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Over the last 12 months, challenges around addressing sustainability issues have featured consistently in global headlines. Despite mixed political messages about our transition to a low-carbon future, the private sector has continued to drive sustainability up the business agenda; from Science Based Targets (SBTs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to increased investor scrutiny over Non-Financial Reporting. Here are eight key topics from around the world which will likely shape sustainability during 2018.

In its 2017 Annual Report, the Chemical Footprint Project - an initiative driving the effective management of chemicals in product supply chains - demonstrates how chemical footprinting is increasingly moving towards the mainstream. The report shares how businesses from across industries stack up against four pillars - management strategy, chemical inventory, footprint measurement and public disclosure and verification - and provides investors and purchasers with data that enables them to benchmark firms on their progress.

The amount of trash produced by K-Cup pods sold for home and office coffee brewing by Dunkin' Donuts may not be worth the revenue, say some of the chain's shareholders. One investor has called on the board of directors to provide a report on the issue by October.

In recent weeks, the large multinational Dutch bank ING and Norwegian bank DNB announced plans to sell off their stakes in loans funding the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. The divestments came as activist investors stepped up their calls for banks and other financial institutions to stop financing projects related to fossil fuels development.

Palm oil production is a big business in Malaysia and Indonesia, but environmental pollution is one of the industry's biggest problems. A Silicon Valley company hopes to turn that problem into a profit by converting wastes from palm oil production into fuel

Hasbro set new 2020 sustainability goals of reducing scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 20%, landfill waste 50%, energy consumption 25%, and water use 15% from 2012 levels at owned and operated facilities.

Colgate-Palmolive issued a new Policy on No Deforestation, which commits the company to sustainably sourcing pulp, paper, palm oil, soy, and beef tallow. The company also pledged to achieve full traceability of its palm oil supply chain by 2015 under the policy.

Tyson Foods announced plans to eliminate the use of human antibiotics from its U.S. broiler chicken flocks by September 2017.

SunEdison started building a 110 MW solar power plant in Santiago, Chile. The project is expected to be the largest solar power installation in Latin America.

Another resolution, filed with J.M. Smucker, was withdrawn this week by co-filers Clean Yield Asset Management and Green Century Capital Management when the company agreed to stringent guidelines on the sourcing of palm oil.

Kimberly-Clark will feature the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) logo on its Forest Stewardship Council- certified products to raise consumer awareness about the importance of choosing products made from responsibly sourced fiber. As part of the partnership, the company will contribute $4 million to WWF's forest and ecosystem protection programs.

Climate risk has arrived as a business issue to be reckoned with. Over the last year, the investment community sent a clear message that they are focused on environmental sustainability and expect companies in which they invest to do the same.