Reporting
Consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability for e-commerce packaging: Ryder
Ryder's 2026 e-commerce consumer research shows that consumer preferences for e-commerce packaging are shifting from a pure focus on low prices to a balance of environmental friendliness and experience. Compared with 2025, the proportion of consumers choosing corrugated boxes who recognize their "eco-friendly" attribute rose by 6 percentage points, and the proportion citing packaging sustainability as a driver of repeat purchases also increased by 6 percentage points.
Republican AGs press Big 4 firms over climate-related financial reporting
A coalition of 16 Republican state attorneys general sent a letter on August 24 to KPMG, Ernst & Young, PwC, and Deloitte, alleging that these accounting firms may have violated audit independence obligations by participating in sustainability organizations and initiatives. The letter was jointly led by the attorneys general of Nebraska, Alaska, Florida, and Texas, and was copied to the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the head of its enforcement division.
Black CFO representation falls 25% from 2021 peak as diversity levels off
The latest report shows that the number of Black CFOs in major U.S. companies has dropped 25% from its 2021 peak, indicating a stagnation in diversification efforts. Although the number of Asian and Hispanic CFOs has increased, the overall share of non-white executives has declined, reflecting a reversal in corporate DEI policies under the influence of Supreme Court rulings and executive orders.
Trump’s energy policy could cost US 540 GW of renewables, says NRDC
A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) shows that the Trump administration's energy policies, including repealing Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, imposing tariffs, and buying back offshore wind leases, could lead to a loss of 390 to 540 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage capacity in the US over the next decade. The report notes that these losses will not be fully offset by other new power sources, with only an estimated 9 GW of natural gas capacity added. Meanwhile, electricity costs will rise, with household electricity prices potentially increasing by an additional 4.2% to 5.5%.
Walmart flags fewer supplier standard violations
Walmart's fiscal year 2026 ESG report reveals a significant reduction in supplier standard violations, with total opened cases down 35% from the prior year. Unauthorized production allegations saw the steepest decline, while third-party audits indicate improved compliance levels.
Labor market exhibits ‘continued resilience,’ The Conference Board finds
The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index increased in July, suggesting continued resilience in the labor market, according to economic data scientist Conrad Qi. The rebound followed declines in May and June, but year-over-year growth remains modest at 0.6%.
TotalEnergies buys all of Shell’s European renewable energy assets
French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on Monday that it has acquired all of Shell's operational and under-development onshore renewable energy assets in Europe, totaling approximately 4 gigawatts. At the same time, TotalEnergies sold a 50% stake in a 1.2-gigawatt asset portfolio to investment firm KKR, with the portfolio valued at 1.8 billion euros (approximately 2.07 billion US dollars). Shell has been continuously divesting its renewable energy business, having sold India's Sprng Energy last month.
Sustainability teams narrowing focus, prioritizing compliance in 2026: report
A survey of 124 senior sustainability professionals shows that compliance and reporting have become the core work of teams in this field, despite continued budget and staffing cuts. The proportion citing regulatory requirements as a driver has doubled to 76% over the past decade, while CEO engagement has dropped from 55% to 36%. The report recommends that teams reflect on their enabling role within companies and remain vigilant about the social and environmental risks posed by AI.
GHG Protocol and ISO Announce Merger of Carbon Accounting Standards, Aiming to Launch Unified Corporate Standard by 2028
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced on July 29 that they will merge their carbon emission accounting standards to create a unified global corporate carbon accounting standard. The merger plan covers GHG Protocol's Scope 1, 2, and 3 standards and the Actions and Market Instruments workstream, integrating with the ISO 14064-1 standard. The draft is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2027, with the final standard planned for the fourth quarter of 2028.