Sweden is an EU member state and benefits greatly from the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. Located in the middle of the Nordic region, Sweden has historically also cultivated strong trade relations and close cooperation with its neighbouring Nordic countries. Other main trade and export partners are Germany, the USA, and the UK....
Continue ReadingWith the passing of the Green Claims Directive, the EU now picks up the gauntlet against corporate greenwashing. By laying down stringent rules for how companies may deploy claims about their sustainability, the intention is to eliminate the practices of greenwashing that for so long have been misleading consumers into making unsustainable choices....
Continue ReadingIn this way, the sustainability report is much more than just a document. It serves as a key tool through which companies comprehensively inform their stakeholders about their sustainability policy, objectives, actions taken, and progress achieved....
Continue ReadingMany awards aiming to measure large companies’ ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance suffer from non-transparent jury selection processes. Meet the Integrity Star Award which presents a completely new approach and objectively evaluates companies against 4,000 criteria in their published sustainability reports....
Continue ReadingEnhancing its capabilities in Europe’s Nordic Region, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added independent Sweden-based Aspekta AB to its global network....
Continue ReadingThe urgent need for environmental preservation and social responsibility, businesses and organizations are stepping up to implement pioneering initiatives that go beyond profit-making. Embracing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, these innovative projects are driving sustainable change and shaping a more conscientious future for industries worldwide. Let us explore some groundbreaking ESG initiatives driving sustainable change....
Continue ReadingThe main role we have, as PR and communication consultants, is to advise and support our clients to build honest, truth-based communications. This is highly important for any communication area and it’s actually vital when we discuss about sustainability. Because we all need higher moral choices in this strange world we live in today, after so...
Continue ReadingThe Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its 2023 Best Practice Awards at an awards gala ceremony held at the FANG Restaurant in San Francisco and attended by more than 30 member agencies from across the globe....
Continue ReadingIn today’s financial landscape, the importance of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) is inevitably rising. In particular, Hong Kong has experienced a notable shift towards this trend, propelled by more stringent regulations. Nevertheless, a significant challenge emerges: many listed companies in the city grapple with seamlessly integrating ESG into their investor relations strategies....
Continue ReadingOver the past few years, awareness around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues has been on the rise among consumers, investors, policymakers, and the media. As a result, there is increasing demand for companies to measure and report on their ESG performance, enabling external stakeholders to assess their overall sustainability performance and improve their social and...
Continue ReadingThere is a lot of chatter in the events industry around sustainability and how frameworks such as the triple bottom line (TBL) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors influence event planning. The triple bottom line leans into the impression a company makes on its people, profit, and the planet, while ESG uses a more specific...
Continue ReadingAs 32nd President of the Public Relations Global Network, Andy See is also the first Asian president of one of the world’s largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. A native of Malaysia and founder and principal partner of Perspective Strategies in Kuala Lumpur, Andy started his one-year service at PRGN’s Member Meeting and Conference...
Continue ReadingUntil a few years ago, it was unthinkable for a brand to join and support a cause on purpose, because brands were expected to maintain neutrality and objectivity. It was a big No-No for brands to have an “opinion” on things like humans do, and corporate communications was restricted to announcements and figures on the company’s...
Continue ReadingThere’s no time to postpone establishing the necessary structures for proper ESG reporting. Capital markets demand essential non-financial information to make informed investment decisions, your biggest clients are under pressure to report on sustainability data from their suppliers – i.e. your company‘s data! – and the legislative requirements are getting stricter by the minute....
Continue ReadingStakeholder and customer expectations have changed drastically in recent times, putting much pressure on businesses and brands to actively engage and communicate. It is now an expectation from stakeholders that businesses must operate with more accountability to the planet and people, besides making profits. This is not just true of regulators and investors, but also of...
Continue ReadingWe have seen so much change in recent years. The world has rapidly shifted towards digital, and Industry 4.0 is sweeping across value chains of most if not all economic sectors. The age of PR (or Public Relations) 4.0 has arrived together with the massive shift to digital and social. PR4.0 is more than just about...
Continue ReadingIt is five minutes to midnight, at least when it comes to sustainability and corporate reporting. We are living in a time where demands from several stakeholder groups – be it NGOs, customers, investors or governments – have never been higher. To give you an example: no one wants to buy a T-shirt that has been...
Continue ReadingEthics and transparency, AI and innovations, ESG agenda and constant crisis mode – these are some of the key trends that will shape 2023 for brands and communicators, say PRGN’s leading global communications experts in our annual collection of PR predictions....
Continue ReadingNew Year’s resolutions are destined to be broken....
Continue ReadingSomething any public relations person or business can do today that will make a difference is to embrace sustainable development....
Continue ReadingNEW YORK-LONDON-BRUSSELS – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the appointment of Natacha Clarac, general director of Athenora Consulting in Brussels, Belgium, as its new Regional Vice President for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Natacha will replace Sara Pearson, Founder and Chairman of integrated communications agency Spider in London, UK, who...
Continue ReadingThe Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its 2022 Best Practice Awards at an awards gala ceremony held at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and attended by more than 30 member agencies from across the globe....
Continue ReadingFor the first time in three decades of bi-annual member meetings behind closed doors, the Public Relations Global Network is opening parts of its upcoming member agency conference in Singapore to external guests who can follow online the discussion of keynote speakers and PRGN experts on Oct. 12, 2022....
