United Nations present its largest-ever corporate responsibility survey The United Nations’ largest-ever corporate responsibility survey was presented on 8 April at the launch of the UN Global Compact Annual Review 2008. Based on survey responses from more than 700 Global Compact business participants in 90 countries, the Review measured and analysed the extent of corporate engagement in the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative. Indicating heightened interest in the management of environmental, social and governance challenges, participation in the Global Compact rose to a record high in 2008. More than 1,400 new businesses joined the initiative – a 30% increase over the previous year – bringing the total number of businesses in the Global Compact to over 5,000 in more than 130 countries. The Review finds that although corporations around the world are making progress in adopting responsible business practices, serious implementation gaps remain, particularly in supply chain management and subsidiary engagement. Contact: United Nations Global Compact www.unglobalcompact.org
CSR Asia and AIT Announce new CSR centre The establishment of the Asian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at AIT (ACCSR) was announced on 22 April as a joint venture partnership between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and CSR Asia. It will be located at AIT in Thailand. ACCSR aims to carry out training, research, consultancy services and eventually deliver a professional Master’s degree in CSR. It will provide a platform for dialogue among the private sector, public sector and civil society organisations on issues of sustainable development. Contact: CSR Asia www.csr-asia.com
BITC award to recognize contributions to MDGS Business in the Community has launched a new international award recognizing companies’ contributions to one or more of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. BITC say that the MDGs provide a framework and focus against which to measure and monitor developments addressing inequalities in health, wealth, education and opportunity that exist in the world. The awards are sponsored by Coffey International and are part of BITC’s annual Awards for Excellence on Corporate Responsibility. Contact: Business in the Community www.bitc.org.uk
Procter & Gamble one of Infoworld’s Green 15 Procter & Gamble was announced as one of International Data Group’s InfoWorld’s Green 15 award winners for 2009 for its success in reducing travel through the adoption and implementation of its Video Collaboration Studios using Cisco’s Telepresence technology. This is part of the InfoWorld’s Green 15 special feature published April 23. The InfoWorld Green 15 awards recognize the 15 most innovative IT initiatives that fall under this umbrella of sustainability. P&G began deploying Video Collaboration Studios across its global network in October 2007. Today, there are more than 50 studios up and running saving the company millions in travel costs. Contact: Proctor and Gamble www.pginvestor.com
OMRON and IBM collaborate on”green” transport On 2 April, IBM announced a new partnership with the Japanese sensor and control equipment maker OMRON Corporation to bring together the two companies’ technologies to provide “smart” solutions that lower energy use, reduce CO2 emissions and increase efficiency in transportation operations. IBM brings to the partnership its technologies that can plan the most efficient transportation routes for goods; while Omron as developed a range of tools for traffic control, sensors and automation. Together the companies will develop ways to help clients address anticipated regulatory restrictions and avoid penalties from CO2 omissions, initially for Japanese clients in the manufacturing and transportation industries. Contact: OMRON and IBM www.omron.com www.ibm.com
Media companies’ CSR issues identified Mapping the Landscape, CSR issues for the media sector report 2008, released on 6 April, maps out the complexity of being a socially responsible media company. The report will help members of the Media CSR Forum and others in the industry to focus their CSR and contribute to a more sustainable future through impactful communication. The report, undertaken by independent CSR consultancy, Acona, was commissioned by the Media CSR Forum members. Contact: Acona www.acona.com
Comment
This month two stories stand out from the pack: Asia and carbon in the supply chain.
Let’s start with a question. What do these three have in common: New York, Tokyo, London? That’s it, they are today’s main global financial centres! Will they still be the world’s major financial centres in twenty years time? It is a fair bet that they won’t. Whether the answer turns out to be New York, Shanghai, London or New York, Shanghai, Mumbai it is a racing certainty that Asia will be in there. Asia means growth.
The CSR world has not up until now shown too many signs that it reflects this shift. Arguably the three global headquarters of CSR are Amsterdam, London and San Francisco. This shows a higher correlation with strongholds of comfortable, liberal opinion than it does with dynamic economic growth. It is to be hoped therefore that the opening of the Asian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility is a harbinger of necessary change. If the centre just serves up the same old CSR agenda with a few Asian spices added it will have failed. The real mission is to define a different CSR agenda that truly reflects the views of Asian citizens and consumers, companies and government.
We learn that IBM has launched a new greenhouse gas emissions service for the supply chain. This is entirely to be welcomed. IBM points out that as much as 80% of green house gas emissions in the supply chain occur outside companies’ direct control. IBM claims to have a way of making 10% savings here. Good for them.
Little by little the scientific consensus on climate change has been shifting from ‘It’s a terrible problem’ to ‘It’s ghastly and it may be uncontrollable.’ The perception of the problem by companies and matching actions have not shifted in quite the same way. The danger is that companies, along let it be said with governments, may soon be perceived to be offering entirely inadequate responses to the earth’s most pressing problem. In this context IBM’s initiative is a small but welcome step in the right direction.
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