NFRCSR (Non-Financial Reporting and CSR) Resource Centre >
International section >
Latest News Notes and related content Detailed map of International section Sitemap
International normative frameworks
Standardization and CSR; Standards for (on) CSR
· York University (Toronto) >>
o CSR = Compendium of Ethics Codes and Instruments of Corporate Responsibility (By Dr. Wesley Cragg and Ran Goel) > e.g.
§ Guide to CSR Instruments profiles 16 leading standards, codes, guidelines and principles of corporate responsibility.
· GRI Global Reporting Initiative >
o Learning & Support > Journal Articles >
§ Executive Briefing: The Future of Corporate Responsibility Codes, Standards and Frameworks (.pdf, April 2005, 4 pp.; By Ernst Ligteringen, GRI and Simon Zadek, AccountAbility)
· The Executive Briefing demystifies the confusion surrounding the various tools on offer to companies wishing to systematically address corporate responsibility as part of their business strategy.
· WBCSD World Business Council for Sustainable Development > e.g.
o Focus Areas > Business Role > Publications >
§ Issue Management Tool : Strategic challenges for business in the use of corporate responsibility codes, standards, and frameworks (October 2004; .pdf has 48 pp.; Prepared by the AccountAbility for WBCSD)
· CSRwire »The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire« > e.g.
§ A searchable online resource guide listing more than 2,700 organizations working on all aspects of corporate social responsibility in 105 countries.
§ > e.g.
· Search Category:
o Accountability and Monitoring Orgs
o Business Policy Global Networks
o International Business Policy Orgs
o International Orgs
o Labor Orgs & Programs
o National & Local Gov't Programs and Initiatives
o National & Regional Business Orgs
o Parliaments & Networks
o Principles
o Professional & Pro Bono Orgs and Programs
§ See also:
· Policy Innovations »online magazine features ideas for a fairer globalization and a network of innovators.« >
o Ideas >
§ Policy Library > e.g.
· Global Survey of Environmental, Social and Governance Policies (December 2009; By Michael Kane) >
o Global Survey of Environmental, Social and Governance Policies with National Governments, International Organizations and Institutional Investors (.pdf, Revised 31 December 2009, 30 pp.)
o See also
§ earlier versions at: ASrIA (.pdf, Revised 29 May 2009, 20 pp.), RI Responsible Investor (.pdf, 20 October 2008, 14 pp.; Entitled »Business & Society Highlights 2008«), UN Global Compact (.pdf, Revised 5 February 2008, 10 pp.), EthicsWorld (entitled »Business and Society Highlights of 2006«)
· UN Global Compact > e.g.
o About Us > e.g.
o Issues > e.g.
§ Human Rights
§ Labour
§ Environment
§ Anti-Corruption
§ Business and Peace
§ Financial Markets
§ Partnerships for Development
§ UN/Business Partnerships
§ Supply Chain Sustainability
o News & Events > e.g.
§ Archive >
· Event Archive > Leaders Summit 2007 (5-6 July 2007, Geneva)
· AccountAbility = Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility (UK) > e.g.
o Our work > e.g.
§ Responsible Competitiveness
§ Accountable organisations & institutions
· AccountAbility works with leading businesses and other organisations that are commited to becoming more accountable. We develop tools and standards for organisational accountability which drive performance and enable people to have a voice in the decisions that affect them.
§ Strategic planning
§ AA1000 Series
§ Stakeholder engagement
§ Collaborative Governance
· GRI Global Reporting Initiative
o The GRI's vision is that reporting on economic, environmental, and social performance by all organizations is as routine and comparable as financial reporting.
o The GRI network accomplishes this vision by developing, continuously improving and building capacity around the use of a Sustainability Reporting Framework, the core of which are the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.
· WBCSD World Business Council for Sustainable Development > e.g.
o Focus Areas >
§ Energy & Climate
§ Development
§ Business Role
· Societal perceptions of the role of business have shifted markedly in the last two decades. While the core function of business remains innovation, technology development, capital investment and the implementation of sound management capability for wealth creation, business is increasingly being looked upon as a bringer of solutions to global problems.
· The Business Role Focus Areas aims to engage, equip and mobilize current and future business leaders to demonstrate business' evolving role in a sustainable society and to assist it to achieve this new vision.
§ Ecosystems
o Projects >
§ Water
§ Energy Efficiency in Buildings
§ Forest Products
§ Cement
§ Electricity Utilities
§ Tire Industry
§ Mobility
§ Mining & Minerals
o Initiatives
§ Eco-Patent Commons
§ Urban Infrastructure
· IBLF The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum
o The International Business Leaders Forum works with business, governments and civil society to enhance the contribution that companies can make to sustainable development.
o > e.g.
§ What we do = Activities >
· What we do:
o Social Development
§ Improving the capacity of the society to fulfill its aspirations
§ >
· Corruption
· Digital Partnership
· Health
· Human Rights
o Economic Development
§ Improving economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs
§ >
· Business Linkages
· Social Enterprise
· Youth Employment
· Conflict Zones
o Environmental Development
· How we work:
o Leadership (and Advocacy)
§ Working with the world's top business and development leaders is a vital part of IBLF's strategy. IBLF's Crossing Borders initiative is a key way in which the organisation engages leaders in development challenges.
§ >
· Leadership Visits
· Clinton Global Initiative
· United Nations
· Business Call To Action
o Partnerships
§ Organisations can achieve their goals more effectively through working together rather than by working alone. IBLF helps businesses, NGOs and governments work together through partnerships.
§ >
· Building Competencies
· Strengthening Organisations
· Institutional Work
o Business Standards
§ At the base of IBLF's approach to responsible business is enabling business to understand and respond to the development challenges that they face when operating in transition and emerging economies.
o Networks
§ Through the creation and development of networks, such as the Alcan Prize for Sustainability or ENGAGE, IBLF is able to raise the profile of its goal of putting business at the heart of sustainable development.
