Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainability (Environmental and Social considerations and related financial impacts)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Potential underperformance in sustainability

Mitigation Strategies

• Linking sustainability metrics to executive compensation

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Deforestation
• Peatland degradation
• Climate change
• Air quality
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable agriculture
• Community relations
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Not disclosed

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Uncontrolled agricultural expansion leading to deforestation and peatland destruction
• Haze crisis caused by peat fires
• Statements from Indonesian administration opposing industry efforts to improve sustainability

Mitigation Strategies

• Support for government initiatives to enforce a moratorium on peat concessions and launch community-based peat restoration
• Holding executives accountable for contributing to the haze crisis
• Increased deployment of personnel to fight fires
• Private sector commitments to develop sustainable agricultural supply chains

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• No-peatland and deforestation-free sourcing policies

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Haze crisis
• Soil erosion
• Biodiversity loss
• Shifting rainfall patterns

Transition Risks

• Market shifts away from unsustainable products

Opportunities

• Boosting international confidence in sourcing from and investing in Indonesia

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainability (Environmental and Social considerations and related financial impacts)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Potential underperformance in sustainability

Mitigation Strategies

• Linking sustainability metrics to executive compensation

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental Impact
• Social Justice
• Governance
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Regenerative Agriculture
• Safer Chemicals

Environmental Achievements

• Switched to LEDs and passive solar lighting, installed programmable thermostats, reduced commuting and travel by encouraging employees to telework and use video conferencing, purchase electricity through Green Mountain Power’s CowPower program and offset GHGs with NativeEnergy.
• Reduced environmental impact by shifting quarterly newsletter to email format eight years prior.

Social Achievements

• Partnered with Hunger Free Vermont to make Vermont the first state in the U.S. to feed all kids at school.
• Engaged with Tractor Supply Company to remove bee-killing pesticides from their shelves and supply chain.
• Invested in community loan funds and private placements in mission-based companies and funds supporting economic and ecological resilience.
• Offered a strong health and benefits package, earning “Best for Workers” from B Corp for several years.
• Maintained a four-to-one ratio of highest-paid to lowest-paid full-time employee salaries.

Governance Achievements

• Incorporated as a Vermont Benefit Corp.
• Actively engages with portfolio companies on a range of issues to spark material change.
• Two-thirds women-owned.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Difficulty cutting through digital clutter with email newsletters.
• Balancing the Fed's dual mandate of controlling inflation and maximizing employment.
• Addressing childhood hunger in Vermont.
• Stigma associated with free and reduced lunch programs.

Mitigation Strategies

• Published a print publication to capture the spirit of Clean Yield and communicate effectively.
• Cautious attempts to gradually “tighten” Fed policy.
• Partnered with Hunger Free Vermont to advocate for universal school meals.
• Promoting universal school meals to eliminate stigma and improve access to food.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Preference for goods and services from local and independent businesses

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: B Corp

Awards & Recognition

• Best for Workers from B Corp

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
• Climate Change
• Healthy Democracy
• Racial Equity and Justice

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from 21 tonnes CO2e in 2019 to 7 tonnes CO2e in 2020. Electricity use reduced from 20,468 kWh in 2019 to 14,717 kWh in 2020.
• Successfully advocated for Mid-America Apartment Communities to publish its first sustainability report, including GHG emissions figures and reduction goals.

Social Achievements

• Developed a DEI plan focused on addressing racism.
• Launched a five-week series with clients aimed at understanding bias, racism, and building cultural competence.
• Focused impact investments on organizations working toward racial justice.
• Advocated for Wells Fargo to stop using mandatory arbitration for workplace sexual harassment claims.

Governance Achievements

• Committed to voting against slates of directors lacking racial and ethnic minorities starting in 2021.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Lack of racial diversity in company materials and website.
• COVID-19 pandemic impacting engagement and volunteer activities.

Mitigation Strategies

• Participated in the 21Day Racial Equity Challenge and We All Belong cultural competency training.
• Developed a DEI plan and engaged clients in DEI work.
• Focused impact investments on racial justice.
• Offsetting remaining GHG emissions with NativeEnergy.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Equity and Inclusion
• Climate and Environment
• Political Involvement and Democracy

Environmental Achievements

• Hain Celestial agreed to set a science-based greenhouse gas reduction target, leading to the withdrawal of a Clean Yield proposal.
• Mid-America Apartment Communities expanded its emissions reporting and started setting goals after engagement from Clean Yield.
• Productive conversations with Walgreens and Ahold about reducing pesticides in their agricultural supply chain.

Social Achievements

• Johnson & Johnson announced it would voluntarily end the sale of its talc-based products globally after a Clean Yield proposal earned 62% shareholder support.
• Home Depot started reporting workforce diversity data following a Clean Yield proposal.
• Reparations payments made to two Vermont-based BIPOC organizations.
• Waived management fees on new investments in catalytic below-market-rate impact investments benefiting BIPOC communities and businesses (Oweesta Corporation, Black Farmer Fund 2.0, and Boston Impact Initiative Fund II).

Governance Achievements

• Loews Corporation agreed to improve disclosure of its political involvement after receiving a Clean Yield proposal three consecutive years.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Bumpy emissions data in 2022 due to accounting for home office emissions in Scope 3.
• Anti-ESG campaign launched by Republicans at state and federal levels, threatening legal action against ESG practitioners.

Mitigation Strategies

• Expect to improve Scope 3 emissions data collection in 2023.
• Continued engagement with companies on political alignment and transparency (e.g., FedEx, Cigna, ExxonMobil).

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Engagement with companies to reduce pesticides in agricultural supply chains.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: B Corp

Certifications: B Corp