Companies are increasingly seeking not just business benefit but also competitive advantage from community and wide social engagement. Yet in tackling issues of common social concern, working together more makes good sense.
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REPORT
The UK Offshore Operators Association, which represents 35 oil and gas companies operating in UK waters, including Shell, BP, Esso, Mobil and British Gas, has published the first report describing the industry’s environmental impact. With a foreword by David Bellamy, it presents hard data on oil and chemical discharges, atmospheric emissions and waste management, in some cases with five year trends. It also discusses the difficulties of operating in the North Sea and Atlantic Margin, along with issues affecting the oil industry as a whole. The first time the industry has quantified its impact, UKOOA says the report will be annual, documenting improvements. Contact UKOOA on 0171 802 2400 (www.ukooa.co.uk)
BT REPORTS
BT has published a report on the telecommunications industry and sustainable development. A question of balance considers the economic, social and environmental impacts of BT’s products and services, and the future role of communications technology.
BT has also published its environmental performance report for 1998, A matter of fact. Paper purchasing policy, mobile phone recycling and the downsizing of commercial vehicle fleet are among the issues covered, with progress on previous targets cited and additional goals introduced. Contact 0171 356 5000 (www.bt.com)
NATIONAL GRID
The National Grid Performance Report for 1997/98, published in November, sets out the company’s environmental objectives, actions and targets, and details progress on each. Issues include environmental awareness training for staff, waste audits and management, and the phasing out of ozone depleting substances. Contact Stephen Hill, National Grid, on 01203 423632
NEWS BRIEFS
Hanson subsidiary, ARC, has donated £30,000 from its landfill tax Environment Fund to Groundwork Kent Thames-side to help develop a plot of derelict land, formerly used as brickfields, into a community park. The fund is managed by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation and Groundwork plans to offer Environmental Task Force placements under the New Deal, boosting local employment and training. Contact Chris Preston, RNSC, on 01522 574541
The government is seeking views on whether to continue the Environmental Best Practice Programme, which advises business on environmental technology and improvements in environmental performance. Run since 1994, the scheme has achieved savings worth £50 million a year. Contact Andrew Field, DETR, on 0171 890 6627
Up to two hours free telephone advice and information on improving environmental performance is available for smaller companies, through the combined Environment and Energy Helpline, announced by the government on December 1. SMEs account for one third of business carbon dioxide emissions alone. Contact Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 58 57 940
Editorial Comment
Rarely do companies work publicly together as an industry grouping. The natural fear of appearing to collude means much lobbying, for example, is conducted through industry associations. In corporate social responsibility, failure to work more together is not just a pity, it’s a hinderence.
On the critical issues of interest to communities and society as a whole, an individual company can rarely have much impact alone. Being the first to act risks attracting undue attention. Sometimes one or two `rotten apples’ can harm the reputations of everyone else, unless concerted action is taken.
Indeed, the closer individual community programmes get to focusing on the narrow needs of a particular company, the more important it is, paradoxically, to think about the impact of the whole industry. That’s what the beverage alcohol industry did in 1997, when 11 companies agreed the Dublin Principles governing their ethical cooperation with governments, scientific researchers and public health experts.
So it is good to see the oil and gas industry starting to communicate collectively. As a start, the report is good. More challenging for them, and more informative, would be to list not just aggregate discharge and pollution rates but comparative performance of each company in benchmark tables.
In parallel with developing corporate citizenship as a tool for competitive advantage, let’s also work together where it makes sense. After all, serving the common good is the very purpose of much of what we do.
COMMENTS