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As part of ESG research at Credit Suisse, the bank has regularly analysed the topic of workplace diversity and correlations of corporate performance.

The CS Gender 3000 showed how increased gender diversity at senior management and board level coincides with superior share-price performance.

Workplace diversity and inclusion can be expanded beyond gender to also include: sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, race and socio-economic factors.

Credit Suisse's LGBT 350 analysis investigates the performance of companies with strong diversity and inclusion practices. It found that a basket of 350 LGBT friendly companies performed better in terms of financial performance and share price performance than the MSCI AC World index for the same period.

Shoppers will now be able to select a Dove stainless steel refillable deodorant case at Target and Walmart stores across the US. Shoppers then buy Dove deodorant refills when they need them. Part of an initiative launched by Unilever in 2019 to reduce the use of virgin plastic by more than 20,500 tonnes per year, the design uses 54% less plastic than the brand’s regular deodorant, and 98% of the plastic that it does use is recycled.

Companies that “embrace circularity and digitization at the same time” will dominate the fashion industry, says Vanessa Rothschild, H&M Group’s global sustainability steering and development manager.

Read more here.

Read McKinsey's latest report on the state of fashion 2021.

Unilever and Innova Partnerships have launched a joint venture biotechnology company, Penrhos Bio, to commercialize a technology that means self-cleaning surfaces could become a reality.

The world first breakthrough has come with the introduction of an organic compound called Lactam which can block, or prevent, bacteria and mould on everyday surfaces.

This patented technology, which Unilever has been researching for over 10 years, is developed from natural chemicals in seaweed biology and has the potential to be used in a range of situations - from preventing fungal growth in washing machines and dishwashers to self-cleaning banknotes.

Britain began vaccinating its population with Oxford University and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot on Monday in a world first, racing to give protection to the elderly and vulnerable as a new surge of cases threatened to overwhelm hospitals.

Read more here.