· >
o IBLF programmes:
§ IBLF Digital Partnership
§ IBLF Tourism Partnership
§ The Partnering Initiative
§ Youth Career Initiative
o >>
§ International Initiatives to Promote Responsible Business – A Navigation Guide for Business (.pdf, October 2008, 21 pp.; By Anna Bohman and Graham Minter)
· This document aims to provide a user-friendly, balanced and impartial guide to help businesses to navigate their way through this maze. It seeks to articulate clearly the key aspects of three cross-industry initiatives:
o The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
o The United Nations Global Compact Principles
o The IFC Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability
· > also
o Annex: International Guidelines (pp. 18-19)
· WEF World Economic Forum (Geneva, Switzerland) > e.g.
o Initiatives
o Media >
§ Latest Press Releases > e.g.
· Business leaders urged to take part in greater public-private cooperation to strengthen public governance (25 January 2008) >
o Partnering to Strengthen Public Governance – The Leadership Challenge for CEO’s and Boards (.pdf, 20 pp.)
§ See also:
· related press release at CSRwire: BSR News from Davos: Businesses Urged to Take Part in Greater Public-Private Cooperation to Strengthen Global Governance (25 January 2008)
· ILO International Labour Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) > Offices, Departments and Programmes > e.g.
o Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
o Employment > e.g. Job creation and enterprise development > e.g.
§ Management and Corporate Citizenship Programme > e.g.
· Management Systems & Decent Work
· Standards, Management & Enterprises
§ The Multinational Enterprises Programme is responsible for the promotion and follow-up of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) > e.g.
· Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) >
o CSR and Decent Work (CSR Activities at the ILO):
§ Safework
§ Social Dialogue
§ International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
§ Multi
o Global Compact (The ILO and the UN Global Compact)
o ISO
o > also
§ ICFTU policy on CSR (ITUC since November 2006)
§ IOE policy on CSR
§ INFORM Resource Guide on CSR
· Promotional Activities and Technical Cooperation:
o Promotional Activities:
§ Tripartite Seminars
o Technical Cooperation:
§ Sustainable Development through the Global Compact
§ Piloting CSR through globally agreed guidelines project
· Research (Publications) > e.g.
o Information note on corporate social responsibility and international labour standards (.pdf, November 2003, 15 pp.)
o ILO homepage > e.g.
§ Site map > Offices, Departments and Programmes > e.g.
· Reporting to the Director-General > e.g.
o Policy Integration Department > e.g.
§ Globalization > e.g.
· Publications > e.g.
o Working Paper No. 27:
§ Corporate social responsibility: an issues paper (.pdf, May 2004, 41 pp.; By: Michael Hopkins)
o Working Paper No. 34:
§ Corporate social responsibility: an overview of principles and practice (.pdf, May 2004, 31 pp.; By: Jill Murray)
· Historical (ICFTU became ITUC in November 2006)
o ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (Brussels, Belgium; No longer updated ??) >> e.g.
§ A Trade Union Guide to Globalisation (November 2004, Second Edition; .pdf has 172 pp.) > e.g.
· Chapter 6: The Social Responsibilities of Business (.pdf has 29 pp.)
· OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development > e.g.
o By Topic > Governance >
· Corporate Governance Principles
· Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises > e.g.
o What's new > e.g.
§ OECD-ILO Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (23-24 June 2008; Relating to OECD-ILO Conference on employment and industrial relations: Promoting responsible business conduct in a globalising economy) > e.g.
· Documentation > e.g.
o Background document: Overview of selected initiatives and instruments relevant to corporate social responsibility (.pdf, 32 pp.; Prepared by Paul Hohnen)
§ Private CSR initiatives: Corporate Codes of Conduct, Multi-stakeholder Initiatives, Certification and Labelling, Model Codes, Sectoral Initiatives, International Framework Agreements (IFAs), Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Initiatives
§ Standards endorsed by governments (Although approaches to CSR are for each company to determine, government has an important role to play in helping to shape their understanding of what is generally expected of them. At the international level, governments have adopted standards and principles in conventions and declarations which constitute an international normative framework.)
o By Department >
§ OECD Secreteriat > DAF Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs > International Investment >
· World Bank > e.g.
o Learning > Learning Programs >
§ Business, Competitiveness, & Development > e.g.
o (Articles, Papers, Case studies, Educational tools, Presentations, Reports; Last updated in 2004 ??)
· More Resources = Virtual Resource Centers > e.g.
o Key Corporate Responsibility Codes, Principles and Standards
§ See also
· CommDev (IFC/World Bank) »The Oil, Gas and Mining Sustainable Community Development Fund« >
o International Standards - International standards can be largely grouped into the following four categories:
§ Codes, Standards and Guidelines
· IFC International Finance Corporation >
o Topics A-Z >
§ Financial & Private Sector Development >??>
· Corporate Social Responsibility >??> e.g.
o Research (Publications) > e.g.
§ Diagnostic (and Appraisal) Tool (2003)
· »The purpose of the tool is to aid in the formulation of recommendations on public sector interventions and instruments that can be appropriately deployed in encouraging CSR.«
· > e.g.
o Annex B: Instruments, Standards, Codes, Guidelines and Company Reports used in Compiling the CSR Categories and Practices (.pdf, 5 pp.; with hypertext links)
§ Public Sector Roles in Strengthening CSR
o News > e.g.
§ Press Releases > e.g.
· IFC and AccountAbility to Help Emerging Market Companies Become CSR Leaders (16 October 2008)
· UNIDO UN Industrial Development Organization > e.g.
o Services > e.g.
§ Private Sector Development > e.g.
· Clusters & Business Linkages Unit > e.g.
o CSR - Reaching out to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises > e.g.
§ Projects >
· UNRISD (UN Research Institute for Social Development; Geneva, Switzerland; Also French and Spanish versions of website) »carries out research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development« > e.g.
o Research > e.g.
