CSR360

Posted: Tuesday 24 July 12, 4.52pm GMT

Concepts that, when we first started working on this, sounded distant or empty, are no longer unusual in debates in business forums and within companies. Eco-efficiency, inclusive business, fair trade, human rights, promotion of decent work, fight against child labour, business ethic, transparency in business, etc., are the subject of numerous initiatives, articles, seminars, conferences and newsletters. We are also notified daily via Twitter and Facebook when a certain company makes advances in these fields, or when they are not complying with what they have to do regarding the above mentioned subjects.

Many factors have had an influence on this process. Many of them are closely related to international initiatives that promote the respect for the principles as well as human, social and environmental rights. However, the crises over the last decade have also influenced. They were caused by ethical issues or environmental disasters – acting as a boomerang – which in turn, raise awareness and introduce new regulations.

As we can see, whether it is due to awareness or to regulations, more and more people understand that there are issues related to social responsibility that cannot be easily ignored in business management, as they can turn into risks, restrictions and even penalties when being omitted; however, they can also turn into opportunities to innovate when the company is open to new expectations.
In this environment, which is certainly complex, we have been developing our activities. We have been able to do this by supporting always the conviction to generate changes; by promoting, by consolidating and by providing support to leadership in CSR. We generate information, tools that make management easier, and possibilities for the exchange of experiences and benchmarking between peers.

At the beginning of 2012 there were already more than 125 companies joining us and supporting our management. Among them, many are leading the country with their sustainability-oriented management. This is evident as 45% of our member companies are now presenting their Sustainability Reports or Statements and Social Balances. This highlights a turning point in the development of the topic in our country, which is positioned second – together with Chile – among the countries that produce more reports in the Region.

But there is still much to do, and many of the issues that still concern our Managers and CSR and Sustainability Leaders, involve a continuous promotion of a more active CEO leadership in relation to sustainability, and the integration of CSR principles to the decision making processes by involving, in this way, it is the toughest areas of the company (logistics, production, supply management, distribution) which are the ones related to the value chain that need to be part of CSR management.

There are other aspects related to sustainability and they have priority in social responsibility management. One of them is the exercise of leadership in relation to the ethics and integrity of business in environments lacking transparency; another one is the possibility of having an honest and effective dialogue between Stakeholders, given the differences of a culture that is characterised by the business and union corporatism.

These are topics that have priority, given the economic and social situation, and even if they are no formally stated, they underlie in any debate in relation to social, collective and environmental rights. If they are not addressed, it will be difficult to make advances in a sustainability agenda and thus, in the development in the country.

IARSE has been making the space for these aspects to be considered in debates. This is demonstrated by the main topics dealt with in the last edition of the “Concepts that, when we first started working on this, sounded distant or empty, are no longer unusual in debates in business forums and within companies. Eco-efficiency, inclusive business, fair trade, human rights, promotion of decent work, fight against child labour, business ethic, transparency in business, etc., are the subject of numerous initiatives, articles, seminars, conferences and newsletters. We are also notified daily via Twitter and Facebook when a certain company makes advances in these fields, or when they are not complying with what they have to do regarding the above mentioned subjects.

Many factors have had an influence on this process. Many of them are closely related to international initiatives that promote the respect for the principles as well as human, social and environmental rights. However, the crises over the last decade have also influenced. They were caused by ethical issues or environmental disasters – acting as a boomerang – which in turn, raise awareness and introduce new regulations.

As we can see, whether it is due to awareness or to regulations, more and more people understand that there are issues related to social responsibility that cannot be easily ignored in business management, as they can turn into risks, restrictions and even penalties when being omitted; however, they can also turn into opportunities to innovate when the company is open to new expectations.
In this environment, which is certainly complex, we have been developing our activities. We have been able to do this by supporting always the conviction to generate changes; by promoting, by consolidating and by providing support to leadership in CSR. We generate information, tools that make management easier, and possibilities for the exchange of experiences and benchmarking between peers.

At the beginning of 2012 there were already more than 125 companies joining us and supporting our management. Among them, many are leading the country with their sustainability-oriented management. This is evident as 45% of our member companies are now presenting their Sustainability Reports or Statements and Social Balances. This highlights a turning point in the development of the topic in our country, which is positioned second – together with Chile – among the countries that produce more reports in the Region.

But there is still much to do, and many of the issues that still concern our Managers and CSR and Sustainability Leaders, involve a continuous promotion of a more active CEO leadership in relation to sustainability, and the integration of CSR principles to the decision making processes by involving, in this way, it is the toughest areas of the company (logistics, production, supply management, distribution) which are the ones related to the value chain that need to be part of CSR management.

There are other aspects related to sustainability and they have priority in social responsibility management. One of them is the exercise of leadership in relation to the ethics and integrity of business in environments lacking transparency; another one is the possibility of having an honest and effective dialogue between Stakeholders, given the differences of a culture that is characterised by the business and union corporatism.

These are topics that have priority, given the economic and social situation, and even if they are no formally stated, they underlie in any debate in relation to social, collective and environmental rights. If they are not addressed, it will be difficult to make advances in a sustainability agenda and thus, in the development in the country.

IARSE has been making the space for these aspects to be considered in debates. This is demonstrated by the main topics dealt with in the last edition of the “Concepts that, when we first started working on this, sounded distant or empty, are no longer unusual in debates in business forums and within companies. Eco-efficiency, inclusive business, fair trade, human rights, promotion of decent work, fight against child labour, business ethic, transparency in business, etc., are the subject of numerous initiatives, articles, seminars, conferences and newsletters. We are also notified daily via Twitter and Facebook when a certain company makes advances in these fields, or when they are not complying with what they have to do regarding the above mentioned subjects.

