A global ethical investment group tracking corporate embrace of and action on climate change has commended Australia's Amcor for its approach to disclosure of climate change information.
The local packaging giant was named for the fourth consecutive year in the CDP 2012 ASX200 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an organisation which represents 655 institutional investors with $78 trillion in assets.
The CDP's index is a component of its annual Australia & NZ Climate Change Report, which highlight companies within the ASX200 index of local publicly listed companies that have a strong approach to information disclosure regarding climate change.
Companies are scored on their climate change disclosure, and high scores indicate good internal data management and understanding of climate change related issues affecting the company.
The index was compiled by analyst group Deloitte on behalf of the CDP, and is designed as an evaluation tool for institutional investors and other stakeholders.
The 20 highest scoring companies from the ASX200 are represented in the CDP 2012 ASX200 CDLI, with scores based on analysis of the responses to CDP’s questionnaire which canvassed those companies on their greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reduction targets and the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.
“Companies that make the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index have demonstrated strong internal data management practices for the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” the chief executive of CDP, Paul Simpson, said.
“They are also giving clear consideration to the business issues related to climate change and their exposure to climate-related risks and opportunities. This is vital to realising greater efficiencies, protecting the business from risk and capitalising on opportunities.” Amcor's vice-president of safety, environment and sustainability, David Clark, said the company's listing on the index vindicated its pro-active approach to addressing climate change and sustainability issues.
“Participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project and the CDP Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration are important elements of Amcor’s approach to sustainability and our commitment to responsible packaging,” Clark said.
“Being named to the CDP ASX200 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index is recognition for the efforts of Amcor’s co-workers to measure, manage, and report our greenhouse gas emissions and our commitment to meet our targets for reducing GHG emissions over time.”
Amcor this year was one of a number of packaging companies that said it would pass on increased costs from the federal government's carbon tax on to customer and partners.
It estimated the tax would incur an extra $32 million cost off its bottom line.
