Corporate Social Responsibility Statement Proposal : Improving Information on Companies to Decision Makers
By Financial Fanatics Corporate Social Responsibility Statement Proposal
Introduction : Introduction “People are going to want, and be able, to find out about the citizenship of a brand, whether it is doing the right things socially, economically and environmentally or not.”
Mike Clasper President of Business Development, Proctor and Gamble (Europe)
Legal/Ethical : Legal/Ethical What Society Requires From Business:
Obey laws and adhere to regulations
Environment Laws
Consumer Laws
Employee laws
Contract laws
Legal/Ethical : Legal/Ethical To satisfy societal expectations for legal issues reporting what might be included in a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report?
Recent legal transactions which affect financial performance such as lawsuits
Governmental rulings
Audit findings which revealed legal issues
Creditor’s collection actions
Bankruptcy or related insolvency proceedings
Philanthropy : Philanthropy Where does the decision maker find corporate philanthropic information?
Philanthropy : Philanthropy “LEAST PHILANTHROPIC COMPANIES?”
Philanthropy : Philanthropy “the free market, and not companies, should decide what is best for the world. … [When] business executives spend more money than they need to … they are spending shareholders’ money to further their own agenda’s. Better to pay dividends and let the shareholders give the money away, if they choose”
Milton Friedman
Environmental : Environmental Required to Disclose “Material”:
Effects that compliance with environmental law will have on earnings, competitive position, and capital expenditures.
Environmental legal proceedings.
Discussion of known environmental trends, events, or uncertainties that may effect the companies financial condition.
(Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, 2004)
Environmental : Environmental Compliance with environmental law
Clean Air Act of 1970
Air Pollution Prevention and Control, and Air Quality and Emission Limitations
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
Hazardous material identification and clean up
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulation and Reporting
Environmental : Environmental Known environmental trends, events, or uncertainties
Climate Change Reporting
“not opining on whether the world’s climate is changing; at what pace it might be changing; or due to what causes”
Environmental : Environmental “Material”
Left undefined
Relies on established case law.
Generally defined as if a prudent investor would reasonably want to know about it.
Environmental : Environmental Environmental Reporting and the Corporate Social Responsibility Statement
Would help to ensure compliance with
environmental laws
full disclosure requirements
meeting the definition of Material
Would aid decision makers in gathering information and making decisions based on environmental aspects.
Conclusion : Conclusion “Stakeholders want companies to make a profit, but not at the expense of their staff and the wider community.”
Brian Gosschalk, CEO, MORI,
quoted in Financial Times
References : References American Bar Association. (2010). Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Retrieved October 1st, 2010, from http://www.abanet.org/environ/committees/environdisclosures/
Arnold, V., Bedard, J., Phillips, J., Sutton, S.G. (2010, August 23). Where Do Investors Prefer to Find Nonfinancial Information? Journal of Accountancy. Retrieved September 18, 2010, from http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Web/20102682.htm
DNA.com. More companies integrating philanthropy: Bill Clinton. Retrieved September 30, from: http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_more-companies-integrating- philanthropy-bill-clinton_1441811
Donell, D., Rieder, E. (2009, June 30). Charities Face Greater Threat From Ponzi Schemes Than Lost Investments. The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 18, 2010, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-donell/charities-face-greater-th_b_223088.html
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Clean Air Act. Retrieved October 2nd, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). CERCLA Overview. Retrieved October 2nd, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/cercla.htm
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. Retrieved October 2nd, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html
Lamb, C. W., Hair, J. F. Jr., McDaniel, C. (2010). MKTG3 2009 – 2010 Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning (pages 29-30)
References : References Moir, DR. L. (2006). Corporate Responsibility. Cranfield University School of Management. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from
http:// www.beyondgreypinstripes.org/docs/BSO%202%202006.ppt
Nelson, D. L., Quick, J. C. (2009). ORGB 2008 – 2009 Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning (pages 29-30)
Ni, P. (2007). America’s Least Philanthropic Companies. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from: http://www.ssireview.org/opinion/entry/the_least_philanthropic_companies/
Reason.com. Rethinking the Social Responsibility of Business. Retrieved September 30, 2010
from: http://reason.com/archives/2005/10/01/rethinking-the-social-responsibility
Roselle, B. (2009). Strategic Corporate Philanthropy: Using Social Investment to Improve Your Competitive Context. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from:
http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/strategic-corporate-philanthropy-using- social-investment-to-improve-your-competitive-context-864018.html#ixzz113CGr1aR
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, and Cravath, Swaine, and Moore LLP. (2004, February 9). Sarbanes – Oxley and Environmental Matters. Retrieved October 1st, 2010, from http://www.abanet.org/environ/committees/environdisclosures/mandatorydisclosureprim er.pdf
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2010). The Investor’s Advocate: How the SEC Protects Investors, Maintains Market Integrity, and Facilitates Capital Formation. Retrieved September 19, 2010, from http://www.sec.gov/about/whatwedo.shtml