The Principles were last updated in 2004. This booklet contains the text of the 2004 revision of the Principles. Download the different language versions in PDF file format:
Archive for the ‘CSR’ Category
OECD Principles of Corporate Governance
March 3rd, 2012 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Business Ethics, CSRWhy CSR’s Future Matters to Your Company
January 7th, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSRSusan McPherson on a blog in the Harvard business review writes“More and more, companies are building long-term commitments to corporate social responsibility. In 2012 the rise in consumer activism and mobility, the Occupy movement, 24-hour accountability (thanks to social media), and global resource depletion will force every enterprise, large and small, to make CSR a focal point…”
Some Ethical Dimensions to Robotics
December 20th, 2011 by admin | 2 Comments | Filed in CSR, Ethical Development, Leadership, Organizational Ethics“Should robots be programmed to follow a code of ethics, if this is even possible? Are there risks in forming emotional bonds with robots? How might society–and ethics–change with robotics? This volume is the first book to bring together prominent scholars and experts from both science and the humanities to explore these and other questions in this emerging field. Starting with an overview of the issues and relevant ethical theories, the topics flow naturally from the possibility of programming robot ethics to the ethical use of military robots in war to legal and policy questions, including liability and privacy concerns. “
The Ethics of Honey
December 4th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Business Ethics, CSR, Sustainability“We’ve been reading the news about the tainted honey from China being foisted on American markets from lack of oversight–and when you come right down to it–a lack of ethics, putting profit before people. But there are other unethical beekeeping practices of which you might not be aware.”
Public funds wasted on mining ‘counsellor’ Watchdog only valuable if it protects Canada’s reputation, betters industry
November 16th, 2011 by admin | 6 Comments | Filed in Business Ethics, CSR, Public Sector/GovernmentOttawa Citizen’s Kate Heartfield’s piece on a Canada’s mining sort-of-ombudsman who’s had two cases in two years, one of which died when the mining company pulled out. “That’s what you get when you can only investigate parties who consent to be investigated.”
The Dalai Lama Calls for Social Transformation Through Secular Ethics-By Sherab Woeser
October 30th, 2011 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in CSR, DemocracyLike an experienced medical practitioner, the Tibetan spiritual leader straightaway sought to find and treat the cause of life’s difficulties.
“Lack of ethics, principle, and righteousness is the root of our problems,” the Dalai Lama said while calling corruption “a new world epidemic”.
“We all say relaxation and rest is important but with a mind filled with conflicting emotions, even on the most comfortable chair, you cannot relax,” the Dalai Lama said.
Stressing on the vital role that the training and transformation of the mind plays in facing and resolving difficulties, His Holiness called for social ethics education in schools and daily life.
“Social transformation through secular ethics education is very possible. Changing society through prayers is difficult,” the Dalai Lama said with a gentle laugh.
Referring to research works being carried out in the US, the 76-year old Nobel Peace laureate noted that the initial results of practicing mindfulness and compassion in schools have been “encouraging”.
“Research on the mind and research on how to incorporate social ethics in education,” the Dalai Lama said.
“Concerned people should investigate on how to improve mental attitude towards oneself, others and the world.”
Drawing parallels between the advancements in technology and the need for advancement of the mind, the Dalai Lama pointed out that even the most technologically advanced cameras fail to take a picture of the human mind.
“Little transformation of the mind, which we cannot see, is very important,” the Dalai Lama advised.
Heeding to a request for regular visits by a Japanese in the audience, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that he was looking forward to holding wider discussions with the public and scientists in Japan.
The Dalai Lama is currently on a 10-day visit to Japan and is scheduled to visit Koyasan tomorrow to participate in the 125th founding anniversary of the Koyasan University.
CSR Standards: Best Practices
September 1st, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSRIn July 2011, a team of researchers at EthicScan prepared a major study for ILC reviewing 15 national and international CSR standards. The research was intended to review all aspects of planning, development and reporting, as well as stakeholder relations, both within and across industry sectors. The deliverables include 15 reports (each standard is covered in a 12-25 page report including interviews) and one summary presentation. You can access one or more of the 15 reports (including GRI, EITI, Ceres, ISO 26000, Equator Principles, CDP) on our web by looking at the Standard Setting tab.
Tags: CSR; best practices
Mandatory Reporting of CSR Performance Is Forecast
July 6th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Business Ethics, CSRA group of corporate citizenship professionals and academics from around the world gathered at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management recently for a symposium sponsored by UPS, “Forecasting the Future: Non-financial Reporting for Global Companies.”
The Global Education Research Network symposium hosted by the Center for Corporate Citizenship opened with a panel titled “Looking at the Big Picture of Non-Financial Reporting.” Moderator Brad Googins, associate professor at the Carroll School, was joined by Steve Lydenberg, partner, Strategic Vision, Domini Social Investing, and Michael Sadowski, vice president, SustainAbility Inc. Googins asked the pair of experts to roll out a crystal ball and give their take on where CSR reporting is headed.
