Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
-
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Election 2024: Harris, Trump present ‘diametrically opposed’ impacts on ESG
“A Harris administration would be more favorable for the interests of ESG investors whereas a Trump administration would be antagonistic,” according to Morningstar Indexes’ head of strategy.
Lamar Johnson and Zoya Mirza • Nov. 1, 2024 -
MPI via Getty Images
This summer saw many DEI rollbacks. What now?
Heading into 2025, three DEI experts weigh in.
Caroline Colvin • Oct. 14, 2024 -
K Neville via Getty Images
Hush-hush: Is greenwashing pushback prompting pivot to ‘greenhushing’?
Companies must focus on data and transparency to back their sustainability claims instead of resorting to silence, or exaggerations, said sources from groups such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Glass Packaging Institute and McCormick & Co.
Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2024 -
Xavier Arnau via Getty Images
No, not all companies are abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion. Here’s why.
Amid a high-profile backlash, many businesses are scrutinizing their policies. But the vast majority end up sticking with DEI, in part because it’s key to growth.
Daphne Howland • Sept. 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply retreats on DEI, climate after ‘anti-woke’ backlash. Now the real fallout begins.
The retailer's pullback of its corporate diversity and climate efforts could alienate some customers, employees and investors.
Daphne Howland • July 15, 2024 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Drive for energy permitting reform fuels tensions between climate, environmental justice advocates
A simplified permitting process would speed the deployment of clean energy, but some EJ advocates are concerned about unintended consequences.
Diana DiGangi • June 11, 2024 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Is plant-based meat more sustainable? Experts question the data
Researchers have struggled to replicate life-cycle assessments commissioned from companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, and are calling for more transparency.
Nithin Coca • April 30, 2024 -
Permission granted by Clean Energy Fuels
How a new wave of clean fuels bills could spur a biogas boom
New Mexico just became the fourth state to enact a program, which has the potential to give biogas projects from landfills and on-farm digesters a boost. Could more states soon follow?
Jacob Wallace • March 18, 2024 -
Nigel Harris via Getty Images
Biodiversity emerges as an ESG priority in packaging, but measurement could be a challenge
As international standards evolve, fiber-based packaging companies are in the spotlight. Smurfit Kappa, WestRock, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Canopy Planet weigh in on what the increased focus means for the industry.
April Reese • Feb. 21, 2024 -
Perytskyy via Getty Images
Bio-fueling the future: How farms are shaping the renewable energy transition in 2024
As more incentives become available, the agriculture sector is set to play a key role in expanding solar, biogas and other alternative energy sources.
Nathan Owens • Feb. 1, 2024 -
Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury via Getty Images
2024 proxy outlook: What’s driving the ESG proposal approval dip?
Major asset managers and a spate of anti-ESG proposals helped push approval rates down, yet even more ESG proposals are expected after a record 2023.
Lamar Johnson • Jan. 25, 2024 -
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
To keep or not to keep: The fate of scope 3 emissions in SEC’s climate disclosure rule
Given all of the pushback the agency has received over its proposed rule, particularly scope 3 reporting requirements, experts are uncertain if scope 3 will make the final cut.
Zoya Mirza • Jan. 18, 2024 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
4 ESG trends that set the tone for 2024
It’s shaping up to be a big year for ESG with a packed SEC agenda, fights over corporate DEI efforts and shareholder rights and a focus on financing the net zero transition.
Lamar Johnson and Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2024 -
(2021). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Office of the Texas Governor.
The ESG battle: 4 key states shaping regulatory discourse in the US
Left-leaning California and New York and conservative-led Florida and Texas have stepped up regulatory measures to underscore ESG’s role — or lack thereof — in their jurisdictions.
Lamar Johnson and Zoya Mirza • Nov. 16, 2023 -
Permission granted by Locus AG
The food industry is all in on regenerative agriculture. Can farmers be convinced?
Companies are racing to capitalize on a burgeoning industry focused on reducing emissions in agriculture. But first, they'll have to prove it's profitable to go green.
Miranda Lipton • Nov. 15, 2023 -
Piranka via Getty Images
Making the case for women-owned banks
Three women-owned banks have emerged in the last several years with the shared goal of increasing access to capital for female entrepreneurs.
Anna Hrushka • Nov. 13, 2023 -
Daniel Berehulak via Getty Images
New regulations seek to expose fashion greenwashers’ true colors
In Europe, governments plan to prohibit fashion companies and other industries from making vague or misleading environmental claims, and the U.S. could soon do the same.
Lauren Schenkman • Nov. 1, 2023 -
jacoblund via Getty Images
The ‘less tangible’ social data in ESG creates reporting hurdles
Social issues have historically fallen behind environmental and governance factors, a setback experts attribute to the ambiguity of what the “S” really encompasses.
Zoya Mirza • Nov. 1, 2023 -
imagedepotpro via Getty Images
After years of confusion, global ESG reporting frameworks are coalescing
While the global reporting community has yet to fully adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board’s standards, they are building momentum as a reporting baseline.
Lamar Johnson • Oct. 26, 2023 -
Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images
7 ESG trends influencing corporate strategy
Developments in the ESG landscape directing investor decisions include the consolidation of reporting frameworks, the rise of AI and data metrics, social responsibility and impending regulation from the SEC.
Lamar Johnson and Zoya Mirza • Oct. 23, 2023 -
Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
Who will pay to decarbonize the supply chain?
Some brands are helping their suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Others are dumping new requirements on vendors without shouldering any of the costs.
Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 15, 2023