§ Markets, Business and Regulation
· UNRISD's work for the Markets, Business and Regulation Programme Area focuses on the following aspects:
o Privatization and commercialization of public services
o Institutional dimensions of business regulation
o Activism, corporate globalization and policy responses
o Business and poverty reduction
· > Research Projects: e.g.
o Business Responsibility for Sustainable Development (2000-2005)
§ The Business Responsibility for Sustainable Development project promotes research and policy dialogue on corporate social and environmental responsibility. It examines whether or not transnational corporations (TNCs) and other companies are taking meaningful steps to improve their social and environmental record, particularly in developing countries.
§ Considerable attention is focused on the effectiveness of "voluntary initiatives" such as codes of conduct, social and environmental reporting, certification, labelling, corporate social investment and improvements in environmental management systems.
§ > This Project's... > e.g.
· Publications > e.g.
o Rethinking Business Regulation: From Self-Regulation to Social Control (1 September 2005, 54 pp.)
o Barricades and Boardrooms: A Contemporary History of the Corporate Accountability Movement (6 June 2004)
· Unpublished Papers > e.g.
o Regulating Corporations: A Resource Guide (July 2004, 51 pp.; By Desiree Abrahams)
· Research Team > e.g.
o Research Co-ordinator(s):
· Or:
o Homepage >
§ Quick links >
o »Advanced Search« might be useful
· Chatham House - The Royal Institute of International Affairs (St James's Square, London) > e.g.
o Research > e.g.
§ Energy, Environment and Development > e.g.
· Reports and Papers > e.g.
o Following up the World Summit on Sustainable Development Commitments on Corporate Social Responsibility: Options for Action by Governments (February 2005; .pdf has 105 pp.)
§ Addendum - International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (May 2006, By Paul Hohnen; .pdf has 18 pp.)
o Following-up the WSSD commitments on Corporate Social Responsibility (February 2004; .pdf has 75 pp.)
· UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) > e.g.
o Our Projects >>
§ Resource Efficiency Instruments (2007)
· The CSCP together with the German Society for Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit – GTZ) and the Wuppertal Institute have jointly published a compendium of policy instruments for resource efficiency.
· Eldis »sharing the best in development policy, practice and research« > e.g.
o Topics > Resource guides >
· Europa >> European Commission >>
o Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities > e.g.
§ What we do > Partners >
o We promote the Social Dialogue between the representatives of the European trade unions and employers' organisations – the social partners.
· Non-governmental organisations > Related Links:
o Social Platform = Platform of European Social NGOs > e.g.
§ Policy and Action > e.g.
· Corporate Social Responsibility >
o News
· Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) > e.g.
o Further Information >
§ Events > Events Archive > e.g.
· Partnership and transparency at the heart of European Corporate Social Responsibility (30 October 2008)
o Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a rapidly developing area in Europe and this dynamic is an integral part of the fight for social cohesion, economic growth and sustainable development on our continent.
o See also:
§ Related article at GRI: How can governments play a role in promoting sustainability? (25 November 2008)
· Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR at the global level: what role for the EU? (7 December 2007)
o The international dimension of Corporate Social Responsibility is a main pillar of the CSR strategy of the European Commission, with the ambition to make Europe a pole of excellence in CSR.
o Related Documents >
§ Corporate social responsibility - National public policies in the European Union (.pdf, September 2007, 100 pp.)
o >> (historical): Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) website > also
§ CSR at national level > Compendium on national public policies on CSR in the European Union
· See also:
o RIMAS Research Institute for Managing Sustainability (Vienna, Austria; also here) > Projects > EU projects >
§ CSR policies in Europe = Analysis of national public policies on CSR, in support of a structured exchange of information on national CSR policies and initiatives
o Enterprise and Industry >
§ Policy highlights: Sustainable and responsible business >
· Corporate social responsibility > e.g.
o Promoting CSR in industrial sectors
o Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR >
§ Plenary meeting 2009 = Forum Meeting, February 2009 = “CSR Review meeting” CSR Multi-Stakeholder Forum (10 February 2009, Brussels) >
· Speech by Vice-President Verheugen (.pdf has 5 pp.)
· Watch recorded highlights of the CSR Forum meeting
· European Commission activities to promote CSR 2007 - 2008 (.pdf has 24 pp.)
o This document is structured according to the 8 priority areas for action outlined in the Commission’s Communication on CSR adopted in March 2006 (COM(2006)136 final).
§ 1. Awareness-raising and best practice exchange.
§ 2. Support for multistakeholder initiatives.
§ 3. Cooperation with Member States.
§ 4. Consumer information and transparency.
§ 5. Research.
§ 6. Education.
§ 7. Small and medium-sized enterprises.
§ 8. The international dimension of CSR.
· CSR policies of EU Member States (2007 publication, DG Employment and Social Affairs) (.pdf has 100 pp.)
· Review and recommendations from stakeholder organisations:
o BUSINESSEUROPE (.pdf has 6 pp.)
o CSR Europe (.pdf has 9 pp.)
o European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) (.pdf has 6 pp.)
o European Bahá’í Business Forum (EBBF) (.pdf has 4 pp.)
o European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (CEEP) (.pdf has 4 pp.)
o EUROCHAMBRES (.pdf has 5 pp.)
o European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) (.pdf has 5 pp.)
o European Savings Banks Group (ESBG) (.pdf has 3 pp.)
o European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif) (.pdf has 6 pp.)
o Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) (.pdf has 2 pp.)
o International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) (.pdf has 4 pp.)
o International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (.pdf has 5 pp.)
o Research Group for an Alternative Economic Strategy (GRESEA) (.pdf has 2 pp.)
o VADEREGIO (.pdf has 5 pp.)
o UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) (.pdf has 5 pp.)
§ Plenary meeting 2006 = Forum review meeting 2006 = European Multistakeholder Forum on CSR: Review Meeting (7 December 2006) >
· Review of recommendations by stakeholders:
o Compendium of actions by stakeholders (.pdf has 154 pp.)
o Detailed descriptions of actions taken by different organisations (= Initiative descriptions submitted by):
§ Business Social Compliance Initiative (.pdf has 12 pp.)
