Author name: Emily DeMasi

Emily McKinin DeMasi is a 2011 MBA/ MA Public Policy candidate and Peace Corps Fellow at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Her thesis work concerns Corporate Social Responsibility in the United States. She also works as a Research Fellow at Bridgeway Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in downtown Pittsburgh. Emily has worked as an Associate in a Private Equity Placement Firm in NY and as a Water and Sanitation Volunteer in Ivory Coast, West Africa. She hopes to combine her business background with her passion for development and inspire others in the fields of Sustainability and CSR.

2010 Edelman Trust Barometer Findings: Trust in Corporate America on Rise?

Special Report / By

Julie Urlaub’s guest post on Opportunities for CEOs in 2011 made me wonder where the public stands on their trust in business after this difficult economic year. Turning to the 2010 Edelman Trust Barometer I was surprised to find that global trust in business was up modestly from 2009, especially in the United States where it jumped 18 […]

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Stop & Shop Customers: Inspiring Example During the Season of Giving

Inspiring People / By

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company along with its customers increased its annual Food for Friends campaign by 40% from 2009, donating over $2 million to more than 300 local food pantries and regional food banks throughout Stop & Shop’s operating areas this year according to the CSRwire press release.  Customer contributions accounted for 90%

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Water Constraints among Investor Risks from Unproven Fuel Extraction Technologies

Investing / By

A recent report from Ceres details the risks to investors of the unproven extraction technologies of oil shale and coal-to-liquid fuels, according to the SocialFunds.com press release.  The report, entitled Investor Risks from Development of Oil Shale and Coal-to-Liquids, details a number of risks with both of these technologies that are not new, but are considered “still in the

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Students Drive Change Through SRI: How Universities Can Get Involved.

Investing / By

In the December 2010 issue of FAgreen, Jerilyn Klein Bier authors a feature article regarding college students driving SRI efforts through their universities’ endowments.  Bier reports that students at 39 U.S. schools have established Committees on Investor Responsibility  (CIR) while Yale University undergraduates are managing an innovative socially responsible endowment fund. This just two weeks after

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Heineken’s ‘Brewing a Better Future’ 2020 Sustainability goals target Water and CO2

Corporate Social Responsibility / By

Heineken’s “Brewing a Better Future” 2020 sustainability goals focus on CO2 and Water reduction according to the recent CSRwire press release.  On November 25th at the annual European Food and Drink Industry conference, Mr. Didier Debrosse, Regional President of Heineken Western Europe, highlighted the progress being made to achieve the company’s ‘Brewing a Better Future’

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Community Investment 2.0 through Place-Based Strategies at SRI in the Rockies

Investing / By

SAN ANTONIO, TX:  Today I attended an energizing discussion regarding opportunities for investors to invest directly in their communities.  At a conference dominated with discussions of shareholder activism, stakeholder engagement with big oil and the business case for integrated ESG reporting, I was worried that the break out session for place-based strategies for social finance

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The Global Water Crisis: A conversation with Maude Barlow at SRI in the Rockies.

Water / By

SAN ANTONIO, TX:  How fitting that my last post before arriving at SRI in the Rockies was about Bloomberg adding water data as part of its ESG offering; when the conference opened on the importance of  water, protecting the water commons, and what it means for the socially responsible investor.  After the official conference welcome

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Bloomberg Adds Water to its ESG Service Offering

Water / By

A recent post by guest contributer, Julie Urlaub, discussed the rising importance of water as a sustainability issue.  In it, Urlaub states, “clean, fresh, and ‘usable’ water is no longer just an issue for developing countries.  It has become a global social and business sustainability issue.”  This fact is more evident by Bloomberg’s recent announcement

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2010 Trends Report: Socially Responsible Assets Grow Despite Financial Crisis

Special Report / By

Concerns have been raised that consideration of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues in investment decision-making could suffer in the aftermath of the financial crisis and the lingering economic recession, however the 2010 Trends Report published by Social Investment Forum (SIF) indicates that this is not the case.  In fact, growth in sustainable assets outpaced

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Starbucks Corporation, Recipient of the “Green to Gold Award”

News, Sustainable Business / By

PITTSBURGH – PA:  Starbucks Corporation was presented the “Green to Gold Award” by Duquesne University’s Beard Institute today at the Fourth Annual Beard Symposium on Sustainability.  The Symposium, entitled, “Sustainability: The Changing Ground Rules,” addressed best-practices from sustainable organizations that have gone beyond compliance, how an integrated sustainability strategy boosts profitability and competitive advantage; and

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Calvert Report Ranks S&P 100 on Diversity Indicators: Who Made the Top 10?

