This
is the third ICC Guide to Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
reflecting the importance of this issue to our membership and the
wider business community. The first section of this Guide again sets
down ICC’s overall approach to Corporate Social Responsibility
and provides guidance for companies seeking to develop their own policies
on CSR. In addition, on the website www.iccwbo.org, in the Business
in Society section, we have added a web based commentary for our now
well established nine practical steps to responsible business conduct.
This commentary draws, through practical detailed examples, on the
experience of member companies around the world, large and small.
The commentary, as a web based tool, is being regularly developed
and updated with the addition of new examples and experiences.
As understanding of what CSR is, and what it means to individual companies
increases, some of the focus has moved understandably from policy
development and implementation to feedback mechanisms and reporting.
Communicating timely and reliable information on economic, environmental
and social reporting is an important way for companies to convey their
commitment to responsible business conduct. ICC’s recently issued
paper on this topic is included in this Guide and hopefully is a valuable
tool for companies seeking to ensure that their reports provide useful,
relevant information for all stakeholders.
The articles in this handbook are once again
by a wide range of senior business and government leaders. They
address the topics in the forefront of the business agenda at the
present time, many of which are particular areas of focus for ICC.
For example, the link between trade and aid, and the critical importance
of making progress on the Doha round of trade negotiations this
year; articles on Aids, Africa and Global Poverty which link strongly
with the recently issued Africa Commission report; Corporate Governance;
Sustainable Development; and the impact on international trading
system of increased security concerns. I hope you find the articles
interesting and informative. I also hope that the guide will increase
awareness and understanding of these important issues and that,
as a result, the progress made by the international business community
in demonstrating the effectiveness of its corporate social responsibility
programmes will further increase.
Andrew
Hope
Director ICC United Kingdom
2004
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