News & Views

booking.com recently released their latest sustainable travel report which reveals high percentages of travellers feel that while travelling sustainably is important, it is not a primary consideration when planning or booking travel.

One-third of their respondents feel the damage already done is irreversible, and that the choices they make are not going to change that, while a quarter of travellers don’t believe climate change is as severe as people make it out to be.

The survey reveals that almost half of those who responded believe that governments hold the most potential for countering economic impacts of travel, and travel service providers hold the key to counteracting the environmental factors. 

See the media release and a link to the report from the booking.com website HERE. 

As reported by ESG DIVE Amazon has it met a goal to match all of the electricity consumed across its global operations with 100% renewable energy in 2023, seven years ahead of its original 2030 target. This includes energy utilized in its data and fulfilment centres, grocery stores and corporate offices. Amazon has been able to accelerate its pathway to this sustainability target by investing “billions of dollars” in over 500 wind and solar projects across 27 countries which, collectively, can generate energy sufficient to power 7.6 million homes in the U.S., per its latest sustainability report, released the same day.

Amazon are now focussing on their supply chain and are pressuring their "highest-emitting" suppliers — those that collectively contribute 50 percent of its supply chain emissions — to demonstrate how they will reduce their emissions.

A Greenbiz report states that Amazon have said that they will prioritise their business toward those who provide their plans and results on their path to next-zero carbon emissions.

A lesson in managing Scope 3 emissions perhaps...?

See a report from ESG Dive HERE and another from Greenbiz HERE

In an article from EDIE, automaker JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) and tyre manufacturer Pirelli have announced that they have collaborated to roll out natural rubber tyres made using materials certified through the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) sustainability label.

It demonstrates that commodities, including wood and rubber, have been harvested from projects with no net deforestation and with robust consideration for nature preservation and conservation.

On the back of this announcement, Michelin have announced that they are swapping diesel for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel for its radial logistics fleet based out of Stoke-On-Trent. The fleet consists of 50 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which will collectively use around 400,000 litres of HVO annually. No doubt the trend will spread globally.

See the article from EDIE HERE

The pandemic created a new hybrid working environment that has affected they way billions of people work - for the better.

In an article from HR leader 3 in 4 parents say that if they were required to work 5 days a week in an office, they would look for another job.

New research by the International Workplace Group (IWG) found that 83 per cent said they were better parents as a result of the flexibility offered by hybrid working. Close to nine out 10 (89 per cent) said they are closer to their children and are more present (92 per cent), while 86 per cent said their family’s quality of life has improved.

The evidence is almost overwhelming as to why parents would be willing to leave their jobs if their employer enforces a back-to-the-office mandate.

See the article from HR Leader HERE

WGEA has announced the date for this year’s Equal Pay Day as 19 August, marking the 50 days into the new financial year that Australian women must work to earn the same, on average, as men did last year.

This year's theme, is "It just doesn't add up" and is a call to action for employers to contribute to improving workplace gender equality by investigating and understanding the environment in their own workplace.

Read the WGEA media release HERE

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the corporate climate action organization, reaffirmed its continued global growth, announcing that the total number of companies with science-based targets increased by 102% during 2023 alone compared to all previous years, fuelled in part by strong growth in Asia. 113% more companies set targets during 2023 than in 2022, according to the SBTi Monitoring Report 2023.

See the press release at the SBTi website HERE.

In an article from Travel Weekly, Lufthansa Group said it is facing "steadily rising additional costs due to regulatory environmental requirements." These include the EU's new 2% blending quota for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2025, adjustments to the EU Emissions Trading System and the costs complying with CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation).

Regulations will mandate the use of SAF's in the future and while airlines heavily invest in new aircraft and other measures to make flying more sustainable, these additional costs will no doubt eventually be passed on to the consumer.

See the Travel Weekly article HERE 

The UN Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCNA) 2024 Conference will be held on 30-31 October in Sydney.

This event will present insights from international sustainability leaders to solve the most pressing challenges faced by Australian organisations today.

The event’s program is tailored to the bespoke needs of Australia’s C-Suite and Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs), board members, and emerging and future sustainability leaders. It will equip them with technical and actionable solutions to challenges at the intersection of net zero, nature-positive, human rights and governance.

Find our more about the conference and register HERE 

In an article from Edie, they agree with the findings from KPMG as reported by ESG Today (below) in that almost two-thirds of businesses preparing to report under the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive have major challenges regarding data quality, as well as resources.

While 80% of companies believe the reporting process will further embed sustainability into the business, there is concern that sustainability remains 'siloed' and that the reporting requirements are not totally embraced. 

Read the Edie article HERE.

In a recent survey from KPMG, most large organisations acknowledge that they will soon be required to provide disclosures under one of several sustainability reporting systems over the next two years, however many are not sufficiently prepared to do so.  

Overall readiness is gradually improving, however challenges remain, the most significant being lack of internal resources.

Read about the survey HERE, as reported by ESG Today.