Policies on CSR in Europe CORE Conference in Milan, 15 June 2007 Policies on CSR in Europe: A new “Government Contribution to Sustainable Development”

Policies on CSR in Europe CORE Conference in Milan, 15 June 2007

Policies on CSR in Europe: A new “Government Contribution to Sustainable Development”

Reinhard Steurer

RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administration

www.sustainability.eu


Orientation

1. Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS

2. CSR and Sustainable DevelpomentConceptual and political clarifications

3. The CSR policy field Instrument and topics

4. A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement

5. Conclusions EU and Member State policies on CSR and the EU SDS


Orientation



3. The CSR policy field Instruments and topics




Recent projects on SD

• “European Environment” special issue on SD Strategies in Europe

• ESDN (European Sustainable Development Network) Office www.sd-network.eu (financed by 8 European countries)

Recent projects on CSR

• Policies on CSR in Europe (City of Vienna)

• Corporate Sustainability and CSR in Western and CEE Europe (Austrian National Bank)

• Analysis of national policies on CSR -- www.sustainability.eu/csr-policies for EU CSR High Level Group (DG Employment)


Orientation



3. The CSR policy field Instruments and topics




CSR and SD: Similarities

1. Normative assumptions are at the core of both SD and CSR/stakeholder management

2. Integratingenvironmental and social aspects into economic policies/strategies is key for SD and CSR (triple bottom line)

3. Participationin the societal context of SD is mirrored by stakeholder management in the context of CSR

Source: Steurer, R et al (2005): Corporations, Stakeholders and Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Exploration of Business-Society Relations, in: Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281.


CSR and SD: Differences

1. HistorySD comes from the environmental, CSR from the social dimension

2. Institutional affiliationSD still located in Environment, CSR in Social Ministries

3. Time horizonSD focuses on future generations, CSR on present stakeholders

4. ScopeSD is a societal concept, CSR a management approach

Source: Steurer, R et al (2005): Corporations, Stakeholders and Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Exploration of Business-Society Relations, in: Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281.


Sustainable Development

Corporate Sustainability

Environm

ental dimension

Economic dimension

Soci

al d

imen

sion

CSR

SRMSRM

Societal Concept

Management Approach

Corporate Concept

Management Systems

Starting Point of conceptual development

Stakeholder Relations Management (SRM)

Level of specification

SR

M

ISO …

Source: Steurer, R et al (2005), Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281.


Preliminary conclusions

„CSR is a business contribution to SD” (European Commission 2001)

Since CSR re-defines state-business and business-society relations, shaping the concept and respective activities also concerns governments and civil society

CSR policies are a new „government contribution to SD“ that complements (or compensates for the lack of) traditional social and environmental policies


Orientation







CSR policy instruments

1. Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings

2. Partnering instruments: Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues

3. Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards

4. Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees

5. „Hybrid instruments“Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres

Source: Fox T, Ward H, Howard B. 2002; World Bank; http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/16014IIED.pdf

CSR policies study on awareness raising, see www.sustinability.eu/csr-policies


Character of policy instruments in general



3. Financial or economic instruments:

Subsidies, grants, prices/awards

4. Legal (mandating) instruments: Laws, regulations, decrees

5. „Hybrid instruments“

Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres

New governance and “soft-law

approach”

Regulatory approach


Character of CSR policy instruments



3. Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards

4. Legal (mandating) instruments: Laws, regulations, decrees

5. „Hybrid instruments“

Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres

New governance and “soft-law

approach”


Orientation







Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but

Raise awareness for CSR

Increase disclosure & transparency

Foster Socially Responsible Investment

Make Public Procurement sustainable

Help develop management and audit tools

Key topics of CSR policies


1. Raise awareness for CSR

2. Increase disclosure & transparency

3. Foster Socially Responsible Investment

4. Make Public Procurement sustainable

5. Help develop management and audit tools

Topics covered in study for DG Employment


Orientation



3. The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools




CSR awareness raising initiatives in Europe

1. RationaleBecause CSR activities require awareness among businesses and stakeholders, promoting CSR is key to its success

2. Research method24 telephone interviews, 20 EU Member States covered

3. Number of initiatives surveyed85 from 4 out of 5 categories


Overview of CSR awareness raising instrumentsOverview of CSR awareness raising instruments

Education activities, e.g. conferences, seminars,

trainings; 17.7%

Government-sponsored guidelines; 10.6%

Information resources, e.g. website, studies, reports etc.; 10.6%

Information/awareness raising campaigns; 9.4%

Networks/partnerships/ agreements; 10.6%

Multi-stakeholder fora; 4.8%

Prices and awards (CSR audits/labels); 8.2%

Economic incentives (loans, grants,

subsidies); 3.5%

Action plans/ programmes/strategy for

CSR; 9.4%

Institutions: platforms/ centres; 8.2%

Others; 7.0%

Informational or endorsing instruments

Partnering instruments

Financial or economic instruments

Hybrid tools and others


Target groups of CSR awareness raisingTarget groups of CSR awareness raising

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Companies; 40.3%

Young people; 1.6%

Business/industry sectors; 1.6%

Universities/schools; 6.2%

Consumers/consumer organizations/general

public; 7%

Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6%

Trade unions/social partners; 8.5%

NGOs; 10.1%

SMEs; 12.4%

Employees; 1.6%

Others; 3.1%



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Companies; 40.3%Consumers/consumer organizations/general

public; 7%



NGOs; 10.1%

SMEs; 12.4%

Few initiatives focus exclusively

on SMEs (no prices/awards) ---

generally regarded as most important

target group

Few initiatives focus exclusively

on SMEs (no prices/awards) ---

generally regarded as most important

target group



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Companies; 40.3%Consumers/consumer organizations/general

public; 7%



NGOs; 10.1%

SMEs; 12.4%

Social partnersrarely mentioned as target group

(even not in networks, multi-stakeholder fora

etc.)

