Library | ESG issues
Plastics
Plastics are synthetic polymers widely used in products such as packaging, electronics, and construction materials. While some plastics can be recycled to reduce environmental impact, improper disposal leads to significant pollution and ecological challenges. Investors can engage with companies to encourage reduced plastic use, improved recycling practices, and innovation in sustainable alternatives to mitigate these risks and promote long-term accountability.
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Solutions from the One Planet network to curb plastic pollution
The report outlines solutions to curb plastic pollution by improving sustainability information, driving behaviour change, advancing sustainable procurement, and promoting circular economy measures, particularly for plastic packaging. It presents coordinated actions across sectors, including tourism, to reduce plastic use and support systemic, upstream interventions aligned with SDG 12.
Cost and financing for a future free from plastic leakage: Policy highlights
The report summarises the costs and financing required to eliminate global plastic leakage by 2060. It finds that coordinated global action could nearly eradicate leakage, with modest global GDP impacts but higher costs for developing economies. Increased development finance and private-sector mobilisation are essential to achieving this goal.
Outside the safe operating space of the planetary boundary for novel entities
This report summarises evidence that humanity has exceeded the planetary boundary for novel entities, including chemicals and plastics. It finds that their production and emissions are increasing faster than global capacity for risk assessment and regulation, thereby threatening Earth system stability and requiring urgent action to reduce production and releases.
Rockefeller Capital Management
Rockefeller Capital Management (RockCo) delivers wealth management, asset management and investment banking services grounded in the Rockefeller legacy. Serving individuals, families and institutions, RockCo emphasises bespoke financial solutions, generational wealth planning and strategic advisory — combining innovation with long-standing trust.
Tobacco tactics
Tobacco Tactics is a knowledge-exchange platform from the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group. It compiles rigorous academic research and monitoring on the global tobacco industry—its products, influences, themes and companies—in an accessible format.
Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG)
Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath conducts international, multidisciplinary research into the tobacco industry’s influence on health and policy. TCRG generates evidence to support effective tobacco control, informs public health policy, and provides training on industry monitoring and accountability to advance global health outcomes.
Unlocking the sustainable transition for agribusiness
This report examines how entrenched political and market structures hinder agribusinesses from transitioning to sustainable models. It identifies three systemic “lock-ins” and outlines how policy reforms, financial incentives, and political commitment can unlock agribusiness potential to drive food system transformation at scale and pace.
Plastics bank tracker
The Plastic Banks Tracker evaluates banks' roles in financing the plastics lifecycle, focusing on single-use plastics. It assesses banks across three phases—acknowledgement, policy development, and implementation—using 21 criteria aligned with international standards. The tool aims to encourage banks to reduce financing for harmful plastic production and support sustainable alternatives.
Investing in a pollution free ocean
The report explores how ocean pollution poses financial, legal and reputational risks to businesses, particularly land-based sectors. It identifies data gaps as a barrier to effective decision-making and highlights opportunities in green chemistry, data innovation and sustainable finance. It recommends integrating ocean health into corporate and financial strategies.
Exploring nature impacts and dependencies: A field guide to eight key sectors
This field guide helps investors identify and assess nature-related impacts and dependencies across eight key sectors. It provides sector-specific insights and strategies for integrating nature considerations into investment decisions.
Advocating for nature: A guide for responsible policy engagement
This guide is designed to help companies reap the benefits of responsible advocacy and respond to rising stakeholder expectations. It sets out the steps companies should take to align their nature advocacy with their nature ambition. This guide can be used by investors to better understand expectations being set for companies, and to also guide their own development of nature policies.
Country & City Waste Landscapes database
The Country and City Waste Landscapes database offers comprehensive data on plastic waste and management for 100 cities and island states across 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It serves as a centralised resource for understanding plastic pollution and related initiatives in these regions.
The private investment landscape for a global circular economy for plastics: Insights from the Plastics Circularity Investment Tracker
This report explores the private investment landscape for plastics circularity, providing key insights from the Plastics Circularity Investment Tracker. It reveals that while $32 billion is invested annually, this is far below the $1 trillion needed to meet global 2040 targets. Emerging markets, which account for significant plastic pollution, receive only 6% of total investments.
Diving deep: Finance, ocean pollution and coastal resilience
This report explores how financial institutions can drive sustainability in ocean-linked sectors, focusing on coastal infrastructure and waste management. It highlights sustainable financing principles, encouraging banks, insurers, and investors to mitigate environmental risks and support nature-based solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity, and economic prosperity in the blue economy.
Nature-related litigation: Emerging trends and lessons learned from climate-related litigation
This report explores emerging trends in nature-related litigation, focusing on biodiversity, deforestation, ocean degradation, and plastic pollution. It highlights the legal risks for the financial sector and calls for increased monitoring. Lessons from climate-related litigation are applied to nature protection strategies, impacting regulatory and corporate practices.
Plastics circularity investment tracker tool
The tool offers insights into private investments in plastics circularity globally from 2018 to 2023. It provides data by geography, investment categories, and solution types, enabling users to analyse trends and compare investments across regions and sectors.