You can see their forecast here
A New Certification Standard For Responsible Companies
June 21st, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSRB Corporations are a new kind of company meeting rigorous and independent standards for social and environmental performance. B Corp certification does for the sustainable business movement what LEED certification has done for green building and Fair Trade certification has done for coffee. In 4 years there reportedly are now over 400 B Corps across 60 industries (www.bcorporation.net), and B Corps received recent coverage in the NY Times.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/a-scorecard-for-companies-with-a-conscience/?ref=opinion
Tags: corporate responsibility
Stop Sponsoring Hatred
May 5th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSR, Democracy, Ethics trainingDo (or should) you bring workplace values to your private life? Does free speech extend to demonization and factual lies?
EthicScan Canada has been a major consultant and trainer on ethical partnering and organizational due diligence for two decades. Two of its associates have become active in a campaign to bring social responsibility assurance to a Canadian bank. The issue is the refusal by the Toronto-Dominion’s Bank, which has significantly funded Gay Pride Parade for a few years (it is the major private sector funder), to publicly state its opposition to the calumy that is Israel-Apartheid — a group called Queers Against Israel-Apartheid (QuAIA) has perverted the positive-vibration and inclusive character of the Toronto Parade in each of the last two years– and to ensure that Gay Pride Parade organizers agree in advance to do everything possible to prevent such hate speech participation in organized Gay Pride activities. The two associates (acting as individuals) say it is time, through organized community-based activities (such as e-mails, demonstrations, advocacy, and withdrawing funds), to put a stake through the heart of Israel Apartheid– which is nothing but demonization of a country based on lies, and has nothing at all to do with gay pride or same sex advocacy, which these two organizers support. The federal government and the City of Toronto have recently acted– bringing governance and responsibility assurance conditions to sponsoring the annual event– but the Toronto-Dominion Bank has not.
For more information, see <http://stopsponsoringhatred.com>. Your thoughts?
Mandatory Reporting on Misbehaviour
August 23rd, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSRAn interesting dialogue has emerged on the Corporate Responsibility Officers Association Blog site on LinkedIn. Here is my (David Nitkin’s) latest posting to that site:
Ethicists continually try to ensure that organizations and their stakeholders do the right thing. The idea I’ve spoken of here is that industry associations, regulators, social responsibility reporters, social responsibility analysts, and progressive companies all have and share a vested interest in improving responsibility, transparency and accountability. The idea isn’t a voluntary one: society has reason to expect that (a) companies, governments and civil society organizations should report on material issues like carbon emissions, strikes, energy efficiency, and bribery convictions; and (b) that companies who are better actors should not be required to undergo the same time, media, reporting and filing costs that accrue to companies that are inferior actors. If doing good is the norm, then being forced to publicly disclose bad behaviour annually as part of reporting is the new better way to realize that norm.
For far too long accounting has rested wholly on GAAP principles and the responsibility for more meaningful reporting has been voluntary. Two generations ago, Justice Brandeis creatively argued that sunlight or transparency is a great disinfectant. We should be looking to all progressive corporate stakeholders to consider how best to operationalize the next stage of maturity of the idea of a social license to operate, and the virtue of making the scofflaw and polluter pay by shifting their calls toward requirements of transparency on these issues. The example of mandatory reporting of corporate involvement in South Africa in the 1980s (California, Canada) could and should be expanded.
Tags: reporting
The Ethical Responsibility of Engineers and those that Pastor to them.
July 18th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSR“Could I suggest that the West Virginia Massey coal mining disaster and the BP oil rig explosion are a reflection not just of the dysfunctionalities of extractive industries, but also of the dysfunctionalities of popular American Christianity?
Both disasters represent failures on multiple levels. Political leaders failed to provide adequate regulatory oversight. Journalists failed to investigate corporate threats to public safety and health. Boards of directors and accountants failed to provide due diligence in risk management. Chief executives failed to create a culture of safety and responsibility in their organizations. Mid-level managers failed to stand up as whistle-blowers when they saw corners being cut and risks being taken. And engineers failed to build in sufficient structural strength and fail-safe backups for emergencies…
…And a message to engineers, politicians, news managers, journalists, executives, managers, accountants, and others: if you are a person of faith, make sure you live it out in your profession. Singing, kneeling, tithing, praying, and listening to sermons on Sunday (or whenever) aren’t worth much if they don’t affect the way you do your work on Monday. Think of BP and Massey, Enron and Bear Stearns, and realize that your work reflects your values, your ethical character, and your vision of God and God’s character. To paraphrase the apostle James, faith that doesn’t affect your work is dead.”
Tylenol Recall
July 12th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in CSROnce again we are witnessing a instance of a re-call of a major product by a global company.This article goes beyond the traditional issues and focuses on questions of fraud
