How can companies select the most meaningful indicator to report, for example, their local economic performance? What’s a better way of stating economic contributions to a community than 'paid $X in local tax contributions'?
Indicators become more meaningful when they communicate the greater impact of their work, both positive and negative.
How about using these indicators such as:
- 'created demand for $X in local products'
- 'established a supply of products for local market worth $X/yr and growing'
- ‘investing in (or now competing with!) X local businesses’
- 'integrated X local suppliers into our global supply chain'
This is exactly what a few companies, such as SABMiller, Nestle and Unilever, have started testing.
Download a free summary of our research on how some companies are selecting impact indicators, and better understanding the environments they work in.
25 Aug 2010
11 Aug 2010
Survey suggests Canadian and American interest in CSR is growing
In some ways, corporate sustainability in North America lags behind Europe. Anyone with experience in corporate sustainability would agree that this recent Washington Post article pulls the sustainability debate in the US back a decade.
For corporate sustainability to progress in North America, stakeholder education about sustainability is obligatory, including awareness of the remit of sustainability professionals.
73 corporate sustainability professionals recently surveyed in Canada agreed with this requirement. Stakeholder awareness - especially among the general public – was the third biggest opportunity identified.
Top three opportunities identified by Canadians working in corporate sustainability:
1. Pursuing renewable energy & energy efficiency (22%)
2. Developing solutions to climate change (16%)
3. Generating public awareness (13%)
Top three challenges identified:
1. Climate change (27%)
2. Embedding CSR into strategy and operations (24%)
3. Addressing the needs of First Nations communities (11%)
Our upcoming briefing on the state of corporate sustainability in Canada indicates a significant boost in company commitments to sustainability, and progress is largely attributable to government commitment and legislation.
So, what do corporate sustainability teams spend most of their time doing?
They are not spending their time on charity or orchestrating great disasters as the Washington Post suggests.
According to our survey of 73 professionals in Canada and 147 in the United States:
Top three activities of CSR/sustainability teams in the United States:
1. Partnerships & collaboration tied with Reporting (33% each)
2. Performance measurement (27%)
3. Community engagement (22%)
Top three activities of CSR/sustainability teams in Canada:
1. Performance measurement tied with reporting (37% each)
2. Partnerships & collaboration (29%)
3. Community engagement tied with building corporate reputation (25% each)
There has also been a noticeable rise in strategic engagement of Canadian and American professionals, and a growing interest in working hand-in-hand with operational managers to embed sustainable practices across their company.
For corporate sustainability to progress in North America, stakeholder education about sustainability is obligatory, including awareness of the remit of sustainability professionals.
73 corporate sustainability professionals recently surveyed in Canada agreed with this requirement. Stakeholder awareness - especially among the general public – was the third biggest opportunity identified.
Top three opportunities identified by Canadians working in corporate sustainability:
1. Pursuing renewable energy & energy efficiency (22%)
2. Developing solutions to climate change (16%)
3. Generating public awareness (13%)
Top three challenges identified:
1. Climate change (27%)
2. Embedding CSR into strategy and operations (24%)
3. Addressing the needs of First Nations communities (11%)
Our upcoming briefing on the state of corporate sustainability in Canada indicates a significant boost in company commitments to sustainability, and progress is largely attributable to government commitment and legislation.
So, what do corporate sustainability teams spend most of their time doing?
They are not spending their time on charity or orchestrating great disasters as the Washington Post suggests.
According to our survey of 73 professionals in Canada and 147 in the United States:
Top three activities of CSR/sustainability teams in the United States:
1. Partnerships & collaboration tied with Reporting (33% each)
2. Performance measurement (27%)
3. Community engagement (22%)
Top three activities of CSR/sustainability teams in Canada:
1. Performance measurement tied with reporting (37% each)
2. Partnerships & collaboration (29%)
3. Community engagement tied with building corporate reputation (25% each)
There has also been a noticeable rise in strategic engagement of Canadian and American professionals, and a growing interest in working hand-in-hand with operational managers to embed sustainable practices across their company.
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