June 2023 Week-1; Plug Power plans $6 billion hydrogen projects; Toyota to invest $2 billion in EV battery plant; Grupo Bimbo raises $850 million in sustainability-linked bond deal; World Bank approves $400 million for Dominican Republic affordable energy; Germany and Denmark sign offshore wind power cooperation; Walmart switches to new sustainable packaging; Accenture announces intent to acquire Green Domus to expand sustainability services…

See below for the highlights of the past week:

Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements

• Accenture Announces Intent to Acquire Green Domus to Expand Sustainability Services Capabilities
• Fujitsu and Microsoft Announce Global Partnership to Enable “Sustainability Transformation”
• Watershed and KPMG Partnership Takes Aim at Advancing the Global Climate Agenda
• PPG Sets 2030 Decarbonization Targets, Reports 2022 Sustainability Progress
• Walmart Doubles Down on Reducing Waste by Switching to New Sustainable Packaging
• ExxonMobil Signs Carbon Capture Agreement with Nucor Corporation
• DHL Launches its First Truck Fleet Powered by Biofuel to Reduce Carbon Footprint for Formula 1

Executive Moves

• S&P Global Sustainable1 Appoints Chris Heusler as President and Dr. Richard Mattison as Vice Chair

ESG Around the World

• Plug Power Plans $6 Billion Hydrogen Projects in Finland
• Singapore’s Energy Market Authority and IEA to Enhance Capabilities in Regional Power Grids
• World Bank Approves $400 Million to Increase Dominican Republic Green and Affordable Energy
• World Bank Approves $50 Million for Air Quality Improvements in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Germany, Denmark Sign Offshore Wind Power Cooperation Deal
• Iberdrola and Norges Bank Investment Management to Develop 1,265 MW of Renewables in Spain

Government & Regulators

• EU Parliament to Push Companies to Mitigate Their Negative Social and Environmental Impact

ESG Services & Tools

• Microsoft and Accenture Welcome Project Amplify’s Third Cohort of Social Impact Startups

ESG Investing

• CleanJoule Announces $50 Million Investment by International Consortium to Accelerate SAF Production
• NexWafe Secures €30 Million to Break Ground on First Commercial-Scale Green Solar Wafer Plant
• IFC Invests $20 Million in Boston Metal to Support Commercialization of Zero-Carbon Steel Production
• Toyota To Invest $2 Billion in U.S. EV Battery Plant To Drive Toward Carbon Neutrality
• H&M Group to Invest in Kintra Fibers to Enable a More Circular Fashion Future

Sustainable Finance

• Grupo Bimbo Raises $850 Million in Mexico’s Largest Ever Sustainability-Linked Bond Deal

Energy Transition

• Brightmark, Chevron Partnership Expands to Michigan with Second Largest Renewable Natural Gas Project to Date

Social Responsibility & DEI

• PepsiCo Releases 2022 Global DE&I Report: Gender Parity in Management Rises to 44%

ESG Research & Reporting

• US Foods Releases 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
• Center for Sustainability of Credit Suisse Publishes Study on Plastic Pollution

ESG Events