BSR Insight Articles About Stakeholder Relations

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. Read more →

Posted: April 19, 2011 | Topics: Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration

U.S. ‘Proxy Preview’ Report: Environmental, Social Issues on the Rise

According to As You Sow's "Proxy Preview 2011"—a compendium of the 360 U.S. shareholder resolutions up for vote in 2011—investors now file about 50 percent more resolutions on social and environmental issues than they did 10 years ago. This year’s guide, which provides an overview of the major players, recent regulatory developments, shareholder proposal trends, and new issues, includes highlights such as: Read more →

Posted: April 12, 2011 | Topics: Environment, Investor Perspective, Reporting & Communications, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration

Answering the Call for Mandatory Sustainability Reporting

Chhavi Ghuliani, Manager, Advisory Services

A little over a year ago, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued guidance requiring companies traded publicly in the United States to report on the risks and opportunities their operations face due to climate change. The guidance came after three years of persistent advocacy from a coalition of investors and nonprofits including Ceres, Environmental Defense Fund, and Pax World Management Corporation, and the announcement was hailed as a major breakthrough for investor groups looking to minimize long-term risk in their portfolios. Read more →

Posted: April 5, 2011 | Topics: Conflict Minerals, Reporting & Communications, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration

Building Effective Local Content Strategies

Jessica Davis Pluess, Manager, Research

BSR's new report highlights some of the challenges and opportunities extractives companies face in building local content programs that drive commercial value and deliver sustainable local development benefits in countries where they operate. Read more →

Posted: March 29, 2011 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Economic Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Energy, Human Rights, Mining, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain

Conducting Site-Level Human Rights Impact Assessments

Alejandra Martin, Manager, Advisory Services

Although more than 270 companies have human rights policy statements in place, few have implemented the policies, and even fewer have conducted human rights impact assessments at the site level. These assessments are particularly relevant for companies operating in remote areas where local governments and civil society have limited experience interacting with the private sector. Read more →

Posted: March 29, 2011 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Consumer Products, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Energy, Financial Services, Food, Beverage & Agriculture, Health Care, Human Rights, Information & Communications Technology, Mining, Reporting & Communications, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration, Transportation, Travel & Tourism