The Latest Corporate Social Responsibility News - 2009: A Year for Life Cycle Thinking
Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
12.30.2008 - 11:59pm ET
News from:
CSRwire Weekly News Alert
The Latest Corporate Social Responsibility News - 2009: A Year for Life Cycle Thinking
(CSRwire) DECEMBER 31, 2008 - The post-consumer wrapping paper has been recycled, the
80’s holiday pop songs have been shelved, and a New Year dawns full of
promise. As the seasonal hangover subsides, a new vision is emerging, and
it’s starting to look a lot like life cycle thinking.
For years, CSR professionals have been aware of the commitment and
progress companies have made in stakeholder engagement, transparency and
overall social and environmental performance. Of course there is plenty
more work to be done, but in many cases the strategies and resources are
in place to move forward.
Meanwhile consumers have been agitating for corporate action with
increasing intensity over the past year—particularly on the environment.
Their focus has typically been on retail and packaged goods companies as
the purveyors of bottled water, plastic bags, and myriad other
eco-flashpoints.
Yet the cries of consumers for environmental friendliness have often been
confused, and lacking a clear understanding of bigger life cycle issues.
To the consumer desire for simple labels and options, marketers have
responded enthusiastically, whether or not the efforts have been supported
by scientific information.
Examples abound, such as the "bamboo bandwagon", where consumers had a
vague inkling that this fast-growing raw material was more environmentally
friendly. But, there was little knowledge of the chemically intensive
viscose process required to produce bamboo cloth (sometimes referred to as
the less eco-appealing fabric "rayon"). With minimal information about raw
materials, and virtually none about the manufacturing, distribution,
consumption and disposal of products, consumers are limited in their
ability to make intelligent purchasing choices.
But consumers—who also happen to work for corporations—are starting to
connect the dots, recognizing that many of these issues are complex and
interconnected. There is growing awareness that without meaningful
measurement and disclosure the risk of “greenwash” runs high, and
social or environmental improvements will be limited at best.
The Canadian government is helping to ensure that marketing claims are on
side with environmental efforts, through the Competition
Bureau's Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers.
Phase Two of the United
Nation's Life Cycle Initiative also promises to enhance the global
dialogue regarding the application of science-based life cycle thinking to
business activity. The UN's initiative is supported by a wide range of
Canadian industry participants including Hydro-Québec, Rio Tinto Alcan,
Desjardins, RONA, and Cascades.
The coming year surely holds many new CSR challenges, not the least of
which will be navigating the economic downturn while improving social and
environmental impacts. However, the financial climate may provide the very
incentive we—consumers, businesses and other stakeholders—need to make
cautious, thoughtful decisions based on meaningful information. Taking a
life cycle approach is the only sure way to avoid unintended consequences
such as negative environmental impacts or an overly cynical consumer base.
Welcome to 2009. Hello, life cycle approach.
Featured CSR event
If you want to continue that holiday feeling while ramping up your
knowledge of environmental issues across regions, industries, and
different point on many products' life cycles, check out the upcoming Third Annual
Green Reel Environmental Film Festival in Vaughan, Ontario. Films range
from exploring issues of migrant labour in the grocery supply chain in "El
contrato" to the potential of vermi-composting in "Squirm: the story of
Cathy's Crawley composters".
This article was contributed by Canadian Business for Social
Responsibility.
About CSRwire's Weekly News Alert
CSRwire's free weekly News Alert is a summary of the latest and most
important CSR news from the week, put into context with local and global
news. The Alert highlights noteworthy initiatives and informs the CSR and
Social Responsible Investing communities including professionals,
analysts, academics activists, and consumers.
Click Here
to subscribe to the CSRwire Canada Weekly News Alert.
About CSRwire.com
CSRwire is the leading source of corporate social responsibility and
sustainability news, reports and information. CSRwire members are
companies and NGOs, agencies and organizations interested in communicating
their corporate citizenship, sustainability, and socially responsible
initiatives to a global audience through CSRwire's syndication network and
weekly News Alerts. CSRwire content covers issues of Diversity,
Philanthropy, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Environment, Human
Rights, Workplace Issues, Business Ethics, Community Development and
Corporate Governance.
For more information please contact:
Information Desk
CSRwire Canada
802-251-0110 x1109
www.ca.csrwire.com
www.csrwire.com/LastAlert.html
News Categories:
Sustainability and CSR - General
Print
E-mail
