Steve Waygood, chief of sustainability research and engagement at Aviva Investors, said: "If companies were forced to publish long-term data on the environmental, human rights and health and safety implications of their projects – and investors could vote on these plans at shareholder meetings – it would force businesses to become more responsible." The comments followed last week's controversial Vedanta shareholder meeting, where the mining giant faced protests by investors and celebrity activists...Aviva Investors owns 0.3pc of Vedanta through tracker funds, but does not invest actively in the company because of ethical concerns. If detailed information is disclosed as part of a sustainable stock exchange initiative, Mr Waygood believes that better managed, more sustainable companies will have a lower cost of capital and find it easier to borrow money.