This news could not have been more timely, at least on a personal level for me: Advito launches corporate social responsibility service portfolio. Though Spring finally seems to have arrived here in Boston, and indeed, the week-old leaves and flower blossoms on the trees appear to be holding off any last-minute attempt for more winter weather, I still find myself yearning for a trip to a nice sandy beach in the Caribbean.

Advito, it seems, feels that there is a market for corporate travel programs with a focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR). While I think that is great (a wonderful initiative to push, and a potentially fantastic business idea…) I am not so certain that the majority of clients will think twice about whether their travel is CSR-friendly or not. That said, perhaps that dynamic exists because there isn’t greater clarity about the impact of travel on CSR-related concerns.

My feelings aside, Advito, naturally, feels that, “Interest in CSR and corporate travel is growing steadily.” Whether that interest is as strong as Advito implies, the increased interest is positive. Similarly, the reasons the company cites for pushing a CSR-friendly travel agenda are strong:

“‘Contrary to popular belief, taking CSR into account does not mean adding more cost to your programme,’ said Victor van Tol, Advito’s vice president – EMEA. ‘On the contrary, by avoiding governmental fines and making smart travel decisions based on business criticality and preferred supplier usage, you can realise significant cost reductions while meeting your environmental and social responsibilities.’”

As an aside, here’s a hat-tip to you, Mr. Jack Yan — I loved your recent post about Kevin Roberts and found myself struggling with “program,” “programme,”  or “prahgram” (the latter is my best attempt at Boston-English).

TAGS: CSR | travel | ethical | social responsibility

In short, the combination results in a “Whole Trade^TM Guarantee,” or a guarantee of high quality fair trade products (see a recent Whole Foods press release for more info). The guarantee seems like a bit of marketing hype, but should also help push fair trade issues to a broader market. In short, the guarantee should indicate that a product meets the following criteria:

• exceptional product quality,
• more money for producers,
• better wages and working conditions for workers,
• sound environmental production practices that promote biodiversity, and
• support of poverty eradication via donating one percent of product sales to the Whole Planet Foundation^TM.

TAGS: Fair Trade | Whole Trade | Whole Foods | Organic | Coffee | FTC

Continuing with the sustainability theme, here’s an interesting tidbit via ARS Technica about a Google embracing solar power: “It’s Easy Being Green: Google Goes Solar.” I particularly like the idea of using some of the panels as shades in the company’s parking lot. Here’s a clip from the post:

“9,212 Sharp photovoltaic modules now cover the rooftops of the Googleplex, each one capable of pumping out 208W of DC power in full sun. To gain even more solar surface area, Google installed solar panels as “shades” over several of its parking lots, keeping cars cool and generating power at the same time. The installation can generate 30 percent of Google’s peak demand power, or enough to light about 1,000 California homes.”

TAGS: Google | Solar | Sustainability | Sun | Alternative Power | Electricity | Energy | CSR

SustainAbility, Inc. released an interesting report today which, “[demonstrates the] potential for next-generation partnerships to positively impact socio-economic and environmental challenges.” The report, Growing Opportunity: Entrepreneurial Solutions to Insoluble Problems, is available for download on the firm’s website. Though the report is free, you have to register (painlessly fast) in order to complete the download.

I skimmed the report this morning and will give it a thorough run-through later today. So far, however, it looks like a great read. Here is a high-level snapshot of the main findings of the report:

1. Social entrepreneurship is on a roll
2. The potential for breakthrough solutions is considerable – and growing
3. The field is growing, but still relatively small
4. Money remains the main headache
5. Financial self-sufficiency is seen as a real prospect within five years
6. There is a real appetite to partner with business
7. Beware blind spots (risk of over-focus)
8. For real system change, we must focus on government and public policy

More thoughts on the report later…

TAGS: Sustainability | Entrepreneur | Business | CSR | Social Enterprise | Ethics

Though little time has passed since the closing of 2006, I am just now beginning to reflect on the meaningful and powerful events came to pass during the year. My personal life was certainly packed to the brim with amazing milestones and events including my first full year as a father, an eye-opening trip to China and then another one from one coast of the US to the other, and the completion of my MBA studies.

2006 proved also to be an important year for many of the issues I follow, including the socially responsible investing (SRI) movement. At a time when the public’s knowledge of SRI and related issues such as business ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and renewed concern in corporate governance, seem to be rapidly increasing, so too has its level of related cynicism.

While much progress has been made in bringing greater focus on such issues in the business world and society at large, those critical of the merits of each issue seem to find ample evidence of companies touting their new CSR or ethics programs, yet not practicing what they preach. Nonetheless, along with the inevitable negativity (justifiable and not) comes a host of notable examples of these initiatives actually creating positive change in society.

Social Funds compiled a list of the top five SRI stories of 2006, and all are well worth reviewing. My top pick would be split between the United Nation’s launch of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (which I blogged about here and here), and Muhammad Yunus being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

TAGS: SRI | Socially Responsible Investing | CSR | Ethics

The bad news continues: Hewlett-Packard Spied on Writers in Leaks [NYT]

Here is a clip from the article:

“The company said this week that its board had hired private investigators to identify directors leaking information to the press and that those investigators had posed as board members — a technique known as pretexting — to gain access to their personal phone records.

“In acknowledging Thursday that journalists’ records had also been obtained, the company said it was apologizing to each one. ‘H.P. is dismayed that the phone records of journalists were accessed without their knowledge,’ a company spokesman, Michael Moeller, said.