§ Cooperatives Europe (.pdf has 8 pp.)
§ CSR Europe (.pdf has 148 pp.)
§ EABIS (.pdf has 75 pp.)
§ Eurocadres/CEC (.pdf has 3 pp.)
§ EUROCHAMBRES (.pdf has 46 pp.)
§ EuroCommerce (.pdf has 6 pp.)
§ European Savings Banks Group (.pdf has 12 pp.)
§ EUROSIF (.pdf has 11 pp.)
§ Industrial Minerals Association – Europe (.pdf has 5 pp.)
§ UEAPME (.pdf has 16 pp.)
§ UNICE (.pdf has 31 pp.)
o Review of recommendations by European Commission (.pdf has 65 pp.)
§ = Compendium of actions by European Commission
o Update on CSR policies of EU Member States (.pdf has 145 pp.)
§ 2004 report = Final report and roundtable reports, July 2004
§ 2002-2004 archives = Forum meetings 2002- 2004
o > Reference documents >
§ Corporate Social Responsibility - key policy documents:
· Communication from the Commission concerning Corporate Social Responsibility, March 2006:
o Implementing the Partnership for Growth and Jobs: Making Europe a pole of excellence on CSR (.pdf, 22 March 2006, 13 pp.)
§ See also critical Briefing Paper (22 March 2006; at Business & Human Rights Resource Centre) on this Communication by Richard Howitt (MEP, European Parliament Rapporteur on the CSR Green Paper and MEP representative on the European Commission Multi-Stakeholder Forum)
· Communication from the Commission concerning Corporate Social Responsibility, July 2002:
o A business contribution to sustainable development (.pdf, 2 July 2002, 24 pp.)
· Official Consultation on CSR, July 2001:
o Corporate Social Responsibility Green Paper, Promoting a European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (.pdf, 18 July 2001, 32 pp.)
o Research >>
§ Research projects on CSR financed under the 6th Framework Programme:
· CSR Platform (Lead organisation: EABIS)
· RESPONSE (INSEAD; France)
· RARE »Rhetoric And Realities in CSR« (Öko-Institut e.V.; Germany)
o The RARE project aims to make a substantial contribution to the development of a European approach to CSR. It seeks to improve the understanding of the effectiveness of CSR as a policy instrument and how CSR can in practice benefit sustainable development in the EU.
o The project started in June 2004 and will end in May 2007.
· ESTER (CNRS University Bordeaux 4; France)
· See also
o Related news at CSR Europe: CSR policy review from DG Research and CSR Conference in Brussels (11 January 2010) >
§ Towards greater corporate responsibility: Conclusions of EU-funded research (.pdf, December 2009, 66 pp.)
· This policy review assesses the results of four research projects on CSR … taking into account current policy developments, with the goal of identifying possible gaps in public policy, lessons learnt for policy makers, and pointing out under-researched or emerging research themes.
· At the core of CSR is that a company is a so-called ‘moral agent’ in society, having some degree of responsibility beyond its shareholders to a wider circle of stakeholders. This premise is now widely accepted. Indeed, the intellectual ‘battle’ on defining CSR has been won, with the term ‘socially and environmentally responsible’ no longer seen as going against a company’s competitiveness. Nevertheless, by defining CSR as ‘beyond compliance’ and ‘voluntary’, the European Commission has created an environment where there is limited scope for binding regulation and enforcement. Although the European Parliament has repeatedly promoted harmonisation and application of CSR reporting standards, for example, the European Commission has shied away from this type of ‘regulated CSR’, preferring a ‘stimulated CSR’ approach that is explained in greater detail throughout this policy review.
· The ESTER project assumes that far-reaching regulation is required, while the RESPONSE project seems averse to creating any restricti s for businesses. The RARE project seems to favour a middle way, broadly in line with a stimulated CSR approach, while the CSR PLATFORM project was mainly concerned with stimulating and moderating a dialogue between academia, business and policy makers, including discussions on the future CSR research agenda.
· European Parliament >>
o EMPL Committee on Employment and Social Affairs > e.g.
§ Activities > e.g.
· Adopted reports > e.g.
o Richard Howitt: 21 December 2006
§ Report on corporate social responsibility: a new partnership
· See also, e.g.:
o related article at EurActiv: Parliament criticises Commission on CSR (13 March 2007)
o Procedure file at Legislative Observatory
o related article at Norwich Union Risk Services: 'Time to test' corporate social responsibility claims (13 March 2007)
o Report on the Communication from the Commission concerning Corporate Social Responsibility: A business contribution to Sustainable Development (28 April 2003; Rapporteur: Philip Bushill-Matthews)
o Report on the Commission Green Paper on Promoting a European framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (30 April 2002; Rapporteur: Richard Howitt)
· EESC European Economic and Social Committee »A bridge between Europe and organised civil society« > e.g.
o Documents > e.g.
§ Opinions >
· Section: SOC – Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship >
o SOC/244: Social Responsibility of Business COM(2006) 136 final (14 December 2006; Rapporteur: Pichenot)
o SOC/192: Opinion of the EESC on Information and measurement instruments for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a globalised economy (8 June 2005)
§ »The EESC adopted an opinion by 135 votes to 2 with 18 abstentions. The text gives an overview of developments in the field of CSR transparency and makes proposals to extending the use of CSR instruments and make the measurement of CSR more reliable and more transparent.«
o (Or) Sections >
§ SOC Section (Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship) >
· Areas of Activity >
· Europa > Documents > European law > Summaries of legislation > e.g.
o Enterprise >
§ Business environment > Improving the business environment >
· Corporate social responsibility (CSR) > e.g.
o Promoting corporate social responsibility
· EurActiv >
o Policy Sections >
§ Social Europe >
· CSR >> e.g.
· CSR Europe »The European business network for CSR«
o CSR Europe is the leading European business network for corporate social responsibility with around 75 multinational corporations and 27 national partner organisations as members.
o > e.g.
