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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Applying Water-Risk Information
Last week, we looked at how companies can address water quality and scarcity issues in China, and this week we look more broadly at how companies can use water-related risk information for other corporate objectives—allowing them to apply resources more effectively, collaborate with and meet the demands of a variety of stakeholders, and have a positive impact on sustainability issues beyond just water.
As BSR Advisory Services Manager Ryan Flaherty points out, however, this means embracing the complexity of water. He guides companies through the process of using water-risk information for greater impact.
Next, we highlight a new report on how pharmaceutical companies can use inclusive business models to tap the growing market for pharmaceuticals in developing countries, and, in turn, improve the lives of the 1.7 billion people who lack access to essential medicines.
And we leave you with a graphic on how global companies are using social media to communicate on sustainability issues.
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In Depth
Using Water-Risk Information for Greater Impact
By Ryan Flaherty, Manager, Advisory Services, BSR
Starting with the right tools to analyze their risk, companies can build robust water strategies that include collaboration to protect and improve shared water resources. In addition to informing corporate water strategies, water-risk information can be used to improve business practices related to other sustainability issues, including human rights, local development, and consumer awareness of water issues.
Read more →
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Toolbox
Bringing Medicines to Low-Income Markets
A new guide by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development outlines how pharmaceutical companies can use inclusive business models to tap the growing market for pharmaceuticals in developing countries and improve the lives of the 1.7 billion people who lack access to essential medicines.
To help companies overcome some of the barriers to reaching low-income markets—including high costs for medicine, and a lack of qualified professionals, physical infrastructure, and health insurance—the guide offers the “4As+1” framework, which is based on acceptance, awareness, availability, and affordability, plus partnerships with NGOs and governments, among others.
More specifically, the report:
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Makes the case for pharmaceutical companies to venture into low-income markets
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Examines each of the “4As+1” with case studies illustrating the application of the framework in different contexts
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Offers practical guidance for how companies can reach low-income markets
Quick Hit
More Companies Using Social Media for Sustainability Communications
By Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services, BSR
The “SMI-Wizness Social Media Sustainability Index,” explores the current social media and sustainability landscape, which has blossomed in the past two years. Research for this index reveals that 250 major companies in North America and Europe are engaged in social media for sustainability communications (compared to 120 in 2010), and more than 100 companies have a blog, YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter channel dedicated to sustainability.
View a larger image.
Source: “SMI-Wizness Social Media Sustainability Index”
The report provides a “social storytelling” checklist, guidance on how companies can manage their reputation using social media, a snapshot of the top 10 social media campaigns (including those by GE, IBM, and Ford), tips on how companies can “liberate” their sustainability reports, and a list of the most powerful people—from business, NGOs, media, academia, and consultancies—who tweet on sustainability. The report also features a sustainability content tree showing which social media platforms companies are using to tell their stories.
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