Preliminary findings are now available from our current research into how and why companies are measuring social and economic impact in vulnerable communities.
View these findings in the slideshow from a well-attended roundtable debate in London.
Thanks to all who attended and contributed to the debate.
28 Jul 2010
Live surveys on the state of CSR in Canada and the USA
If you are a corporate sustainability practitioner located in Canada or the USA, you're invited to participate in our sustainability surveys.
Canadian practitioners can click here.
American practitioners can click here.
Some findings will be shared with participants, and full country briefings will be published in September and October this year.
Thanks in advance!
Canadian practitioners can click here.
American practitioners can click here.
Some findings will be shared with participants, and full country briefings will be published in September and October this year.
Thanks in advance!
OECD's MNE Guidelines to get a boost on supply chains, human rights & environment
On the 1st of June the OECD continued it's long, consultative process for updating the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
The OECD chose to strengthen the guidelines in response to stakeholder requests for a greater focus on human rights, supply chains and environment (a previous previous blog post links to these requests).
The consultation was based on discussion papers by John Ruggie, BSR and the OECD, each paper seeking to outline the core aspects of human rights, supply chains and environment.
The white papers and complimentary slideshows available on the OECD website provide a nice refresher for anyone working in one of these three areas.
Let's hope the final update of the Guidelines are able to reflect these core issues, and push businesses and governments to challenge the way they operate.
The OECD chose to strengthen the guidelines in response to stakeholder requests for a greater focus on human rights, supply chains and environment (a previous previous blog post links to these requests).
The consultation was based on discussion papers by John Ruggie, BSR and the OECD, each paper seeking to outline the core aspects of human rights, supply chains and environment.
The white papers and complimentary slideshows available on the OECD website provide a nice refresher for anyone working in one of these three areas.
Let's hope the final update of the Guidelines are able to reflect these core issues, and push businesses and governments to challenge the way they operate.
21 Jul 2010
CCC says UK growth is dependent on low-carbon funding
In the new report 'Building a low-carbon economy - the UK's innovation challenge', the prestigious Climate Change Committee warns that economic growth and progress towards climate targets are dependent on continued funding of low-carbon technologies.
The committee - comprised of nine distinguished scientists, economists, political scientists and an engineer - was asked by the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, John Beddington to "review the adequacy of research and innovation arrangements in the UK related to achieving our climate change goals".
A strong recommendation emerged: the continued funding of green technologies, which the committee believes is sub-par relative to funding levels in other countries.
The report supports UK development and deployment of offshore wind, marine, carbon capture and storage (CCS) for power generation, aviation technologies, smart grids, and electric vehicle technologies.
It encourages research in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, technologies in agriculture and industry, 3rd generation solar PV technologies, energy storage and advanced biofuels technologies.
Additional recommendations to the UK Government include longer-term climate change objectives (beyond 2020) and to quickly develop a clear strategy on climate change so that the necessary institutions can be supported or established.
The committee - comprised of nine distinguished scientists, economists, political scientists and an engineer - was asked by the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, John Beddington to "review the adequacy of research and innovation arrangements in the UK related to achieving our climate change goals".
A strong recommendation emerged: the continued funding of green technologies, which the committee believes is sub-par relative to funding levels in other countries.
The report supports UK development and deployment of offshore wind, marine, carbon capture and storage (CCS) for power generation, aviation technologies, smart grids, and electric vehicle technologies.
It encourages research in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, technologies in agriculture and industry, 3rd generation solar PV technologies, energy storage and advanced biofuels technologies.
Additional recommendations to the UK Government include longer-term climate change objectives (beyond 2020) and to quickly develop a clear strategy on climate change so that the necessary institutions can be supported or established.
Cameron plans to eliminate the Sustainable Development Commission
Contrary to David Cameron's pledge to lead the "greenest government ever", the UK Government plans to axe its sustainability watchdog.
The Sustainable Development Commission was established in order to advise government how to cut carbon emissions.
The Green Party is calling it an absolute disaster, and purports that public sector spending cuts are misdirected.
According to the Guardian, Caroline Lucas MP, the head of the Green party, called the move an "absolute disaster". "The Sustainable Development Commission has been a vital source of well-informed scrutiny of government policy. The commission has come out with very sensible proposals."
In a similar vein, the new Government has also failed to appoint a replacement CSR minister.
Given a shortfall of sustainability regulation, is removal of these positions likely to impact the level of corporate commitment to sustainability?
The Sustainable Development Commission was established in order to advise government how to cut carbon emissions.
The Green Party is calling it an absolute disaster, and purports that public sector spending cuts are misdirected.
According to the Guardian, Caroline Lucas MP, the head of the Green party, called the move an "absolute disaster". "The Sustainable Development Commission has been a vital source of well-informed scrutiny of government policy. The commission has come out with very sensible proposals."
In a similar vein, the new Government has also failed to appoint a replacement CSR minister.