§ Activities > e.g.
· CSR Europe's Toolbox >
o Integrated Workplace
o Human Capital
o R(E)volutionary Business Models
o Sustainable Production & Consumption
o Communication & Transparency
· CSR Laboratories
· B2B Working Groups
· EU and Stakeholder Dialogue >
§ In 2005 CSR Europe and its national partner organisations led an open initiative for all enterprises across Europe titled the "European Roadmap for Businesses - Towards a Sustainable and Competitive Enterprise".
§ European Council
§ European Parliament
§ European Commission
§ The European Alliance for CSR
§ The European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on CSR
§ Integration of CSR within European Policy
§ CSR Europe's Dialogue and Engagement with Other European Stakeholders
· Information Services >
o Links > Search Links > e.g.
§ Select CSR Theme: Leadership and Governance
· CSR Solutions >
· Publications > e.g.
o Reports and Guides > e.g.
§ A Guide to CSR in Europe (2009): Country Insights by CSR Europe’s National Partner Organisations (.pdf has 65 pp.; Also at Scribd)
o In the context of financial and socio-economic uncertainty, increased societal distrust in the present market economy and the urgency of finding solutions to sustainable development challenges, CSR Europe invites its members and the wider stakeholder community to join a journey towards a more sustainable and responsible future.
o Since its inception in 1995, CSR Europe has engaged in a proactive dialogue with the European business community, policy makers and other stakeholders. The next milestone initiative to be launched in March 2010 will look towards building a vision for 2020. The "Responsible Enterprise 2020" initiative is supported by the European Commission and several European governments, including the Spanish and Belgian EU Presidencies in 2010.
§ Membership > e.g.
· National Partner Network > e.g.
§ News > e.g.
· Search News > e.g.
o Select CSR Theme: Leadership and Governance
§ Events
· BUSINESSEUROPE »The Confederation of European Business«
o = ex UNICE »Union des Industries de la Communauté européenne« (name was changed in January 2007)
o > e.g.
§ >>
§ Documentation >
· Archives >> e.g.
o European business ahead in corporate social responsibility (.pdf, 20 October 2009, 3 pp.)
o Making Europe a pole of excellence on CSR - The European Alliance for CSR, progress review 2007 (.pdf, 4 March 2008, 53 pp.)
§ See also
· related news: European Alliance on CSR: strong business engagement
· download .pdf at CSR Europe
· ECCJ European Coalition for Corporate Justice brings together national platforms of civil society organizations including NGOs, trade unions, consumers’ organizations and academic institutions promoting Corporate Accountability (CA) from all over Europe. ECCJ represents over 250 civil society organisations present in 16 different countries around Europe is an initiative from 16 European organisations. > e.g.
o Thematic priorities > e.g.
§ Reforming the liability framework
o Corporate Justice at European Level >
o See also, e.g.:
§ EurActiv >>
· Study calls for more accountability of EU corporations (30 May 2008)
· SOMO »Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations« > e.g.
o Publications >> e.g.
§ Corporate Social Responsibility at EU level (November 2006; .pdf has 12 pp.)
· This paper outlines the perspective of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) on recent CSR policy developments at the EU level. A number of CSR policy recommendations are made to the European Commission.
· UNDP UN Development Programme >
o Regions > Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States > News >>
§ EC, UNDP to promote responsible business in new and prospective EU members (11 January 2007) >>
· Special website: Accelerating CSR in New Europe > CSR Database > Supplementary Part >
o EU and national level policy on CSR
o CSR Vaderegio is a platform for public policies for promotion of CSR at regional level. This European platform reflects the need for sharing as widely as possible the experience and good practices of CSR policies promoted by regional and local authorities.
o Regions (by July 2006):
§ Andalusia, Estonia, Flanders, London, Nord Pas De Calais, North Rhine-Westphalia, Scotland, Sicily region, The Banska Bystrica region, The Basque Country, The South Danish region, Tuscany, Yorkshire and Humber
· LIUC The Università Carlo Cattaneo > Ricerca > Centri >
o CELE Centre for Ethics, Law and Economics (has founded the Q-RES Project in 1999) >?>
§ Convergence of CSR management standards in Italy, Germany, France and the UK by developing and promoting a common CSR framework, terminology and management tools (.pdf, March 2005, 137 pp.; Final research report; Editor: Simone de Colle; At Corporate Accountability website (Last updated in September 2007 ??))
· Project partners:
o AFNOR (France; has produced SD21000 Standard)
o Zentrum für Wirtschaftsethik (ZfW, Germany; has founded ValuesManagementSystem / Wertemanagement)
o AccountAbility (UK; AA1000)
o The SIGMA Project (UK)
o FORGE Group
· ESADE Business School (Spain) > e.g.
o Faculty & Research > Research > Research units >
§ Social Innovation Institute > e.g.
· Resources >
o CSR & SME Electronic Database
§ The distinguishing and essential trait of this tool is its legibility and navigation. It is based on two principle classifications or filters:
· resource typology (tool, initiative, document or organisation) and
· its degree of relevance for SMEs (general CSR, partially addressing SMEs, centred on SMEs, or others).
§ > e.g.
· Search
· CSRQuest project (updated ??)
o This website is dedicated to supporting learning and knowledge development in the field of corporate responsibility and strategic management. The focus is on the 4CR framework which has been designed to integrate the various strands of corporate responsibility and to support their integration in strategic management and mainstream business operation.
o The Network is co-ordinated by the Economics department of Athens University of Economics and Business
· EUROCHAMBRES > e.g.
o What we do > e.g.
§ European Affairs > e.g.
· Competitive Europe > e.g.
· Education & Training > e.g.
o Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR
o Publications > e.g.
· Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs - Practical examples to foster SMEs' competitiveness
o Lead organisation: KMU Forschung Austria (Austrian Research Institute for SME research; Project title: CSR and competitiveness – European SMEs good practice)
o The project is funded by the European Commission
o Project duration: May 2006 - April 2008
o > e.g.
