Sustainability Lessons

Being nature positive means that the world interacts with nature in a way that’s restorative and regenerative rather than just extractive. A nature positive approach enriches biodiversity, stores carbon, purifies water and reduces pandemic risk i.e., it broadly means halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 and last year we saw the term gaining traction. G7 leaders recently announced that “our world must not only become net zero, but also nature positive, for the benefit of both people and the planet.” Research from the World Economic Forum suggests that more than half of the world’s GDP is either moderately or highly dependent on nature and what it provides for businesses and mankind. Other analysts say the loss of biodiversity is already costing the global economy more than  $5 trillion  a year. When discussing sustainability, topics like emissions and pollution are heard most often. But the conversation surrounding biodiversity loss and sustaining nature is gro...

  What is Greenwashing and why is it done? Greenwashing or green sheen is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally sound. Greenwashing involves making an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly or have a greater positive environmental impact than they actually do. It is done in an attempt to capitalize on the growing demand for environmentally sound products. Some Other faces of sustainability deception Greenhushing occurs when a company withholds ESG information, fearing negative reactions from stakeholders or investors who doubt its sustainability efforts. While not explicitly dishonest, it restricts public access to vital data, making it harder to assess climate goals, share decarbonization strategies, and calculate Scope 3 emissions, which rely on widespread reporting. Greenwishing or unintentional greenwashing, occurs ...

The Malaysia SME Emission Disclosure Guidelines Simplified ESG Disclosure (SEDG) is a guide to help small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. It was launched in October 2023 by Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). The SEDG is aligned with the main global ESG frameworks and reporting standards, but it has been simplified to make it more accessible to SMEs. It consists of 35 priority disclosures that are divided into three categories: Basic: These disclosures are essential for all SMEs to report on, regardless of their size or industry. They include information on the company's ESG strategy, policies, and procedures. Intermediate: These disclosures are for SMEs that are more mature in their ESG journey. They include more detailed information on the company's ESG performance, such as its greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and employee diversity. Adv...

Introduction In the wake of the growing global concern about climate change and environmental sustainability, the need for standardized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting has never been more critical. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), an initiative of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, has taken a significant step forward by introducing a Digital Taxonomy. This digital framework promises to revolutionize ESG reporting by streamlining data collection and enhancing transparency, comparability, and accessibility for investors, businesses, and regulators alike. Digital Taxonomy: A Game-Changer for ESG Reporting The ISSB's Digital Taxonomy represents a comprehensive and structured system of classifying and organizing ESG data. It is designed to provide a common language for reporting entities, making it easier for stakeholders to understand, assess, and compare sustainability information. The Digital Taxonom...

  ESG as we all known is a way for organizations to be transparent about how they do business. Now, you might be wondering, How does all this ESG talk relate to me, the everyday common man striving to secure a comfortable retirement or provide for my children's education, whether they're already here or still just a dream? And the answer is pretty straightforward. To kick things off, let's explore a few key questions: ·              Am I leading a sustainable life? This might involve a bit of introspection or a quick overview of your day-to-day choices – the choice is yours. The primary goal here is to identify areas in your life where you could make improvements in terms of environmental, social, and governance considerations. ·              Can I evaluate my actions against the same standards as a business? The answer is a resounding "Yes," with ...

  LCA 101: Beginner’s guide A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an analysis of the impact one object has on the world around it. But how does it work exactly? In this guide you get a non-technical overview of: What we're covering today: 🔍 What really is a Life Cycle Assessment 🔄 The Product Life Cycle in LCA   1.      What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)? You probably asked yourself that question many times (sometimes without even knowing it). For example, in the supermarket: “ How environmentally friendly were the products I just bought? Should I have bought the tomatoes from The Netherlands or from Spain ? “ This, in a nutshell, is the question that a Life Cycle Assessment tries to answer. An LCA measures the environmental impact of a product through every phase of its life – from production to waste (or recycling, etc.) But LCA isn’t simple – there are countless factors involved: ·        Which raw mater...

Nature is in crisis. Biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and climate change are just a few of the challenges that our planet is facing. But there is hope. The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) is a new initiative that is helping companies and cities to set ambitious targets to protect and restore nature.  In this blog, I've presented the information in a question-and-answer format to assist readers in getting started with the topic. What is the SBTN? The SBTN was launched in 2020 by a coalition of leading businesses, environmental organizations, and scientific experts. The SBTN is developing a framework for companies and cities to set science-based targets for nature. This framework is still under development, but it is expected to be launched in 2023. Why is the SBTN important? The SBTN is important because it provides a clear pathway for companies and cities to make a real difference for nature. By setting science-based targets, companies and cities can ensure that their activi...