The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility

Archive for June, 2011

Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a Leader

Columnist Gael O’Brien thinks that in these increasingly uncertain times it’s worth examining the basic methodology used by many serial entrepreneurs. The process of taking small steps to “act, learn and build from,” she says, offers models for navigating the unknown, building trust and handling potential ethical conflicts.

In Boeing Dispute, Growing Controversy Clouds Facts

One of the U.S.’s largest manufacturers, Boeing, has been sued by the government for allegedly punishing union workers by shifting a proposed new plant to another state. Republicans and other critics have charged that the government is overstepping its authority and creating a dangerous precedent.

After Fukushima: Obama’s Nuclear Policy

Undeterred by the Japanese nuclear disaster, Obama pledged just two weeks following the initial explosions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi facility that nuclear power should be revived in the U.S., as it provides “electricity without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.”

UN Council Endorses Principles on Business and Human Rights

The UN’s endorsement of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights marks not just a successful end to the mandate of UN Special Representative John Ruggie. It also signals a new beginning for business and human rights as companies around the world begin to implement the principles to ensure respect for human rights in all their operations.

Opinion: Sustainability Profits Companies

A KPMG International study of executives released April 18 said that, “nearly 55 per cent of US executives say their organization has a formal sustainability strategy in place… Another 12 per cent say they are working on a strategy and an additional 19 percent expect to eventually develop a formal plan… Asked to identify the top three benefits from their sustainability program, the respondents most often chose: better or more efficient business processes and practices; increased profitability or shareholder value; and the ability to attract or retain new or existing customers… ”

How Green Is Your Boardroom?

Sustainability initiatives are most successful when they’re on the agenda of the board of directors. Alice Korngold examines how that’s being handled at consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark, where the board has not only endorsed an ambitious Sustainability 2015 plan but has also asked how the plan can be accelerated.

Books: Using Social Media To Build a Better World

Advertising executive Simon Mainwaring suggests in a new book that combining corporate social responsibility and social media could create a powerful new consumer force. Among his suggestions: “contributory capitalism,” in which every single consumer transaction for products and services globally “would include a contribution toward building a better world.”

More Scrutiny for Doctors Profiting From Medical Devices

Five U.S. senators are calling for an investigation into a system that gives surgeons a financial stake in the devices they use on their patients. The inquiry comes after a Wall Street Journal investigation of Dr. Vishal James Makker, a surgeon with a questionable track record for performing multiple spinal operations on his patients.

Which Farm-Raised Fish Should You Buy?

Farm-raised fish may have somewhat less exposure to mercury than their wild free-foraging cousins because they are usually fed a controlled diet. But they can still absorb mercury, since most fish farms are themselves located in the ocean, just close to or abutting the shoreline.

Home Depot Political Donation Resolution Results Reported

The shareholder resolution addressing political contribution policies at Home Depot Inc. was soundly defeated, the company said in an 8K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing said the resolution received 49.2 million for votes; against votes totaled 932.2 million, while there were 138.8 million abstained votes and 239.5million “broker non-votes.”