Daily FNArena News - ESG Focus

The Federal Government has announced that it will invest in the Australian recycling industry, starting with an overhaul of its procurement laws. 2020 promises to be a busy year.

The coupling of a circular economy to 4IR means manufacturers are likely to be regulated into supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As a reference point, we provide the SDG targets that will most affect manufacturers.

Governments have determined to use 4IR as a lever into a circular economy, meaning government taxes, subsidies and ESG investment choices will be one of the major sources of capital and drivers of financial success for the manufacturing industry.

Despite steps being taken to bridge the global economic gap, inequality remains vast and entrenched in our society.

The global manufacturing industry stands on the brink of disruption as a perfect storm of digitisation, AI, robotics, and big data transforms industry. Add circularity and ESG to the mix, and it promises to be a wild ride.

Analysis of last year’s AGM season shows boards in Australia are receiving less rejections from shareholders, but larger sized companies receive more plus climate change is now firmly in focus.

The boards of Australia’s major banks survived their AGMs but a wider issue of proxy voting rights is playing out in the ESG sphere.

Australian super funds undertaking ESG-based investment are outperforming the industry while ceding to growing demand from Australian investors.

Plastic has become an intractable problem and intractable problems require revolutionary solutions. The world may be standing on the brink of a transformation as radical as the I-phone. (Final part in a series of Two)

Plastic has become an intractable problem and intractable problems require revolutionary solutions. The world may be standing on the brink of a transformation as radical as the I-phone. (Part One in a series of Two)