Blog

BSR interviews UPS Director of Sustainability Patrick Browne on the types of new technologies UPS has deployed, the impact they have had so far, and plans to further integrate tech into their sustainability strategy for 2020 and beyond.

As we look ahead to 2020, what are the pivotal human rights issues that businesses should be paying attention to? Here’s what BSR heard at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights.

The link between the quality of government institutions that implement policies controlling corruption and economic development is clear. However, in many parts of the world, corruption is still one of the biggest obstacles to social and economic development. In the long-term perspective, being a clean company makes it easier to do business.

This blog is the second in a series where BSR and Envisible document their project to support a global brand and its supply chain partners to establish a blockchain-enabled traceable supply chain that delivers sustainability benefits to all the actors in the supply chain.

While women are vital to the Italian luxury sector, gender inequality throughout the supply chain still impacts them in the short- and long-term. However, both brands and suppliers are well placed to lead efforts towards improved gender equality in Italy, in both supply chains and in the country’s overall sociocultural context.

If businesses fail to conduct conflict-sensitive human rights due diligence and integrate their anti-corruption and human rights efforts, they may be linked to human rights abuses conducted by a third party. BSR recommends enhanced human rights due diligence that is both conflict-sensitive and that integrates corruption risk.

To accelerate compliance of supply chains with deforestation-free and responsible sourcing principles, BSR and Transitions are excited to launch a new collaborative initiative for corporate buyers of palm-based derivatives alongside 11 member companies: Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD).

At the BSR Conference in 2018, BSR launched CoLab, an incubator and accelerator of private-sector collaboration, to mobilize the collective power of business to solve some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges. Its 2019 progress report, Mobilizing the Collective Power of Business, highlights its accomplishments over the past year.

BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer addresses the new climate for business and the urgency agenda for the upcoming decisive decade in his first Annual CEO Letter.

As CEOs call for a new capitalism that values purpose alongside profit, today BSR releases the findings of its 11th annual State of Sustainable Business survey, which includes responses from business leaders representing 125 global companies.

What can corporations do to demonstrate alignment between their political activity and corporate sustainability strategies and goals? We recommend the following three good practice approaches.

In today’s new climate for business, stakeholders are looking to understand the sustainability impacts of the entire company—including the products and services that generate its revenue. BSR member AT&T is an example of a company driving greater impact by making sustainability part of its revenue model.

Kaiser Permanente and BSR recently partnered with Newsweek for a survey of 300-plus multinational companies on progress toward carbon neutrality and found that 70 percent of corporations are experiencing disruptions in operations due to climate change. Now, these businesses’ efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and integrate sustainable practices into their operations have created new challenges—and opportunities—for global supply chains.

Google commissioned BSR to conduct a human rights assessment of its new celebrity recognition application program interface (API) while it was in development to identify, prevent, and mitigate potential human rights impacts.

During its summer meetings, BSR's Human Rights Working Group covered topics ranging from women’s empowerment in the business context to applying human rights considerations to artificial intelligence systems as part of its discussion on implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.