Social partnersrarely mentioned as target group

(even not in networks, multi-stakeholder fora

etc.)



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Companies; 40.3%


NGOs; 10.1%

SMEs; 12.4%

Consumers and the media

hardly mentioned

Consumers and the media

hardly mentioned

Consumers/consumer organizations/general

public; 7%



Three case studies on CSR awareness raising

Sweden: “Globalt Ansvar”

• Partnership for global responsibility

• Government invites companies to join the partnership

by adopting the OECD guidelines and the UN Global

Compact

Sweden: “Globalt Ansvar”

• Partnership for global responsibility

• Government invites companies to join the partnership

by adopting the OECD guidelines and the UN Global

Compact

Netherlands: “Knowledge and

Information Centre” on CSR since 2004

• Disseminate knowledge and good

practices

• Promote stakeholder dialogues

• Foster partnerships

Netherlands: “Knowledge and

Information Centre” on CSR since 2004

• Disseminate knowledge and good

practices

• Promote stakeholder dialogues

• Foster partnerships

Denmark: “People & Profit”

• Programme initiated in 2004

• Activities: research, training,

dissemination of information

• Goal: enhance competitiveness (foster CSR as a business case)

Denmark: “People & Profit”

• Programme initiated in 2004

• Activities: research, training,

dissemination of information

• Goal: enhance competitiveness (foster CSR as a business case)


Orientation







Sustainable Public Procurement

1. RationaleBy making public procurement sustainable, governments lead by example and provide economic incentives for CSR

2. Research method 74 contacts, 24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU Member States covered


Countries covered in the SPP survey

Green: survey

Orange: other studies

Grey: not covered


Sustainable Public Procurement

1. RationaleBy making public procurement sustainable, governments lead by example and provide economic incentives for CSR

2. Research method74 contacts, 24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU Member States covered

3. Number of initiatives103, mostly from 3 out of 5 categories


Overview of SPP initiativesOverview of SPP initiativesEducational activities, e.g.

conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9%


Information resources, e.g. websites, studies,

reports, etc.; 11.7%


Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0%

Decrees, resolutions; 4.9%

Circulars; 4.9%

Action plans/programmes/strategies

for CSR; 27.2%

Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8%

Informational instruments


Legal instruments

Hybrid instruments

Laws; 25.2%

1/3


EU Directives* on PP: Status of implementation

19: implemented

2 (Es, Lux): in preparation

1: not implemented

5: status unclear

* „Procurement directive“ 2004/18/EC „Utilities directive“ 2004/17/EC










Circulars; 4.9%


for CSR; 27.2%




Legal instruments

Hybrid instruments

Laws; 25.2%

1/3


Member States with National Action Plans (NAPs) on SPP/GPP

9: NAP adopted

7: NAP in preparation/ drafted

3: No (draft) NAP

8: Status unclear










Circulars; 4.9%


for CSR; 27.2%




Legal instruments

Hybrid instruments

Laws; 25.2%

Economic/financial instruments are missing, but…

Economic/financial instruments are missing, but…










Circulars; 4.9%


for CSR; 27.2%




Legal instruments

Hybrid instruments

Laws; 25.2%

Indirectly: All SPP initiatives foster CSR by

providing economic/ financial incentives


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Target groups of SPP initiativesTarget groups of SPP initiatives

Public sector in general; 66.0%

Business; 10.7%

Regional and/or local level; 6.8%

National/federal level; 19.4%

not identified; 8.7%

Others; 1.9%

„Direct“ target group: 92.2% public sector

„Indirect“ target group 100% businesses

„Direct“ target group: 92.2% public sector

„Indirect“ target group 100% businesses

R. Steurer

spp statt aware


Orientation







Conclusions on CSR policies in Europe

1. CSR policies are a policy field like many othersin terms of its political scope: progressive versus passive approaches (change of course in European Commission!)

2. CSR policies are different to traditional policy fields because they rely more on new governance and soft-law

3. CSR policies complement but cannot replace traditional (social, environmental and trade) policies

4. The contribution of CSR (policies) to the EU SDS is relative: it could be significant because government actions are weak

5. CSR policies as indications for a neoliberal or a new „relational state“ (Midttun) – time will tell


THANK YOU!

Reinhard Steurer [email protected]

RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Vienna, Austria

www.sustainability.euwww.sustainability.eu/csr-policies

www.sd-network.eu

Policies on CSR in Europe CORE Conference in Milan, 15 June 2007 Policies on CSR in Europe: A new “Government Contribution to Sustainable Development”

Documents

csr policies

csr triple

topics csr awareness

context of csr source

csr policy field instruments

europe core conference

eu csr high level group

member state policies