“In an interview Thursday about the state’s criminal investigation of the Hewlett-Packard matter, Attorney General Bill Lockyer said, ‘A crime was committed.’ But he added: ‘It is unclear how strong the case is. Who is charged and for what is still an open question.’”

And then more specific information regarding the investigators spying on journalists:

“CNET said Thursday that phone records of two of its reporters, Dawn Kawamoto and Tom Krazit, had also been obtained. It said access to Ms. Kawamoto’s records had been gained from the same Internet address used by the person who accessed the phone records of Mr. Perkins. A caller used the last four digits of her husband’s Social Security number to establish an online account with AT&T to view the records. Access was gained on one date, in late January 2006, it said.

“A CNET spokeswoman, Sarah Cain, said: ‘These actions not only violated the privacy rights of our employee, but also the rights of all reporters to protect their confidential sources.’”

TAGS: HP | Hewlett Packard | Pretexting | Spying | Board of Directors | Ethics | Corporate Governance

The exchange, BURSA Malaysia, recently announced the launch of a corporate social responsibility framework for publicly listed companies (PLCs). I first learned of the news after reading a Business Times article, but found its information somewhat vague. The article made little mention of the details of the framework, noting only a few of its aspects such as a focus “on how a corporation interacts with the environment, community, workplace and marketplace.”

If you are interested in reading more, BURSA Malaysia’s website has a CSR section that lists the following PDFs for download:

• CSR Write-up: A short introduction to the framework as well as a nice overview of corporate social responsibility.
• CSR Framework for Malaysian PLCs: This presentation contains the details of the CSR framework and also of BURSA Malaysia’s short and long-term CSR goals.

TAGS: CSR | Corporate Social Responsibility | BURSA Malaysia | CSR Framework

All is not well in Cupertino…

Those of you who know me well are aware of my affection for Apple Computer. I have been a long-time customer, supporter, and advocate.

In the past several years, however, I have become increasingly aware of much of Apple’s darker side. The company’s PR machine usually has a nice statement to smooth things out, which does little to make feel better, but still seems to have a certain amount of contempt for those seeking greater accountability.

Shareholder meetings are frequently accompanied by protests from environmental groups (as noted in the linked MacRumours article above), and there have been recent reports regarding the working conditions of an iPod OEM in China. I would very much like to see Apple take charge and lead tech companies in greater environmental awareness. Its computer recycling program is a great step forward, but still more could be done.

As an interesting aside, were I an Apple shareholder (I haven’t been for a few years—perhaps a bit shortsighted…) I would gladly forgo a certain amount of profit if it meant that the company would be a better steward of the environment and of human rights. That said, it is far easier to make such a claim than to strip all of the environmental and labor issues from such a large company, let alone one in such a highly competitive industry. If any company can make serious inroads, however, I’d put my money on Apple having the greatest potential. I hope that turns out to be the case.

[Update 8/29/06]: This is not related to the content above, but Google and Apple seem to be getting a bit more snuggly. I think the news is quite interesting in relation to the China-related issues both companies have been having the past year or so. The Microsoft connection obviously adds an interesting dimension, and this may reflect more poorly on Google (as the Techcruch post alludes to) than anticipated.

TAGS: Apple Computer | Mac | iPod | Macintosh | CSR | Corporate Governance

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., the largest Coca-Cola bottler with operations in North America and western Europe, just released its 2005 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Review. The review is quite interesting (and very well designed) and covers all of the high-level information one might expect.

This review should be of interest to anyone familiar with the recent cola-company scandals in India mentioned earlier. The bottlers involved are different than Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., but it should be interesting to read the review in relation to the specific issues the India bottlers are grappling with. In particular, note the following items from the “Environmental Management System” section:

• Comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations everywhere that we operate
• Establish objectives and targets and conduct auditing to improve our performance on a consistent basis
• Incorporate environmental considerations in our business planning process, including design, production, packaging, transportation and ultimate disposal of materials related to our products
• Work with communities on environmental projects of local benefit

I have yet to do the research but am curious if the India Coca-Cola bottling company has the same level of stated commitment to environmental management and local cooperation.

As an aside, this serves as a good example of a company obviously going through the motions of at least attempting to show greater corporate social responsibility, yet perhaps having its efforts discounted due to the complications another Coca-Cola bottler (and perhaps other cola bottlers) is experiencing.

For the cynical observer, it becomes increasingly easy to pass off multinationals’ CSR efforts as empty PR attempts–a reality that is becoming more commonplace. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the cynics will lose material to fling as the CSR movement matures.

TAGS: CSR | Coke | Coca-Cola | Corporate Responsibility | CSR Report

As a follow-up to my last post about socially responsible investing, I thought I would pass on another resource my friend sent to me (thank you Dave!).

He emailed me a PDF of a report authored by Abby Joseph Cohen, Partner and Chief U.S. Investment Strategist, Goldman, Sachs & Co, that covers the SRI sector noting the various vehicles as well as any potential opportunities. I think the report is excellent and should be a very quick read for anyone interested in the subject. Here are a few links:

• Direct link: Capital Markets At the Crossroads [PDF]
• Research page at Goldman Sachs (the Cohen report is listed toward the top)
• A transcript from State of the Planet 2006 where Cohen discussed the report

TAGS: Abby Cohen | Goldman Sachs | SRI | Socially Responsible Investing