INFORM Corporate Strategy
MARKET INTELLIGENCE BRIEFS
Ethical purchasing takes a hit as the
■ AWARDS
Voting has begun for the third
CR Reporting Awards, the
global recession continues to bite
only independent global
annual awards for corporate
Ethical purchasing is being majority still think ethical pur- “However, the issue has clearly
responsibility reporting. The
squeezed by the global recession, chasing is important to some not gone away and still remains
jury is an online CR communi-
but companies will continue to degree, the intensity of people’s an important consideration.”
ty of 28,500. Users of
invest in CR, according to a opinion has seen a particularly He added: “While some con-
CorporateRegister.com
new survey. marked decline. sumers may have been distracted
have until 29 January 2010 to
Data from Ipsos MORI shows However, the majority (85%) from ethical purchasing concerns
vote online.
that the importance of company of companies say they will while they struggle to cope
The awards acknowledge
responsibility in people’s purchas- continue to invest in cor- with the recession, the
the best CR reports and
ing has declined sharply during porate responsibility. long-term pressures on
reward quality disclosure as a
the course of this year. Head of Ipsos
M.I.
companies to act respon-
contribution to the raising of
When choosing a purchase, MORI’s reputation cen- sibly remain.
global reporting standards.
only a quarter (26%) of the tre, Milorad Ajder said: “Those companies
There are nine categories,
British public think it is ‘very “Consumers are, of course, best-placed to capitalise on
including best first time
important’ that a company shows looking to do more with less just the recovery will be those which
report; best SME report; and
a high degree of social responsibil- like companies. are seen to have stood by their
best integrated report.
ity – compared with 43% in 2008. “This has led to some dilution principles during the tough times,
CorporateRegister.com’s
Meanwhile, 48% say it is ‘fairly of corporate responsibility in emerging with reputations intact.”
director, Paul Scott said:
important’, bringing the total their purchasing behaviour as The organisation questioned
“Many of the world’s foremost
‘important’ figure to 74% – down people often equate ethical pur- more than 1,000 adults across the
companies are participating.”
from 83% in 2008. So while a chasing with premium prices. United Kingdom.
INDUSTRY
Tesco announces low-carbon strategy
Retail giant Tesco plans to be a
zero-carbon business by 2050 –
without buying any carbon off-
REPORTWATCH sets. The supermarket chain, the
Companies that have issued a
world’s third largest retail com-
sustainability report in the past
pany, has devised a low-carbon
month:
strategy and will attempt to
reduce the carbon impact of its
■
BMW Sustainable Value
products in its supply chain by
Report 2008
30% by 2020.
■
The Co-Operative Group
“A low-carbon strategy is vital
Online 2008/09 Sustainability
if we are to minimise the risk to
Report
our business: the physical threat
■
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
of climate damage to our supply Initiatives such as ‘Buy One Get One Free, Later’ will be introduced
Corporate Responsibility
chains, the resulting economic
Report
damage, and the serious effects of product only when they need it – tomers cut emissions created by
■
Office Depot 2009 Corporate
rushed and inefficient regulation keeping waste to a minimum. the firms’ products.
Citizenship Report
if we fail to act in time and gov- The company will also intro- Leahy added that consumers
■
Pfizer Doing the Right Things
ernments are forced to take dra- duce home energy service, offer- directly and indirectly account
2009 Corporate Responsibility
conian action,” said chief execu- ing advice and installation servic- for 75% of man-made green-
Report
tive, Terry Leahy. es for insulation and renewable house gas emissions and influ-
■
Repsol YPF 2008 Corporate
He added that setting targets energy equipment. ence the other 25% through their
Responsibility Report
and implementing new technolo- “It’s only by releasing our economic and political choices.
■
Thales 2008 Corporate
gy would, on its own, not be potential – as people, as con- “The power of consumers to
Responsibility Annual Report
enough to achieve the company’s sumers, as users – that we can make this leap is staggering,”
■
Vodafone Online Review of
vision. It had to encourage con- turn targets into reality,” said he said.It will be a transition
Corporate Responsibility
sumers to be a part of the solu- Leahy, who along with the boss- achieved not by some great
■
Volkswagen Driving Ideas is
tion, he said. es of other leading consumer-fac- invention or a grand act of
Group Sustainability Report
Part of this strategy will ing businesses, including Parliament, but through the
■
Vodafone Online Review of
involve a ‘Buy One Get One Coca-Cola, Reckitt Benckiser millions of choices made by
Corporate Responsibility
Free, Later’ initiative which will and Unilever, have agreed to consumers every day all over
see customers pick up their free work together in helping cus- the world.”
IN FACT UK CONSUMERS ARE WILLING TO PAY UP TO A 5% PREMIUM FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY GOODS AND SERVICES SOURCE: RSA
Sustainable Business ❘ November/December 2009 9
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