Library | ESG issues

Circular Economy

A circular economy is an economic model focused on minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency by reusing, recycling, and regenerating materials. It emphasises designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, offering opportunities for sustainable growth and resilience. Companies that demonstrate circularity can enhance long-term business resilience, resource efficiency and cost-savings.

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Five-step approach to stakeholder engagement

Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
This is a comprehensive toolkit developed to help companies understand and respond to existing and emerging societal concerns through stakeholder engagement. It is based on the long experience of the authors and interviews with member companies and BSR employees.
Research
27 April 2019

Innovation: How does innovation drive change for gender inclusion in business, finance and investment?

Value For Women
This report examines how innovation is driving change for gender inclusion in business, finance and investment. Drawing from over 100 expert interviews and case studies, the report identifies a range of innovations that are making finance more inclusive for women and concludes with the most powerful actions for driving gender equality.
Research
26 July 2023

Measuring what matters most: Seven systems transformations for benchmarking companies on the SDGs

World Benchmarking Alliance
This report provides guidance on developing benchmarks to transform systems towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies seven critical transformations: social, agriculture and food, decarbonisation and energy, circular, digital, urban, and financial systems. These benchmarks aim to hold companies accountable and drive meaningful change across industries to support sustainable development.
Research
15 July 2019

An integrated framework to assess greenwashing

Climate Social Science Network (CCSN)
Companies, nonprofits, and governments are increasingly engaging in greenwashing despite regulations for misleading advertisements. This report provides a framework for detecting greenwashing in such claims for all actors, whether non-commercial or non-advertisements.
Research
16 September 2021

SDG action manager technical guide

United Nations Global Compact
This guide provides businesses with a web-based impact management solution to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through 2030. The guide describes the overall structure, module design, baseline module, SDG-specific modules, scoring methodology, and development process of the SDG Action Manager in a concise manner.
Research
18 January 2020

Doughnut design for business: DEAL’s guide to redesigning businesses through doughnut economics

Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)
This report is a guide for businesses to redesign their operations based on Doughnut Economics principles that focus on deep transformation to become regenerative and distributive. It explores transformative ideas, redesign possibilities, impacts, dependencies, and current design barriers/enablers.
Research
1 February 2024

Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction - our world at risk: Transforming governance for a resilient future

United Nations (UN)
The report explores the challenges faced in managing systemic risk, the complexity of decision-making in volatile situations and offers solutions for improving risk communication.
Research
20 July 2022

Breaking the plastic wave: A comprehensive assessment of pathways towards stopping ocean plastic pollution

Systemiq
This report highlights innovative solutions and strategies that can reduce plastic pollution by 80% by transforming how plastic is produced, used, and managed. The report uses thorough analysis to identify specific opportunities for various stakeholders - from policymakers to businesses and consumers - to curb plastic waste and achieve measurable results.
Research
28 October 2020

Child-lens investing framework: Private equity and debt investor toolkit

Tideline
The toolkit provides guidelines on investing with a child-lens impact strategy, including a child-lens taxonomy, reflection, contribution, and assessment. Six investors tested and refined the framework with case studies.
Research
26 October 2023

Montreal declaration for a responsible development of artificial intelligence

This report outlines a framework for responsible development of artificial intelligence. It provides principles that should guide ethical use of AI for the well-being of sentient beings, respect for autonomy, protection of privacy and intimacy, solidarity, democratic participation, equity, diversity inclusion, caution, responsibility, and sustainable development.
Research
10 July 2019

Ethically aligned design: A vision for prioritising human well-being with autonomous and intelligent systems

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
This report is a call-to-action for technologists to align creation of autonomous and intelligent systems to defined values and ethical principles prioritising human well-being. Emphasising the importance of embedding values and morals into these systems, it discusses a range of topics, including job automation, personal data protection, A/IS education, law, and more.
Research
6 December 2017

Circle Economy

Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Circle Economy is a sustainable non-profit organisation focusing on the circular economy. They promote sustainable practices, resource efficiency, and waste reduction globally. Their initiatives aim to transform linear economic models into circular ones, fostering environmental resilience and sustainable growth. Explore circular solutions and sustainable practices with Circle Economy.
Organisation
2 research items

Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)

Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Doughnut Economics Action Lab is a non-profit organisation advocating for the Doughnut Economics model, promoting sustainable and equitable economic systems. Visit our website for insights, tools, and initiatives fostering a regenerative economy. Join us in reshaping economic thinking for a more inclusive and environmentally conscious world.
Organisation
3 research items

The Circulate Initiative

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
The Circulate Initiative tackles ocean plastic pollution and promotes inclusive circular economies. They work with businesses, governments, and communities to find innovative solutions for waste management, recycling, and plastic alternatives. By investing in circular systems, The Circulate Initiative aims for a cleaner ocean and a more sustainable future.
Organisation
4 research items

What Doughnut Economics means for business: Creating enterprises that are regenerative and distributive by design

This guide is intended for businesses and individuals who want to implement Doughnut Economics principles. It provides guidance on how to redesign a business through its strategic decisions and operations by focusing on purpose, networks governance, ownership and finance. The paper explores barriers and innovations to sustainable business design.
Research
7 November 2022

How can businesses thrive in a sustainable economy?

How can businesses thrive while still respecting planetary boundaries and meeting the essential needs of all people? This report provides a framework for businesses to transition to sustainable models by addressing unsustainable characteristics and adopting regenerative and distributive practices. The report highlights examples of businesses implementing these strategies and provides a Sustainable Business Model Canvas for businesses and investors to assess alignment with a sustainable economy.
Research
22 February 2023
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