50% Of CEOs Say CSR Issues Fully Embedded Into Strategy & Operations

July 5, 2007

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

More than 90 percent of CEOs are doing more than they did five years ago to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues into strategy and operations, according to a survey of chief executives participating in the Global Compact.

Seventy-two percent of CEOs said that corporate responsibility should be embedded fully into strategy and operations, but only 50 percent think their firms actually do so. Almost 60 percent of CEOs said corporate responsibility should be embedded into global supply chains, but only 27 percent think they are doing so.

The study is one of three presented today at the Global Compact Leaders Summit that show that an increasing number of business leaders see corporate responsibility as a way to compete successfully and to build trust with stakeholders -? and that sustainability front-runners in a range of industries can generate higher stock prices.

A report released by Goldman Sachs showed that among six sectors covered -? energy, mining, steel, food, beverages, and media -? companies that are considered leaders in implementing environmental, social and governance policies to create sustained competitive advantage have outperformed the general stock market by 25 percent since August 2005. In addition, 72 percent of these companies have outperformed their peers over the same period.

The UN Global Compact also released its first Annual Review found that a majority of survey respondents have policies in place related to human rights, labour conditions, the environment and anti-corruption. Seventy-five percent of respondents have engaged in cross-sector partnerships with one or more of the following sectors: non-governmental organizations, business, academia, the UN, and other multi-lateral organizations. Sixty-three percent of respondents said they participate in the Global Compact to increase trust in the company.

A recent Reuter’s article reported that U.S. firms have been slow to join a U.N. initiative on social and environmental responsibility in business because of perceptions it has no teeth,

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader