abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

1 Aug 2011

Author:
Alison Braybrooks, Guardian Blog [UK]

Taking stock of your company's social impact

If you gave a…CEO two minutes to tell you about their company's…impact on society and you'll probably…get their donations budget and the number of employees who volunteer...not the…the difference they've made to their local communities, or how they've been part of solving a big social problem...the Global Reporting Initiative…found that companies very rarely report negative social impacts, often don't link their impact on society to wider global goals or recognised concepts like human rights, and don't set and track progress against impact targets…Despite this, there is now huge pressure on companies to focus on their social impacts. A host of initiatives…will require companies to shape up…on these issues…[including] [t]he new UN framework on business and human rights…Over the next 10 years we will see companies describe…their…contribution to human rights with the same clarity and force as their achievements in reducing their environmental impacts. [refers to Barclays, Coca-Cola, SABMiller, Unilever, Co-operative]