Given a shortfall of sustainability regulation, is removal of these positions likely to impact the level of corporate commitment to sustainability?
13 Jul 2010
Reports of unethical findings in supply chains are aplenty
Unethical allegations
In Ethical Corporation's new briefing, Rajesh Chhabara, our Asia Editor, states “It’s a familiar picture. Dirty Clothes, a report in April 2010 by the National Labour Committee, a US-based rights group, accused a Wal-Mart and JC Penney supplier in Jordan of human trafficking and abuse of young women migrant workers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.”
Are supply chain scorecards helping?
Traditional supply chain scorecards have made a significant impact in areas such as strengthening the rule of law and ethical norms, but have under-performed in areas such as worker awareness and temporary worker inclusion.
How can this scorecard/audit approach be improved?
Success in prevention
Sustainability professionals and consumers alike are applauding pro-active measures taken by companies such as P&G and Wal-Mart.
The UN Global Compact hosts a website on common human rights dilemmas. Through case studies, the UN hopes to educate and encourage discussion within companies.
The UN also recognises leaders, recently recommending an M&S supplier in Sri Lanka, the Brandix Group’s ‘Green factory’ as a model of sustainable production.
P&G recently introduced their supplier code.
Wal-Mart made headlines with the introduction of their sustainability index and supplier assessments this year.
More and more companies are realising faster change by openly working with suppliers to address ethical challenges.
Further reading
Recent supply chain allegations have been published by watchdog organisations such as War on Want, an Australian television company, and major newspapers such as the The Guardian, and reports of garment worker deaths due to a fire in a factory in Bangladesh.
Each of the companies featured in these reports now devote significant attention to factory conditions and preventative measures.
Read more in our Briefing on Supply Chains.
7 Jul 2010
Fair trade for developed countries
Farmer Direct, a Canadian farmer-owned cooperative, is the first organisation to receive certification for a fair trade scheme that has been adapted to the needs of developed countries.
Why fair trade in developed countries?
Two farmers who have helped formalise the fairDeal explain the needs of workers and farmers in developed countries.
"People usually associate fair trade with coffee, sugar, bananas and other crops from the global south, but fair wages to farm workers and fair prices to farmers are just as much a concern in industrialized nations like Canada and the United States," explains Murray Horkoff a Farmer Direct Coop farmer-owner. "Now organic consumers can purchase fairly traded, flax, wheat, beans, hemp, peas, lentils and other crops grown in the Northern Hemisphere," adds Horkoff.
"Most of society is unaware that farm workers in many states and provinces are not protected under Federal, State or Provincial Labour laws. Since farm workers have no recourse under law they are often exploited. Therefore, organic consumers are now demanding organic foods that are fairly traded," states Keith Neu another Farmer Direct Coop farmer-owner. "We are proud to be able to offer certified organic, fairly traded food to these families."
About the fairDeal
Along with fair prices to farmers and living wages to farm workers the fairDeal, an organic industry supply chain non-profit and product seal, was founded to incorporate fair trade, pay equity and other additional ethical standards into organic agriculture.
The fairDeal is a nonprofit organisation that was developed through the collective efforts of a number of organisations in Canada and the US including the Agricultural Justice Project, RAFI and Farmer Direct Co-operative.
Farms are independently certified through Quality Certification Services, an independent auditing company with a long history of organic certification across North America.
For more information on the fairDeal is available on the Farmer Direct Coop website.
Why fair trade in developed countries?
Two farmers who have helped formalise the fairDeal explain the needs of workers and farmers in developed countries.
"People usually associate fair trade with coffee, sugar, bananas and other crops from the global south, but fair wages to farm workers and fair prices to farmers are just as much a concern in industrialized nations like Canada and the United States," explains Murray Horkoff a Farmer Direct Coop farmer-owner. "Now organic consumers can purchase fairly traded, flax, wheat, beans, hemp, peas, lentils and other crops grown in the Northern Hemisphere," adds Horkoff.
"Most of society is unaware that farm workers in many states and provinces are not protected under Federal, State or Provincial Labour laws. Since farm workers have no recourse under law they are often exploited. Therefore, organic consumers are now demanding organic foods that are fairly traded," states Keith Neu another Farmer Direct Coop farmer-owner. "We are proud to be able to offer certified organic, fairly traded food to these families."
About the fairDeal
Along with fair prices to farmers and living wages to farm workers the fairDeal, an organic industry supply chain non-profit and product seal, was founded to incorporate fair trade, pay equity and other additional ethical standards into organic agriculture.
The fairDeal is a nonprofit organisation that was developed through the collective efforts of a number of organisations in Canada and the US including the Agricultural Justice Project, RAFI and Farmer Direct Co-operative.
Farms are independently certified through Quality Certification Services, an independent auditing company with a long history of organic certification across North America.
For more information on the fairDeal is available on the Farmer Direct Coop website.
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