Corporate Social Responsibility, Investing / By

Gender equality in the workplace is a lesser discussed issue in Corporate Social Responsibility, yet an important one.  A new report by Calvert finds improved disclosure of policies addressing gender diversity among S&P 100 companies; yet women and minorities are still underrepresented in the highest-paid executive positions according to the SocialFunds.com press release.  Calvert reports who

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Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield, Urges MBA Students to Ask Why Not?

Inspiring People / By

My colleague, Lane Jost, did an amazing job covering the 2010 Net Impact Conference in Ann Arbor this weekend.  As a first time Net Impact Conference attendee, I wore the hat of a MBA student instead of a reporter following the Corporate Impact Track and learning as much as I could about integrating CSR concepts

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Sleeping Well and Green at Marriott International

Sustainable Business / By

This was a good week for Marriott International which recently made two green ranking lists.  Coming in 12th on Computerworld magazine’s “Top 12 Green IT Companies” and 115th on  Newsweek’s 2010 Green Rankings, as reported by CSRwire and SocialFunds.com respectively, patrons with a green conscience can sleep well knowing  Marriott International, Inc. is doing their part to keep

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There’s an Oil Spill in Greenpoint, Brooklyn?

News / By

For three decades BP, ExxonMobil and Chevron have been slowly cleaning up a giant oil spill trapped beneath the ground in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Greenpoint, New York.  CNN Senior Correspondent, Allan Chernoff, reported that BP, Exxon Mobil and Chevron did not directly spill most of the oil; they inherited their respective properties in Greenpoint from predecessor

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Communicating Impact to Stakeholders: Bridgeway Capital’s Success

Non-Profit / By

In August I wrote about the inherent difficulty in measuring social impact.  Working at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), communicating impacts to stake holders, both quantitatively and qualitatively, is a challenge.  Fortunately, it is a challenge that Bridgeway Capital, a CDFI in Pittsburgh, PA  has met with success.  As Bridgeway Capital celebrates its 20th anniversary, I look at

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Preserving Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers: Water Matters!

Water / By

As part of Blog Action Day 2010, I felt compelled to write about a subject near and dear to my heart:  Pittsburgh’s three rivers.  This summer Pittsburgh served as the host city for the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) World Environment Day.  UNEP bestowed this honor on Pittsburgh for its story of transformation and its commitment

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The 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Index: Who made the top 10?

Corporate Social Responsibility / By

For the last three years the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Reputation Institute have created a ranking of the top 50 companies in the United States that the public distinguishes for corporate social responsibility. See who holds the top 10 spots as esteemed by the American public and which industries did not make the cut.

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Strategically Aware Investing: Do We Really Need Another Acronym?

Investing, Opinion / By

The world of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting is not always easy to navigate.  It is heavily laden with definitions that often overlap, yet their users (or opponents) attempt to keep them distinct.  I always thought this peculiar.  If a company is concerned with reporting

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Sustainable Packaging: Are Mushrooms the New Styrofoam?

Innovation and Design / By

Ever wonder what happens to all that styrofoam and packaging surrounding your new plasma tv or furniture? Product designer Eben Bayer tells the hard truth about styrofoam and plastics and introduces a new, fungus-based packaging material that protects fragile merchandise.  Even better, it protects the environment! Watch this short video from TED.com and find out more

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Principles for Responsible Investment: Who Reported In 2010?

Investing / By

The United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is an investor initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact that aims to incorporate issues of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) in investment portfolio decisions.  Their Report on Progress 2010 highlights greater participation of institutional investors worldwide.  See whose reporting and what

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Groundbreaking Law in Cleveland Supports Sustainable Business

Policies, Sustainable Business / By

Cleveland’s ‘buy local and sustainable law’ is the first law in the U.S. providing advantages for sustainable companies bidding on City contracts.  According to CSRwire’s press release,  local companies can gain a 4% bid discount when pursuing contracts with the City of Cleveland by completing the first stage of Green Plus certification.  Can this law serve as

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