Continue ReadingOver the past few years, companies have been ramping up their efforts to create a more sustainable planet. This includes everything from reducing waste at manufacturing plants, finding innovative ways to cut back on plastic use, and even devoting time to giving back to the community....
Continue ReadingBeing a good corporate citizen should be a part of every organization’s overall strategy. It starts at the top and isn’t something that should be approached in a haphazard way....
Continue ReadingThe Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) by the European Union points to a dilemma that financial market participants (FMPs) might also face in the U.S. If FMPs, who primarily focus on small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), have to report on the sustainability performance of the companies they work with, they might not be able to gather...
Continue ReadingCompanies are increasingly expected to report in detail and comprehensively on their material, non-financial sustainability information. The pressure comes from various sides, especially from investors and politics. Among current developments making new sustainability reporting standards to become legally binding, the recently created International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) should be...
Continue ReadingOne of the primary problems with ESG reporting is trust. Because there are no universal standards by which companies report their sustainability efforts, investors and stakeholders must rely on the word of the reporting company to a significant degree. ...
Continue ReadingNobody can foresee specific events or disruptions, however, there are trends and forces that shape the future. One of these is sustainability – or what investors call ESG....
Continue ReadingThe Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its 2021 Best Practice Awards today in an online Awards Gala ceremony attended virtually by member agencies from across the globe....
Continue ReadingVirtual meetings are now an indispensable companion. They have helped and are continuing to help many navigate through life in a pandemic. In March alone last year, there were more than 200 million daily meeting participants on Zoom, both free and paid. In this era of advanced technology, coupled with the onslaught of Covid-19, the thought...
Continue ReadingWe can’t save everybody. We can’t find solutions for all the world’s problems as we don’t have unlimited resources. But it is our responsibility – as a company or as a brand – to do our best and have a positive social impact, now and in the future, in perfect alignment with our purpose. And this...
Continue ReadingIn 2018, teenage Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg caused a worldwide sensation by protesting outside the Swedish parliament to raise awareness for climate change activism. Since then, a whole gamut of issues associated with the environment has constantly been in the spotlight. ...
Continue ReadingClimate action is the most mentioned UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in corporate sustainability reports, according to the Global ESG Monitor, a unique study piloted by Public Relations Global Network members cometis, Xenophon Strategies and Currie, and research firm Kohorten....
Continue ReadingOver the last year, many companies have asked themselves: are we doing enough to address social justice issues that affect our customers and employees? And is it wise for brands to publicly take a stance on such issues? Leaders are understandably hesitant to step out of their comfort zone and court any kind of controversy....
Continue ReadingDoing your first ESG (environmental, social and governance) report is not as simple or straight-forward as it seems. In no way are we trying to deter you from producing your first ESG report. It is one of the most important reports a company does for responsible investors and key stakeholders....
Continue ReadingSustainability is becoming more and more important: People are aware of global challenges like climate change, pollution and social inequality, and they discuss them and ask for solutions. It is clear that companies have a major impact on social and ecological issues, so the pressure on them to operate sustainably is increasing accordingly. Not only because...
Continue ReadingThe world has a plan to end poverty, fight inequality and save the planet from climate change – the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)....
Continue ReadingCorporate stocks have seen a rollercoaster year due to Covid-19, political turmoil and social unrest all impacting market sentiments. And now news on the vaccines have arrived and are spreading hope on the stock markets again....
Continue ReadingAs the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on, the world is learning how to cope with it and businesses are looking for new opportunities the crisis presents. In the travel and leisure industry – my closer area of expertise – professionals are already brainstorming now not only about how to survive, but also how to use...
Continue ReadingThe Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted the marketplace and accelerated the move towards digitization, which is now embraced even by traditional “brick and mortar” industries....
Continue ReadingThe Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted the marketplace and accelerated the move towards digitization, which is now embraced even by traditional “brick and mortar” industries....
Continue ReadingWho doesn’t love redwood trees?...
Continue ReadingSustainability is no longer an optional extra. It’s becoming a core part of business. In 2019, 90% of the S&P500 published a sustainability report. Investors and customers increasingly expect companies to meet their sustainability criteria. The pressure is not just coming from board rooms. Two-thirds of employees say sustainability is extremely important to them....
Continue ReadingThe global hospitality industry has been dealt a devastating blow by Covid-19. Most hotels and restaurants suddenly lost the majority of their customers and are struggling to keep their businesses alive....
Continue ReadingThere used to be a time in which an investor’s main objective was to maximise the return on their investment without any regard for factors concerning the environment (E), social (S) matters, or governance (G). These times are over....
Continue ReadingCompanies and brands have never behaved as well as they are right now. For the past few weeks, we’ve seen a level of compassion and caring from brands that is “Hall of Fame” worthy....
Continue ReadingWhat do Unilever, Oxfam, Cambridge University and the German Federal Government have in common? They all report against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)....
Continue ReadingThe worldwide image of business lobbyists is rather negative: they fight to defend only their companies’ interests; they mobilize their energy to keep a status quo when the world is requesting changes; they act in the shadow. But this aversion to lobbying is not a fatality: the root causes of negative mindsets can be changed if...
Continue ReadingNobody is more strongly positioned to create long-term, sustainable change than companies. According to a 2016 PwC Global CEO survey, 64% of CEOs say that “corporate social responsibility (CSR) is core to their business rather than being a stand-alone program.” The Survey interviewed 1,409 CEOs in 83 countries with 76% defining business success by more than...
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