what marks us outlatest news
UN declares clean water a human right
2010/07/30
The United Nations has included entitlement to clean water in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The General Assembly of 192 member states approved by a majority a resolution to this effect. The resolution was put forward by Bolivia and supported by 33 other countries. more...
The rush to deep water – what next after BP?
2010/07/01
The international oil and gas industry is taking ever-increasing risks in order to extract the Earth’s last remaining fossil fuel reserves – at the expense of both mankind and the environment. That is the conclusion reached by oekom research AG’s latest study of the industry. The rating agency has evaluated how 27 of the world’s largest listed oil and gas companies are facing up to their social and environmental responsibilities and the challenges these entail. more...
oekom survey reveals high levels of customer satisfaction
2010/06/30
oekom research recently carried out a survey of its customers, the second since 2008. The aim of such customer monitoring is to gauge levels of customer satisfaction and to identify possible ways of further improving our range of products and services. Aspects covered by the survey included the quality of our ratings, the service-orientation of our employees, the importance of quality management and the use to which the various publications are being put. More than half of the total of over sixty customers took part in the survey. more...
France: sustainable investment market up by 70 per cent
2010/06/10
The French research institute Novethic reports, in the latest edition of its annual survey of the French SRI market, that the volume of sustainable investments by French investors has passed the 50 billion euro mark for the first time. Between the end of 2008 and the end of 2009, investment volumes increased by 20.8 billion euros, corresponding to growth of over 70 per cent. more...
Number of mutual funds in the German-speaking countries increasing
2010/05/31
As at 31 March 2010, according to information from the Sustainable Business Institute (SBI), there were a total of 330 sustainable mutual funds licensed for marketing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Approximately 31 billion euros were invested in these 330 funds on that date. more...
Caspar von Hauenschild to join oekom research’s supervisory board
2010/05/27
Caspar von Hauenschild is to become a member of oekom research AG’s supervisory board. His appointment was confirmed on 21 May at the general meeting of the rating agency’s shareholders. Von Hauenschild will replace Klaus Pyter, who has been a member of the board since 2001 and is now retiring. more...
GRI Oil & Gas Sector Supplement: public comment period
2010/04/30
Interested parties have until 2 June 2010 to comment on the draft indicators drawn up by the multistakeholder working group on a GRI Oil & Gas Sector Supplement. After this feedback has been thoroughly examined, the findings will be used in the development of the final guidelines. more...
Sustainability: Automotive industry changes to second gear
2010/04/30
In its latest industry analysis, the rating agency oekom research evaluated the world’s 15 largest listed car manufacturers according to environmental and social criteria. On a scale from A+ (highest score) to D- (lowest score), Renault came out on top with a score of B, followed by the BMW Group, also with a B, and PSA Peugeot Citroën with a score of B-. more...
France: sustainable money market funds on course for success
2010/03/12
As at the end of December 2009, 268 mutual funds were licensed for distribution in France – 41 more than in the previous year. This brought the total invested in this asset class to 34 billion euros, corresponding to an increase of 68 per cent compared to the previous year. more...
Canadian railway company joins sustainability index
2010/02/16
Shares in the rail logistics company Canadian National Railway (ISIN CA1363751027) will in future be included in the Hannover Stock Exchange’s Global Challenges Index (GCX). The company, based in Montreal, was promoted to the sustainability index after former GCX member Burlington Northern Santa Fe was taken over by the US investor Warren Buffett more...
Mutual funds in the German-speaking countries: offering and volumes growing
2010/01/29
According to figures from the Sustainable Business Institute (SBI), the number of sustainable mutual funds on offer in Germany, Austria and Switzerland increased during 2009. By 31 December 2009, there were 313 funds licensed for distribution in the German-speaking countries, whereas at the end of 2008 there had been just 274. more...
oekom Position Paper: Nuclear Power
2009/12/01
In its recent position paper on nuclear power, oekom research documents and analyses the arguments of proponents and opponents and sets out in detail how our analysts evaluate relevant activities when rating companies and countries. more...
