ESG has become a battleground. Once a beacon of responsible business, it is now facing a barrage of criticism, with some companies rolling back commitments and politicians decrying "woke capitalism." While the "E" (environmental) and "G" (governance) rightfully command attention, it is the "S" (social) that holds the key to ESG's redemption and, ultimately, its success. Why? Because the "S" is fundamentally human. It is about people, communities, and the very fabric of society. In a world increasingly defined by social inequality, distrust, and polarisation, ignoring the "S" is morally questionable and strategically shortsighted.
In the tenth year since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”), Rathbones, a provider of wealth and asset management for individuals, charities and professional advisers, has launched its sixth Votes Against Slavery campaign (VAS), securing support from a record 168 institutional investors, with funds under management totalling £2.96 trillion**. To address non-compliance with the Act, in 2020 the Rathbones Stewardship team began challenging companies suspected of not meeting the reporting requirements.
The European Union (EU) has been set to implement significant changes to its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), affecting companies selling consumer products within the EU. This directive aims to expand the scope of prior regulations, targeting large corporations, listed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and non-EU businesses with substantial operations in the region. The CSRD's primary objective is to promote sustainable business practices through increased transparency and accountability, with far-reaching implications for the fashion industry both in the EU and worldwide.
As the world grapples with mounting environmental challenges, industries across the globe are being forced to confront their consumption patterns - workwear included. For years, the workwear sector has been rooted in a ‘buy it, wear it, discard it’ mentality, contributing to a rising environmental footprint.
Although the EU Commission previously committed purely to “simplifying” European sustainability laws in its proposed Omnibus I directive, the far-reaching changes to the CSDDD and CSRD announced today would represent a radical deregulatory shift if adopted – one that risks compounding confusion for large corporations who are preparing to implement the laws as currently drafted.
There is a rapidly arising debate as to whether a trustee’s fiduciary duties hinder or encourage consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when making investments. The traditional approach, that a trustee must invest to maximise profit to the exclusion of all other considerations, continues to face increasing scrutiny amongst the business community.
A groundbreaking new collaboration between Save the Children Global Ventures (SCGV), a foundation focused on finance and technology innovation to transform children’s lives, and eight of the UK’s leading law firms (through Legal Charter 1.5) is projected to see an initial US$5 million invested over 10 years in western Kenya to support livelihoods impacted by climate change.
Southeast Asia is transforming. Rising sea levels reshape coastlines, rapid urbanisation tests infrastructure, and economic growth exposes social inequalities. But the region isn’t just reacting—it’s leading. Governments, businesses, and communities are embracing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to create a future that is prosperous, sustainable and fair. With Malaysia taking the ASEAN chairmanship this year, the region has a powerful opportunity to turn bold ideas into real action.
The UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has today published the final report from its market study into the assurance of sustainability reporting. The 2024 study found that while the UK’s market for the assurance of sustainability reporting is functioning well, there are concerns over quality consistency amid growing demand.
