Blog Archives: October 2011
October 31, 2011
Join the #BSR11 Conversation
The BSR Conference 2011: Redefining Leadership kicks off tomorrow with four days of workshops, discussions, and inspiration for sustainable business. Read more
October 28, 2011
An Expert’s View on Labor Trends in China
Jason Ho , Manager, Advisory Services & CTI
I recently sat down with legal expert and Shenzhen University Professor Hou Lingling to discuss the implications of China’s 12th five-year plan. In particular, we focused on the new social insurance law, which guarantees five social insurances for workers, including: pension, unemployment, work injury, medical care, and maternity leave regardless of non-local residency. We also spoke about the collective bargaining mechanisms (CBM) that were developed in response to demands from a new generation of workers that is more conscious of their rights and frequently using collective action against their employers. Read more
October 27, 2011
Human Rights in the Supreme Court: How Should Companies Respond?
Peter Nestor , Manager, Advisory Services
The U.S. Supreme Court decided last week to review a contentious case involving corporate liability for alleged human rights abuses committed abroad. A decision that corporations can be liable in U.S. courts could leave several companies with international operations exposed to potential liability. How should companies respond? Read more
October 26, 2011
Is the Health Care Industry Really Failing at CSR?
Mark Little , Director, Healthcare, Advisory Services
Fast Company seems to think so, at least according to a recent blog by Brian Jackson, who asserts that while almost every other sector has found a way to pursue CSR efforts, health care companies have failed, despite several opportunities to pursue sustainable options. But I’d suggest that the analysis put forward by Jackson is too cursory to support his ultimate conclusion that “the long-term viability of health care entities is at risk.” Read more
October 25, 2011
In Your Words: Recyclebank Chief Sustainability Officer Ian Yolles on Leadership
Ian Yolles, Chief Sustainability Officer, Recyclebank
This guest blog is part of BSR's ongoing series exploring what leadership for sustainability looks like in today's world. Read more
October 25, 2011
Pushing the Sustainability Conversation Forward at the BSR Conference 2011
Kara Hurst, Former Vice President
BSR has a reputation for executing a professionally run, interesting, and content-rich event every year. Our annual Conference draws more than 1,000 participants from a wide range of leading global companies and NGOs. As we head into this year’s event, we anticipate that the experience will be a terrific kick off to BSR’s 20th anniversary year. On the first day, we’re joined on the plenary stage by Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Preventative Medicine Research Institute Founder and President Dr. Dean Ornish, and Women’s World Banking President and CEO Mary Ellen Iskenderian—whose collective expertise exemplifies the diversity of urgent sustainability issues on the table for discussion: climate change, business innovation, embedding sustainability into mainstream financial markets, the health and wellness of our growing populace, and women’s empowerment through financial inclusion and literacy. Read more
October 21, 2011
Discovering the Unexpected Places Where “Good Works”: 2011 Net Impact Conference
Anisha Malhotra, Communications Intern
End results are important, but the journey to successfully incorporating sustainability into your company’s core strategy is equally critical. But this journey can be complex because each company’s path is different and inspiration and success may not come in the form we expect. Read more
October 20, 2011
In Your Words: Rocky Mountain Institute’s Ned Harvey on Leadership
Ned Harvey, Rocky Mountain Institute
This guest blog is part of BSR's ongoing series exploring what leadership for sustainability looks like in today's world.
October 19, 2011
UN Guiding Principles: What’s Next for Capital-Intensive Industries?
Alejandra Martin , Manager, Advisory Services
Last week, BSR hosted a one-day workshop in Paris on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for capital-intensive industries. We presented a summary of our research on extractives companies’ top five human rights issues in the short term: Read more
October 17, 2011
The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Sustainable Supply Chain
Mark Little , Director, Healthcare, Advisory Services
The Pharmaceutical industry is making great strides in a pre-competitive collaboration to improve sustainability in its supply chain. Since inception of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) in 2006, membership has nearly doubled to 14 companies, a recognition that “Big Pharma” sees a business case in working together to develop a common set of environmental, social, and ethical supplier standards. Read more
October 14, 2011
Forum EMPRESA: More Than a Decade of Achievement in the Americas
Aron Cramer , President and CEO
This past week, I joined my final board meeting for Forum EMPRESA, the network of 20 corporate responsibility organizations across the hemisphere, from Canada to Chile. I have had the privilege of serving on the board since 2004, assuming the seat first occupied by Bob Dunn, my predecessor as president and CEO of BSR. Read more
October 12, 2011
An Alliance to Support DRC Conflict-Free
Marshall Chase , Associate Director, Advisory Services
Last week, the U.S. State Department announced the creation of a Public-Private Alliance (PPA) for Responsible Minerals Trade, with a goal of working with companies, civil society, and governments to support conflict-free mineral supply chain efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is a significant step to overcome what has become a de facto embargo on trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the country and surrounding region, and to support mining and trade that contributes to the local economy without funding armed conflict in the eastern DRC. Read more
October 11, 2011
Opportunities for Wireless Technology to Improve Environmental Impacts
Vijay Kanal, Former Director, Information and Communications Technology Practice, Advisory Services
A new report developed by BSR—and commissioned by CTIA- the Wireless Association—explores the impacts of wireless technology on the environment in the United States. To our surprise, we found several innovations occurring with wireless applications that not only reduce costs but also benefit the environment—and the applications are in just about every industry. Read more
October 10, 2011
In Your Words: Sustainable Harvest Coffee President David Griswold on Leadership
David Griswold, President, Sustainable Harvest Coffee
This guest blog is part of BSR's ongoing series exploring what leadership for sustainability looks like in today's world.
October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs: A Visionary and Inspiration for a Sustainable Future
Kara Hurst, Former Vice President
The reaction to Steve Jobs’ death on Twitter last night was fast and furious. So much has already been written about his vision, his genius, and the way he changed how we all think about interacting through devices designed in a simple, elegant style. The world is undoubtedly worse off without his ideas, but the spirit he generated–at Apple, NeXT, Pixar, and beyond–is strong and will likely lead us forward, expecting new and better things from our technology companies every day. Read more
October 4, 2011
In Your Words: Christine Bader on Leadership
Christine Bader, BSR Advisor
This guest blog is part of BSR's ongoing series exploring what leadership for sustainability looks like in today's world.
October 3, 2011
Chinoptimists: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Aron Cramer , President and CEO
At 12 hours, the flight from San Francisco to Beijing is quite long enough. There’s time to work, sleep, and watch movies that are appealing only with less oxygen than usual nourishing the brain. And while I have made the trip dozens of times, it still amazes me to be deposited on the opposite side of the Pacific. Read more
October 1, 2011
Where BSR Will Be in October
Here’s a roundup of where our global staff will be this month. Hope to see you there! Read more