Sustainability in the chemical industry: at a standstill despite advances in technology
2009/10/20
In its latest sectoral analysis, the rating agency oekom research has evaluated the world’s 24 major listed chemical companies against a large number of environmental and social criteria. The top overall rating, on a scale from A+ (top score) to D-, went to the German chemical company BASF with a score of B- more...
Sustainable mutual funds: range on offer in the German-speaking countries up to over 300 funds
2009/08/31
The number of sustainable mutual funds on offer in the German-speaking countries has passed the 300 mark. According to calculations by the Sustainable Business Institute (SBI), a total of 301 sustainability funds were approved for distribution in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as at 30.06.2009. more...
oekom Position Paper: Microfinance
2009/08/19
Since the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to micro-credit pioneer Muhammad Yunus in 2006, microfinance has enjoyed greater prominence. The basic idea behind microfinance instruments is to enable those people who do not have access to conventional banks and insurance companies to obtain financial services. more...
Ethics in core business: banks insufficiently committed
2009/06/19
For those seeking a way out of the current financial and economic crisis – particularly the banks, sustainable management has become the latest catchphrase. How are the world’s major banks currently placed as regards sustainability? oekom research has examined the social and environmental responsibility of 65 commercial banks. more...
Investors should take into consideration the economic value of biodiversity
2009/06/04
Eurosif (European Sustainable Investment Forum) and oekom research have jointly published a report highlighting critical business risks and opportunities in various industries linked with biodiversity and ecosystem services. more...
Sustainability in the telecommunications industry
2009/04/01
oekom research has examined twenty-three of the world’s largest listed telecommunications companies in terms of their social and environmental sustainability performance. The current study identifies the global challenges facing the sector and examines the extent to which the companies are facing up to these challenges and developing and implementing strategies and measures to make their business activities more socially and environmentally acceptable. more...
Quality of oekom’s research certified to new European standard
2009/03/30
oekom research is one of the first agencies to have succeeded in achieving certification of compliance with the new European quality standard CSRR-QS. more...
IT sector: lifestyle with guilt pangs?
2009/03/10
Is the enormous success of manufacturers of high-tech products achieved at the cost of child labour and environmental pollution? The environmental rating agency oekom research analyses the extent to which manufacturers are meeting their responsibilities toward society and the environment in the face of price pressures and the rapid pace of product development. more...
Sustainability in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry: making small steps forward
2009/02/04
In its latest sectoral analysis, the sustainability rating agency oekom research has evaluated the world’s 22 major listed pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies against a large number of environmental and social criteria. The top overall rating, on a scale from A+ (top score) to D-, went to the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis with a score of B more...
oekom research’s latest country rating: potential for improvement in the US
2009/01/28
“If President Obama means what he said in his announcements, then US bonds look set to become increasingly attractive for sustainably-oriented investors,” says Oliver Rüdel, Research Director at the sustainability rating agency oekom research, summing up the results of its latest country ranking. more...
oekom Position Paper: Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)
2008/12/22
Out of sight, out of mind? The technology which makes it possible to separate the “climate killer”, CO2, in power stations and store it underground has many proponents. Particularly in the light of an expected massive expansion of coal-fired power stations, notably in China and India, Carbon Capture & Storage CCS could make a key contribution to achieving the necessary reduction in CO2 emissions. more...
Vigeo and oekom research form a strategic partnership on bond research
2008/12/05
Vigeo and oekom research, two leading European Corporate Social Responsibility Rating Agencies, decided to join forces in the area of bonds on two levels.
1. Non-sovereign bond research
Vigeo now has the exclusive licence to distribute oekom ́s non-sovereign bond research throughout seven European countries more...
Financial crisis: oekom research calls for new incentive systems for managers
2008/11/10
One of the items under discussion as part of the rescue package for German banks is the capping of board salaries to 500,000 euros per annum. Robert Haßler, CEO of the sustainability rating agency oekom research, does not believe that this measure would send out the right signal: “The debate about the absolute levels of board members’ and bank managers’ remuneration is diverting attention away from the actual problem. more...