§ Downloads >
· Consolidated European Report
· Reports for: Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain
· In each report there is also chapter on »(Semi-) Public Actors and Their Strategies with Regard to CSR«
§ Additional Information on CSR
· For the seven analysed countries as well at the European level names and internet links of (public) authorities active in the field of CSR, specific CSR organisations exclusively dealing with CSR and prize awards for enterprises engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility can be found. Furthermore, an overview on the most important national and supra-national publications and research studies dealing with CSR can be retrieved.
· TCC The Copenhagen Centre > e.g.
o Campaign Report on European CSR Excellence 2003-2004 – It simply works better! (.pdf, December 2003, 79 pp.)
o The Rule of CSR and the Role of Law – Re-defining the role of policy in CSR (.pdf, 2006, 4 pp.)
· The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) is the representative organisation of more than 700,000 European lawyers through its member bars and law societies from 31 full member countries, and 6 further observer countries.
o Activities > CCBE Committees & working groups > Working groups >
§ CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilities)
o Documents > Position Papers >
§ Corporate Social Responsibility and the role of the legal profession - a guide for European lawyers advising on corporate social responsibility issues (.pdf, 29 April 2005, 27 pp.)
· EABIS European Academy of Business in Society > e.g.
o Research > e.g.
§ CSR Platform > e.g.
· Latest Information > Recent Events >
o EABIS 5th Annual Colloquium: Corporate Sustainability, Strategic Management & the Stakeholder View of the Firm (11-12 September 2006; SDA Bocconi, Milan, Italy) > e.g.
§ Proceedings (publicly available, login required)
· Multistakeholder Colloquium (Annually; Proceedings available, login required)
§ Role of government - The changing role of government: The Relational State and its Implications for Corporate Responsibility (March 2005 – June 2006)
o Events > e.g.
§ Past EABIS events > e.g.
· EABIS 4th Annual Colloquium “Corporate Responsibility & Competitiveness: Developing Human Capital for Sustainable Growth” (5-6 December, 2005 in Warsaw, Poland) > e.g.
o Proceedings (freely available, login required)
o CG Journal Special Edition (link ??; See also here) >
§ Corporate Responsibility and Competitiveness at the Macro Level (6 articles) > e.g.
· Corporate social responsibility as a new paradigm in European policy: how CSR legitimises the European regulatory process (.pdf has 16 pp.)
· The political economy of CSR in Western Europe (.pdf has 24 pp.)
· The Government’s role in promoting corporate responsibility: a comparative analysis of Italy and UK from the relational state perspective (.pdf has 20 pp.)
· 3rd Annual Colloquium 2004 “The Challenge of Sustainable Growth: Integrating Societal Expectations in Business” (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, September 2004) > e.g.
o 7. Policy Making and the Role of Government
o >??>
§ The Business in Society Gateway (By EFMD & EABIS) > e.g.
· Resources >
o Search Resources:
§ Category:
· Corporate Governance/Accountability
· Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy
· Managing Corporate Responsibility
§ Industry:
§ Discipline:
· International Political Economy
§ Content Type:
· Ashridge Business School (UK) >
o Research & Faculty >
§ Ashridge Centre for Business and Society > e.g.
· Current Corporate Responsibility Research >
§ Publications >
· Research Publications Database >
o Subject Area: Corporate Social Responsibility
· FEEM Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (Milan, Venice, Viggiano – Italy; Brussels, Belgium)
o FEEM is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of sustainable development and global governance. Officially recognized by the President of the Italian Republic in 1989 and in full operation since 1990, FEEM has grown to become a leading research centre, providing timely and objective analysis on a wide range of environmental, energy and global economic issues.
o > e.g.
§ Topics:
· Corporate social responsibility >
o Projects:
§ The potential of CSR to contribute to the implementation and integration of EU strategies - CORE >
· Harvard University >> John F. Kennedy School of Government > Research > Programs > Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government > Programs > Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative >
o Publications > Working Papers > e.g.
§ Encouraging CSI in Italy: The Enabling Role of Government in Mandating, Motivating, and Supporting Responsible Business Practices (.pdf, April 2007, 33 pp.; By: Francesco Perrini, Bocconi University)
· Impronta Etica »Un'associazione per la responsabilità sociale d'impresa« (Italy, Bologna) >
o Norme >
§ Leggi, Standard, Bandi
· BIS Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (UK) > e.g.
o Policies >
§ Business Sectors >
· Low Carbon Business Opportunities >
o Corporate Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Waste Policy > e.g.
§ 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report (.pdf, February 2009, 37 pp.) >
· Section 2: Shaping a new environment for Corporate Responsibility
· Section 3: Corporate Responsibility activity across Government
· Ethical Corporation > e.g.
o Blog > e.g.
§ UK Government shakeup on corporate responsibility probably does not bode well (27 February 2008)
o By Invitation >>
§ UK Budget 2008: Darling’s hot air trick (28 March 2008) - Alistair Darling failed in trying to pull a green budget from a plastic bag, argues Peter Young, chairman of the Aldersgate Group
o Greenwasher >>
§ Greenwasher – April 2008: The UK’s corporate responsibility spending black hole and marketing the indefensible
o EC Research >
§ Reports >
· Conservative Party Working Group on Responsible Business (??)
o See also:
§ Conservatives > News >>
· Responsible Business (17 March 2008) - Report launched on Responsible Business to look at ways companies can play a central role in securing a better future for British society. >
o A light but effective touch - Final report of the Conservative Party working group on responsible business (March 2008; has 24 pp.; At edocr)
§ See also related post by Mallen Baker: Dealing in responsibility (19 March 2008)
§ Ethical Corporation >
· Politics: Rebalancing the market – How government can better encourage responsible business (10 April 2008) - Ethical Corporation Institute directors Toby Webb and Peter Davis describe how responsible business could be enhanced by a future Conservative government in the UK
· FT.com Financial Times > e.g.
o Special Reports >> e.g.
