Organization: Amazon.com Inc.

Year: 2015

Description: RESOLVED:  Shareholders request that Amazon.com issue a sustainability report describing the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and goals, including greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals.  The report should be available on the company website by September 2015, prepared at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
We believe tracking and reporting ESG business practices makes a company more responsive to a transforming global business environment characterized by finite natural resources, changing legislation, and heightened public expectations for corporate accountability. Reporting also helps companies better integrate and gain strategic value from existing sustainability efforts, identify gaps and opportunities in products and processes, develop company-wide communications, publicize innovative practices, and receive feedback. 
Support for and the practice of sustainability reporting continues to gain momentum:

• In 2013, KPMG found that of 4,100 global companies seventy-one percent had ESG reports.
   
• The United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment has more than 1,260 signatories with over $45 trillion of assets under management.  These members seek ESG information from companies to be able to analyze fully the risks and opportunities associated with existing and potential investments.
   
• The CDP (formerly The Carbon Disclosure Project), representing 767 institutional investors globally with approximately $92 trillion in assets, calls for company disclosure on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change management programs.  Over two thirds of the S&P 500 now report to CDP. 

Amazon has minimal disclosure on how it manages ESG issues. By contrast, the company’s peers including Intel, Microsoft, Google, and Target have much more comprehensive sustainability reporting, providing goals, identifying areas of focus, and data on their progress.   Public disclosure of this information allows investors to learn more about how management is addressing near and long-term risks (e.g. operational, reputational, and regulatory) and opportunities.  

Reporting on the company’s impact on climate change is particularly crucial as it is one of the most financially significant environmental issues currently facing investors. We believe no firm is immune to the prospect of future carbon regulations or the physical impacts of climate change.
In addition, investors have an interest in understanding how the company manages labor and human rights issues. Working conditions in Amazon’s warehouses have drawn scrutiny and labor and human rights issues in corporate supply chains are important for any company involved with retail sales.

Data on occupational safety and health, vendor and labor standards, waste and water reduction targets are important business considerations. Not managing these issues properly could pose significant regulatory, legal, reputational and financial risks. 
While sustainability reporting is not yet required in the US, it is increasingly expected by companies’ shareholders and stakeholders. Investors are continually monitoring and evaluating the ESG performance of companies alongside financial information.  By telling a coherent story, Amazon can demonstrate how its values drive its practices and performance.

We recommend that the report include a company-wide review of policies, practices and metrics related to ESG performance.