Sustainable investment on the increase in German-speaking countries
2008/10/08
According to the latest status report on the sustainable investment market in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, published annually by the German Forum for Sustainable Investments (FNG), in 2007 the volume of sustainable investments with German, Austrian and Swiss financial service providers rose by 69 per cent compared with the previous year. more...
UniCredit: ESG report
2008/09/23
For the first time, UniCredit Global Research presents a "Responsible Investment" (RI) survey of its entire German equity universe offering a unique product that combines "Environmental, Social and Governance" (ESG) and financial ratings for 140 German companies. more...
Utilities sector: half-hearted moves toward transforming
2008/08/29
oekom research has evaluated the sustainability activities of the world’s 30 major listed utilities companies, assessing them against a large number of environmental and social criteria. Findings: The utilities sector is paving the way for a transformation of energy system, but only rather hesitantly. more...
oekom Position Paper: Nanotechnology
2008/08/27
What exactly is nanotechnology? What are the opportunities and risks presented by this new form of technology? Where is it already being applied? In a six-page position paper, oekom research’s analysts throw light on this controversial technology, examining it from different viewpoints and explaining how they handle this topic when evaluating companies. more...
oekom Industry Report: Textiles & Apparel
2008/07/08
The winners of Euro 2008 have been decided. The winners in the sustainability arena are now also clear. oekom research presents the results of its latest analysis of the textile industry: on a scale from A+ (highest score) to D- (lowest score) Puma came out on top with a score of B-, followed by Adidas with a C+. more...
Climate check for funds and indexes
2008/06/24
With the debate about the consequences of climate change in mind, more and more fund managers and investors are asking themselves what the climate risks associated with their portfolios are. The “Climate Risk Portfolio Check” is a tool developed by oekom research for illustrating the nature and scale of the climate risks which particular investment products entail. more...
Sustainability in the Media Sector
2008/06/05
oekom research has scrutinised the activities of the 24 most prominent listed media companies worldwide. Levels of commitment shown in the media sector toward CSR vary widely: while the top performers continue to build on their commitment and take the subject very seriously, a small proportion of the companies looked at are still largely ignoring their responsibilities in environmental and social areas. The best overall ratings on a scale from A+ (best score) to D- (worst score) were awarded by oekom research to the British TV broadcaster ITV and the British science publisher Reed Elsevier more...
Financial market increasingly recognising the value of species diversity
2008/05/15
It is now possible to put a figure on the financial value of species diversity. This gives the issue an entry into the traditional financial market. Companies which specifically link adding value to the protection of species diversity could in future score well on the stock exchange. “Anyone ignoring the issue totally will be taking risks or missing opportunities. That may have an adverse impact on long-term business development,” says Rolf D. Häßler, Director Business Development at the sustainability rating agency oekom research. more...
Emerging markets: new risk management tool
2008/04/25
Involvement in emerging markets carries with it a considerable reputational risk for companies. Knowledge of the social and environmental situation in the relevant countries is essential in order to manage such risk proactively. oekom research’s Emerging Markets Risk Assessment (EMRA) closes this information gap. more...
oekom responsible investment portfolio: Sustainable Lifestyle
2008/03/31
Themed funds and certificates are growing in popularity. oekom research has identified this trend and is assisting its clients by developing products with themed portfolios. oekom’s “Sustainable Lifestyle” portfolio represents the first of these. more...
Growth across the board
2008/03/16
oekom research AG is continuing along its path of growth, and last year was able to increase the number of its customers (and thus also the total amount of assets under management it services) as well as significantly expanding its team of staff. more...
Increased profits with CSR
2008/02/28
Businesses are rapidly moving beyond the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as simply a necessary cost of doing business, according to two reports released from IBM and the Economist Intelligence Unit. more...
OECD Watch fact sheets
2008/02/05
OECD Watch and Eurosif are working together on the EU-funded project “Promoting Convergence of CSR Practices and Tools among European Socially Responsible Investors (SRI) and National Contact Points for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”. The project aims to promote the use of the OECD Guidelines among responsible investors and extra-financial ranking and rating agencies. more...
News archive