§ Responsible Business (3 July 2007)
· BITC Business in the Community (UK) > e.g.
o About us > Our Jubilee year >
§ Business-led corporate responsibility coalitions: Learning from the example of Business in the Community in the UK - An Insider’s Perspective from David Grayson (2007; .pdf has 78 pp.)
o Programmes >
§ Prince's Programmes
§ Community
§ Environment
§ Marketplace
§ Workplace
§ Recognition and Management >
· CR index = Corporate Responsibility (CR) index
o Business in the Community's CR Index is the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of responsible business. It helps companies to integrate and improve responsibility throughout their operations by providing a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting on business impacts in society and on the environment.
o Resources >
§ About Us:
o Our public affairs micro-site gives decision-makers, academics, the media and other stakeholders easy access to how we can help in campaigns, development of public policy and keep you up-to-date on responsible business in the UK legislatures and internationally.
o > also
§ APPG on CR = All Party Parliamentary Group on Corporate Responsibility
§ Responsible Business E-newsletter
· Monthly summary of responsible business news from Whitehall, Brussels and globally.
· Business in the Community produces a monthly parliamentary newsletter on behalf of the APPG on CR, summarising major relevant legislative or Government policy developments in the UK and Europe related to responsible business practice, as well as key media coverage.
§ Knowledge:
· Publications >> also
o CR Legal Bulletin (a publication created in a collaboration between Business in the Community and Lovells)
· HRH The Prince of Wales (UK) >> e.g.
o HRH launches Accounting for Sustainability at St James's Palace, London (6 December 2006; See related news) >>
§ Sustainability at Work (website launched on 12 December 2007)
· This website provides guidance, tools, links and case studies to help you integrate sustainability into your organisation's decision making.
· It also provides a framework to enable organisations to report on their performance in a more consistent manner.
· This website is designed to provide practical and accessible advice for any public, private, or third sector organisation.
o The Prince of Wales's Business & the Environment Programme (BEP) (The BEP is developed and run by the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry.)
· Tomorrow’s Company (London, UK) »is a not-for-profit research and agenda-setting organisation committed to creating a future for business which makes equal sense to staff, shareholders, and society.« > e.g.
o News > e.g.
§ Tomorrow's Global Company: Challenges and Choices - launch of the findings (18 June 2007)
· See also
§ Tomorrow’s Company, in partnership with Heidrick & Struggles, has created a cutting edge web 2.0 site that is going to bring to life, in a practical and innovative way, the themes from our latest inquiry Tomorrow’s Global Company: challenges and choices. Our ambition is that this site builds a global community of interest using the inquiry report as a framework and platform for demonstrating why and how business can be a force for good.
o related article at BusinessGreen blog: Business call for stronger green regulations (19 June 2007)
§ According to a new report released yesterday firms should be subject to "stronger frameworks of law and regulation", multinationals should use their political influence to demand more stringent legislation, and businesses should redefine success to include social, environmental and human aspects of their operations alongside purely financial considerations.
· Aldersgate Group (London, UK)
o The Group is a broad coalition of environmental agencies, NGOs, think tanks and industry representatives who believe that high environmental standards will be a major part of future economic growth and international competitiveness.
o We believe that there is no inherent contradiction between regulating for high environmental standards at the same time as maintaining economic growth and stimulating wealth creation.
· Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition (London, UK)
o The Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition’s members believe that in order to improve how UK companies behave, there is a need for:
§ greater transparency of business operations
§ better accountability of businesses for their impacts on people and the environment
§ improved access to justice for victims of harmful corporate conduct
· Forum for the Future (UK)
· Corporate Citizenship (London, New York) was formed by the merger of leading CR consultancies The Smart Company and The Corporate Citizenship Company at the end of 2007. > e.g.
o What's new > e.g.
§ Publications
o >>
§ CC Briefing = Corporate Citizenship Briefing > e.g.
· Index / Categories >
o CSR management
o Public policy
· Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung = The German Council for Sustainable Development (English version of website) > e.g.
o Projects > Projects of the Council >
§ Corporate Social Responsibility >> e.g.
· Recommendations of the Council: "Corporate Responsibility in a Globalised World — A German Profile of Corporate Social Responsibility" (.pdf, September 2006, 76 pp.; German/English)
o >
§ Themen:
· Wirtschaft (= Economy)
· Deutscher Bundestag > e.g.
o Suche >> e.g.
§ Nationale CSR-Strategie der Bundesregierung (.pdf, 8 pp.) - Antwort der Bundesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Rainer Brüderle, Michael Kauch, Jens Ackermann, weiterer Abgeordneter und der Fraktion der FDP, Drucksache 16/9661 (11 July 2008)
· Bertelsmann Stiftung > e.g.
o Wirtschaft >
§ Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung von Unternehmen > e.g.
· Projekt: Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung von Unternehmen >
o CSR International >
· The CSR Navigator - Public Policies in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas (October 2007; In English)
o Profiling and Navigating CSR public policies in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe: Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Mozambique, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam
§ See also related news (22 October 2007)
o Service >
§ Downloads >
o Government as Partner? CSR policies in Europe (.pdf, November 2006, 43 pp.; English translation)
§ Weblinks (Deutschland, International) >
· Staatliche Informationen, Initiativen und Projekte
o (Also English version of website):
§ Economy >
· Corporate social responsibility (CSR) >
o Project: Corporate social responsibility >
§ International CSR >
§ Service >
· Downloads >
· HDE Hauptverband des Deutschen Einzelhandels (Germany) >
o Themen / Inhalte > Verantwortlich handeln - CSR > Links >
§ CSR in Deutschland - Regierung
· econsense »Forum Nachaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft« (Berlin) > e.g.
