News

So, what’s in a name? There seems to be an endless battle over whether sustainability is merely a component of (corporate) social responsibility or whether social responsibility is simply one of the so-called bottom lines in sustainability’s triple bottom line (TBL). ... lees meer

Despite countless indicators that today’s “battered consumer” is seeking deep discounts and shopping for necessities only, consumer demand for environmentally friendly products is on the rise, according to National Geographic and Globescan’s 2009 Greendex survey of consumers in 17 countries. ... lees meer

Consumer perception of corporate responsibility is uncorrelated with measured rankings like the CRO 100, according to a US survey conducted by PSB in conjunction with Burson-Marsteller and Landor. ... lees meer

Report by the Ethical Corporation Institute finds examples of success among industry initiatives that address CSR, but others that have yet to meet the expectations of stakeholders. ... lees meer

IBM’s second annual global corporate social responsibility survey of senior business executives again shows significant gaps between their goals and their ability to attain them. Nearly all of the 224 respondents said they remain committed to incorporating CSR principles into their business strategies – despite the global recession — to improve business performance, societal contribution and reputation. ... lees meer

Countering some other research, a new study shows that consumers in the United States, UK and Japan have placed more emphasis on buying so-called “green” items than they did before the recession began, among other attributes they consider during purchasing. ... lees meer

Environmental technologies have yet to prove their financial worth, despite providers’ marketing gloss. Only 16% of green IT offerings that companies use to manage their carbon footprint and sustainability performance have shown any significant sustainability benefits, a new study claims. ... lees meer

The insurance industry has become an important messenger of climate risks. With the cost of natural disasters in 2008 reaching $181 billion in total economic losses and 236,000 deaths, insurers have increasingly acknowledged that climate change is a material risk to their business. A new report from Ceres finds that many new product offerings launched by insurers in 2008 could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in many energy intensive industry sectors. ... lees meer