of Waste Management or Garick securities . This is for informational purposes only. The author does not hold direct positions in WM stock.

Filed under: ESG, Impact Investing, Social Entrepreneurs

Singapore Stock Exchange Issues Guidelines for Sustainability Reporting

Everyone’s cheering! (Except, perhaps company CFO’s.) Singapore Exchange issues sustainability reporting guidelines.

ESG metrics and reporting have been steadily developing through a dialogue between investors and company management. Standardization and measurement are the greatest challenge to moving ESG reporting forward. However, the disclosure of ESG metrics is becoming material to investors as evidenced by the move by SGX. As the post by PPP suggests, it is likely ESG reporting will become a requirement.

Filed under: Challenges, ESG, Governance