o CSR Links >
§ Politik: Deutschland (Regierung, Behörden, staatsnahe Institutionen)
§ Politik: Internationales, Multinationale Organisationen
§ Unternehmensinitiativen/CSR-Netzwerke/Verbände
· CSR Weltweit (Germany) – Deutsche Unternehmen – Global Engagiert
o Mit dem Ziel, das gesellschaftliche Engagement deutscher Unternehmen im Ausland zu fördern und die sozial und ökologisch verantwortlichen Aktivitäten deutscher Unternehmen sichtbar zu machen, ist in 2008 auf Initiative des Auswärtigen Amtes und der Bertelsmann Stiftung und in Zusammenarbeit mit Partnern aus Politik und Wirtschaft das Informationsportal „CSR WeltWeit – Deutsche Unternehmen Global Engagiert“ entstanden.
o >
· Übergeordnete Referenztexte
· Internationale Konventionen
· Initiativen der Wirtschaft
· Multi - Stakeholder - Initiativen
· CSR News (Based in Hückeswagen, Germany) >> e.g.
o CSR: A Multifaceted Concept (28 April 2008; By Sabine Braun)
· Die Kampagne "Verantwortliche Unternehmensführung" > e.g.
o Aktuelles > e.g.
§ Nachrichten > e.g.
· Erweiterte Fassung des Arbeitspapiers zu Leitfäden und Instrumenten Verantwortlicher Unternehmensführung erschienen (27 August 2007)
· Neue Publikation stellt Handwerkszeug zu Verantwortlicher Unternehmensführung vor
o »Im neuen Arbeitspapier „Verantwortliche Unternehmensführung im Mittelstand: Ausgewählte nationale und internationale Leitfäden und Instrumente“ (.pdf, August 2006, 26 pp.; In German) werden insgesamt 30 Leitfäden und Instrumente präsentiert, die mittelständische Unternehmen dabei unterstützen, CSR als Managementansatz und ganzheitliche Strategie zu verstehen und umzusetzen.«
· respACT »austrian business council for sustainable development« (Austria) >
o Projekte >
· Am 23. September 2009 wird das neue CSR-Leitbild der österreichischen Wirtschaft beim CSR-Tag 2009 präsentiert.
· See also
o Related news at CSR Europe: Austria: respACT hosts stakeholder dialogue on future of CSR (30 April 2009)
o Service > Dokumente > Erfolgreich wirtschaften. Verantwortungsvoll handeln - Das CSR Leitbild der österreichischen Wirtschaft >
§ Dokumente >
· CSR Guiding Vision (In English)
o >>
§ Erfolg mit Verantwortung - Ein Leitbild für zukunftsfähiges Wirtschaften
· Samfundsansvar.dk (Denmark) udvikles og drives af Center for Samfundsansvar. Centeret er en del af Erhvervs- og Selskabsstyrelsen under Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet.
o Also English version of website: CSRgov.dk
§ This website presents some of the ongoing efforts made by the Danish Government to promote and support corporate social responsibility (CSR) among Danish businesses. The site is run by the Danish Centre for CSR, a part of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency (DCCA) under the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs.
o See also:
§ related press release from the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs:
· Minister Bendtsen: Social responsibility pays off (14 May 2008) - Minister for Economic and Business Affairs Bendt Bendtsen now presents the action plan for companies’ and investors’ social responsibility
o related article at UN-Business Focal Point: Great Danish impetus to the Global Compact: the UNDP Nordic Office Guiding Danish CSR (August 2008 issue; By Anne Sofie Schroeder, UNDP Nordic Office)
o related news at CSRinfo: CSR strategy for Denmark (23 July 2008)
o related news at CSR Europe: Danish government publishes action plan for CSR (28 May 2008)
§ DCCA Danish Commerce and Companies Agency >
· In English >
o Corporate Social Responsibility >
§ Publications >
· Action Plan for Corporate Social Responsibility (September 2008; .pdf has 44 pp., dated May 2008)
§ Europa >> European Commission >>
· Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities >
o What we do > Partners > Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) > Events > Events Archive >>
§ Partnerships and transparency at the heart of European Corporate Social Responsibility (Paris, 30 October 2008) >> e.g.
· Presentations: The Danish policy for CSR (.ppt, 17 slides; By: Victor Kjær, Deputy Director General, Danish Commerce and Companies Agency)
· Ministerie van Economische Zaken (The Netherlands) >>
o MVO Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Ondernemen (In Dutch only) >> e.g.
§ Making a Difference – The Dutch National Research Program on Corporate Social Responsibility 2003 - 2004 (Spring 2005; .pdf has 240 pp.; Editors: Jan Jonker, Jacqueline Cramer; In English)
· Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway) > English >
o Press centre >
§ News >>
· Corporate social responsibility abroad (23 January 2009)
o See also related article at GRI Global Reporting Initiative: Norwegian companies urged to disclose their sustainability performance (27 January 2009)
o Documents >
§ Reports to the Storting >>
· Report No. 10 to the Storting (2008-2009) - Corporate social responsibility in a global economy (.pdf has 109 pp.; also html version)
o See also related news at Global Compact: Norway Issues White Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility (2 July 2009)
· Congreso de los Diputados (Spain) >> e.g.
o Informe de la Subcomisión para potenciar y promover la responsabilidad social de las empresas (.pdf, Agosto de 2006, 120 pp.; In Spanish)
· Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales (Spain; Also English version of website) > e.g.
o Acceso Tematico > Empleo >
§ Economía Social y Autónomos >
· Responsabilidad social y medioambiental de las empresas (in Spanish)
· AECA Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas (Madrid, Spain) >
o Investigacion > Comisiones de Estudio >
§ Responsabilidad Social Corporativa
· CR Works (Madrid, Spain) »es una firma de consultoría especializada en Responsabilidad Corporativa...« >
o Centro de Conocimiento y Desarrollo (CCD) >
· Im))pactus - Revista Portuguesa sobre Sustentabilidade Empresarial = A Portuguese Magazine on Corporate Sustainability >
o Special Documents > Politics
· BSR Business for Social Responsibility (Based in San Francisco) > e.g.
o Research > e.g.
§ Reports >
· All Reports by Category:
o CSR Solutions
o