Daily ESG Briefing: The Responsible Business Alliance launches ‘worker voice platform’ to promote labour rights

The Responsible Business Alliance has launched a Worker Voice Platform to help its members and their suppliers improve conditions in their international supply chains. The new offering by the non-profit coalition of companies, who aim to improve social, environmental and ethical conditions in their global supply chains, provides employees with surveys and grievance mechanisms, among other things. 

COVID-19 has increased the spotlight on the risk that the meat industries’ dependence on antibiotics in farm animals could render lifesaving drugs useless for humans, says S&P Global Market Intelligence. In a new report, the firm points to BMO Global Asset Management’s recent efforts to push 38 companies on their antibiotic use, as well as Tesco and Marks & Spencer demanding better "antibiotics stewardship" from meat suppliers. 

Credit Suisse has committed to developing Science Based Targets for its climate goals within two years, pledging to align its financing with the Paris Agreement and establish a Sustainability Advisory Committee, which will include external experts.

Women-led organisations made up 69% of the 160 investees that Big Issue Invest supported between April 2019 and March 2020, it has revealed in a new Impact Report to market the 10th anniversary of its first fund. Black-led organisations represented just 2% of leaders/founders, the report also found, as well as noting that disability was the characteristic least likely to be measured. These findings will be the basis of a 2021 diversity, equality, and inclusion strategy from the UK-based organisation. 

UK pension fund Nest has appointed Northern Trust to help it nearly double its emerging market equities allocation in coming months using a climate strategy. The fund expects the EM portfolio to reach around £930m, bringing the total assets run under its climate strategies to nearly £8bn – half of the whole portfolio. The strategy will weight allocation to companies based on a combination of energy efficiency, alternative energy and green building.