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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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.
Research
18 January 2022

Rockefeller Capital Management

Commercial Research Providers
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.
Organisation
1 research item

Tobacco tactics

Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG)
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.
Online tool/database

Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG)

Academic Institutions
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.
Organisation
2 research items

Unlocking the sustainable transition for agribusiness

United Nations Environment Programme
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.
Research
1 July 2025

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.
Online tool/database

Investing in a pollution free ocean

Back to Blue
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.
Research
24 March 2025

Exploring nature impacts and dependencies: A field guide to eight key sectors

Ceres
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.
Research
26 March 2024

Advocating for nature: A guide for responsible policy engagement

Business for Nature
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.
Research
11 January 2024

Country & City Waste Landscapes database

The Circulate Initiative
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.
Online tool/database

The private investment landscape for a global circular economy for plastics: Insights from the Plastics Circularity Investment Tracker

The Circulate Initiative
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.
Research
29 July 2024

Diving deep: Finance, ocean pollution and coastal resilience

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
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.
Research
1 March 2022

Nature-related litigation: Emerging trends and lessons learned from climate-related litigation

Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System
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.
Research
3 July 2024

Plastics circularity investment tracker tool

The Circulate Initiative
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.
Online tool/database

ShareAction's voting matters series

ShareAction
Voting Matters are benchmark-series reports by ShareAction evaluating the proxy voting behaviour of asset managers on environmental and social issues. This report analyses the voting patterns of major asset managers to determine their commitment to responsible investment practices.
Benchmark/series

Greenpeace

Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Greenpeace International is an environmental NGO advocating for global environmental protection and sustainability. With a focus on climate change, deforestation, overfishing, and other ecological issues, it engages in activism, research, and lobbying to drive positive change. Greenpeace campaigns for renewable energy, biodiversity preservation, and the mitigation of environmental damage worldwide.
Organisation
1 research item
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