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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Sustainability in the Boardroom
According to recent UN Global Compact research, 39 percent of 1,300 surveyed companies have boards that “routinely address corporate sustainability issues.” Indeed, sustainability today is seen by many company leaders as an important strategy in business success.
This week, BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer offers the first of his two-part series on CSR in the boardroom. Cramer discusses BSR's latest thinking on board roles and responsibilities, structure, and composition. Next week, he will share his perspective on where we should go from here. Cramer’s article is based on a recent paper BSR wrote for the Global Compact.
Next, we feature highlights from another report we contributed to, on the role of human resources in advancing sustainability.
Finally, we look at recommendations from a report on how company managers can incorporate “design-for-the-environment” strategies to improve the environmental performance of their products.
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In Depth
CSR in the Boardroom: The Board’s Role in Advancing Sustainability
By Aron Cramer, President and CEO, BSR
As more company leaders recognize sustainability as a strategic imperative for business, the question of how boards guide their companies’ approach is also growing in importance. In the first of a two-part series based on our work with several member companies—as well as our recent paper for the UN Global Compact—we offer our latest thinking on board roles and responsibilities, structure, and composition. Next week, BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer will offer his perspective on where we should go from here.
Read more →
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Toolbox
Improving Product Sustainability Performance
According to Parametric Technology Corporation's recent white paper, companies must embrace "design-for-the-environment" strategies that allow them to remain competitive—and stay ahead of new sustainability requirements—by improving the environmental performance of their products.
Findings from the report include:
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Factors driving these changes include environmental compliance regulations, voluntary initiatives, and customers’ requests.
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Integrating these strategies into the early phases of product development, when decisions have the greatest impact and are least disruptive, can save money and ensure products are brought to market faster.
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It's best to create cross-functional teams with representatives from procurement, design, supply chain, operations, product management, and sales departments.
Related to this topic, BSR is launching an online survey of product designers and managers to identify trends in sustainable product design. To participate, contact Cody Sisco.
We will feature the results in the BSR Insight later this year and will release a full report prior to the BSR Conference 2011.
Quick Hit
How HR Can Advance Sustainability
About 75 percent of 728 U.S. human resources professionals recently surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management report that their organizations engage in sustainable workplace or business practices. The survey revealed how company leaders are balancing financial performance with contributions to employees' well-being, society, and environmental initiatives.
The report based on the survey—for which BSR provided advisory and editorial input as well as client case studies—offers advice on how HR employees can use sustainability strategies to manage talent.
The graph below illustrates how the companies of 290 respondents demonstrate their commitments to sustainability.
View larger image
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