Many factors have had an influence on this process. Many of them are closely related to international initiatives that promote the respect for the principles as well as human, social and environmental rights. However, the crises over the last decade have also influenced. They were caused by ethical issues or environmental disasters – acting as a boomerang – which in turn, raise awareness and introduce new regulations.

As we can see, whether it is due to awareness or to regulations, more and more people understand that there are issues related to social responsibility that cannot be easily ignored in business management, as they can turn into risks, restrictions and even penalties when being omitted; however, they can also turn into opportunities to innovate when the company is open to new expectations.
In this environment, which is certainly complex, we have been developing our activities. We have been able to do this by supporting always the conviction to generate changes; by promoting, by consolidating and by providing support to leadership in CSR. We generate information, tools that make management easier, and possibilities for the exchange of experiences and benchmarking between peers.

At the beginning of 2012 there were already more than 125 companies joining us and supporting our management. Among them, many are leading the country with their sustainability-oriented management. This is evident as 45% of our member companies are now presenting their Sustainability Reports or Statements and Social Balances. This highlights a turning point in the development of the topic in our country, which is positioned second – together with Chile – among the countries that produce more reports in the Region.

But there is still much to do, and many of the issues that still concern our Managers and CSR and Sustainability Leaders, involve a continuous promotion of a more active CEO leadership in relation to sustainability, and the integration of CSR principles to the decision making processes by involving, in this way, it is the toughest areas of the company (logistics, production, supply management, distribution) which are the ones related to the value chain that need to be part of CSR management.

There are other aspects related to sustainability and they have priority in social responsibility management. One of them is the exercise of leadership in relation to the ethics and integrity of business in environments lacking transparency; another one is the possibility of having an honest and effective dialogue between Stakeholders, given the differences of a culture that is characterised by the business and union corporatism.

These are topics that have priority, given the economic and social situation, and even if they are no formally stated, they underlie in any debate in relation to social, collective and environmental rights. If they are not addressed, it will be difficult to make advances in a sustainability agenda and thus, in the development in the country.

IARSE has been making the space for these aspects to be considered in debates. This is demonstrated by the main topics dealt with in the last edition of the “Concepts that, when we first started working on this, sounded distant or empty, are no longer unusual in debates in business forums and within companies. Eco-efficiency, inclusive business, fair trade, human rights, promotion of decent work, fight against child labour, business ethic, transparency in business, etc., are the subject of numerous initiatives, articles, seminars, conferences and newsletters. We are also notified daily via Twitter and Facebook when a certain company makes advances in these fields, or when they are not complying with what they have to do regarding the above mentioned subjects.

Many factors have had an influence on this process. Many of them are closely related to international initiatives that promote the respect for the principles as well as human, social and environmental rights. However, the crises over the last decade have also influenced. They were caused by ethical issues or environmental disasters – acting as a boomerang – which in turn, raise awareness and introduce new regulations.

As we can see, whether it is due to awareness or to regulations, more and more people understand that there are issues related to social responsibility that cannot be easily ignored in business management, as they can turn into risks, restrictions and even penalties when being omitted; however, they can also turn into opportunities to innovate when the company is open to new expectations.
In this environment, which is certainly complex, we have been developing our activities. We have been able to do this by supporting always the conviction to generate changes; by promoting, by consolidating and by providing support to leadership in CSR. We generate information, tools that make management easier, and possibilities for the exchange of experiences and benchmarking between peers.

At the beginning of 2012 there were already more than 125 companies joining us and supporting our management. Among them, many are leading the country with their sustainability-oriented management. This is evident as 45% of our member companies are now presenting their Sustainability Reports or Statements and Social Balances. This highlights a turning point in the development of the topic in our country, which is positioned second – together with Chile – among the countries that produce more reports in the Region.

But there is still much to do, and many of the issues that still concern our Managers and CSR and Sustainability Leaders, involve a continuous promotion of a more active CEO leadership in relation to sustainability, and the integration of CSR principles to the decision making processes by involving, in this way, it is the toughest areas of the company (logistics, production, supply management, distribution) which are the ones related to the value chain that need to be part of CSR management.

There are other aspects related to sustainability and they have priority in social responsibility management. One of them is the exercise of leadership in relation to the ethics and integrity of business in environments lacking transparency; another one is the possibility of having an honest and effective dialogue between Stakeholders, given the differences of a culture that is characterised by the business and union corporatism.

These are topics that have priority, given the economic and social situation, and even if they are no formally stated, they underlie in any debate in relation to social, collective and environmental rights. If they are not addressed, it will be difficult to make advances in a sustainability agenda and thus, in the development in the country.

IARSE has been making the space for these aspects to be considered in debates. This is demonstrated by the main topics dealt with in the last edition of the IARSE 2012 International Conference: transparency and integrity in business; the analysis of the economic environment and social debt; experiences in relation to innovation and sustainability management.

We invite you to read some of the results of the debates (virtual and face-to face) that took place during last year. They can be found in the last three publications made available by IARSE

Companies, organisations, peers, foundations, colleagues, and the participation in national and international networks, such as CSR360 GPN, have contributed by providing us with the experts, the means, the resources, the knowledge and the questions. They have given us the strength we need to face the challenges of the years to come.