Responding to calls for a new assurance standard, AccountAbility is developing a second edition of its AA1000AS using a collaborative approach whereby CSR professionals, researchers, businesses and other interested parties are invited to get involved. Using a web-based ‘wiki’ process, AccountAbility is working with online magazine, openDemocracy, to ensure participation in the revision of this corporate accountability standard. The second edition of the AA1000AS will go live in October.
The Global Reporting Initiative has developed a new award, the GRI Readers Choice Award, to promote sustainability reporting around the world. The award – which is supported by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – will launch on October 1. The aim of the awards scheme is to capture the preferences of readers and also to alert potential new readers to the value of sustainability information.
There will be five main awards – based on the views of users such as investors, labour, civil society, employees/management as well as the media – and special awards will be given to the highest scoring reports from a non-business organisation, and an organisation headquartered in a non-OECD (organisation for economic co-operation and development) country and for a small company. There will also be an overall winner. The first award winners will be announced at the Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency in May next year.
Baxter International, the US healthcare company, published its 2006 sustainability report – Connected by a Higher Purpose – highlighting its social, economic and environmental performance for 2006. It also outlines Baxter’s future sustainability priorities. www.sustainability.baxter.com
British Energy
The UK energy company, British Energy, has published its CSR Report 2006/07, which focuses on partnership and the role this plays in the company’s operations. www.british-energy.co.uk
Gap Inc
Transparency is the main focus for Gap Inc’s Social Responsibility Report for 2005-2006 and it outlines the company’s progress with regard to its supply chain, community investment, employees and environment. www.gapinc.com
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company published its 2006 corporate responsibility review – The mark we make today shapes the future – on September 4. The report considers the link between business and communities with regard to sustainability and also provides information about company initiatives regarding employees, human rights, water, climate change, products and packaging. www.crreview.coca-cola.com
Bayer
Bayer, the German healthcare, nutrition and high-tech company, has published its Sustainable Development Report 2006 and also becomes one of the first German companies to record its indirect as well as direct carbon emissions. The report also provides information on how the firm aims to link commercial success with social responsibility and the environment. www.sd2006.bayer.com
Shell Foundation
The Shell Foundation has released its latest report – Down to business: New solutions to old problems – which explains its ‘enterprise-based’ approach to solving environmental and poverty-related problems and describes how its projects are benefited by the foundation’s close relationship with the Shell Group as well as outlining the foundation’s future objectives. www.shellfoundation.org
UPS
Package delivery company, UPS, has published its corporate sustainability report – Operating in Unison – which considers its impact on the local communities where it operates as well as its progress on sustainability. www.sustainability.ups.com
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