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COVID-19 Content Hub

Perspectives and Guidance for Sustainable Business on the Coronavirus

As the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to spread, we at BSR are working hard supporting our member companies around the world, along with our many partners, as you navigate this extraordinary and unprecedented time.

Our teams are ready to work with you immediately on adapting sustainability and CSR activities to address the profound short-term needs faced by companies, employees, and communities. However, we also remain committed to harnessing the power of business to build a fundamentally different long-term future, involving the development of a new social contract fit for the 21st century and the creation of truly resilient business strategies.

To find out how BSR’s experts can help you meet the moment and build the future, please contact us.

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Below is a range of content and events on the impacts and implications for business of Covid-19.

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Scaling the Impact of Digital Financial Services: The Opportunity and Imperative during COVID-19
Blog

Scaling the Impact of Digital Financial Services: The Opportunity and Imperative during COVID-19

In a new report, HERproject and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth share lessons and insights from Digital Wages programs that can help companies, governments, and financial service providers scale up digital payments for low-income workers after COVID-19.

#inclusive economy

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Meeting the Moment for a New Social Contract: Q&A with Sharan Burrow of the ITUC
Blog

Meeting the Moment for a New Social Contract: Q&A with Sharan Burrow of the ITUC

BSR is pleased to welcome Sharan Burrow, an outspoken champion for workers and climate, as a plenary speaker at our 2020 Conference. In this article, we discuss her point of view on what a 21st-century social contract should look like.

#inclusive economy #sustainability management

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A 21st-Century Social Contract Must Include a Just Transition to a Net-Zero Economy
Blog

A 21st-Century Social Contract Must Include a Just Transition to a Net-Zero Economy

We need to enact large-scale systemic changes to combat global climate change—and as the transition to a net-zero GHG emissions economy takes place, we need a social contract that addresses the impact on workers and their communities, especially those facing systemic inequities.

#climate change #human rights

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Building Strategic Resilience Using BSR’s COVID-19 Scenarios
Events

Building Strategic Resilience Using BSR’s COVID-19 Scenarios

Webinar: Wednesday September 9, 2020

Join BSR for a webinar to learn more about how to leverage its three new COVID-19 scenarios to develop more resilient business strategies.

Event Recording

This event is exclusive to BSR Members only.

Unions, Organizing and Decent Work in Asia: COVID-19 and Beyond
Events

Unions, Organizing and Decent Work in Asia: COVID-19 and Beyond

Webinar: Wednesday August 26, 2020

Join us for an exploration of COVID-19 and its impacts on labor organizing, supply chains and working conditions in Asia.

Event Recording

Respecting the Rights of Vulnerable Groups
Blog

Respecting the Rights of Vulnerable Groups

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most vulnerable and marginalized have been and will continue to be the hardest hit amid increasing infection rates and deepening economic recession. BSR has released a primer, featuring a three-step approach on how companies can identify vulnerable groups, including BIPOC, and respect their rights in the context of COVID-19.

#human rights

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Building Strategic Resilience Using BSR’s COVID-19 Scenarios
Blog

Building Strategic Resilience Using BSR’s COVID-19 Scenarios

The COVID-19 pandemic—and resulting economic, political, and social crisis—is the most profound global disruption in decades. To help our members, partners, and community navigate this uncertain time, BSR is publishing a set of three scenarios, each depicting a different possible future in 2025.

#sustainable futures lab

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Healthy Business Coalition’s Eight-Point Action Plan for Reopening
Blog

Healthy Business Coalition’s Eight-Point Action Plan for Reopening

In light of COVID-19 and racial injustice, the Healthy Business Coalition (HBC) believes that it is time for the business community to respond to the moment by radically restructuring its support for workers and communities and promoting an equitable future for all.

#healthcare #sustainability management

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Why Modern Slavery Risks Should Be Top of Mind for Businesses during COVID-19
Blog

Why Modern Slavery Risks Should Be Top of Mind for Businesses during COVID-19

Through our work addressing modern slavery across supply chains, we have observed an alarming uptick in business actions during the COVID-19 pandemic that may lead to more individuals being forced into conditions of modern slavery, or on the brink thereof.

#human rights #inclusive economy #supply chain

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Access to Grievance Mechanisms and Remedy during the COVID-19 Crisis
Blog

Access to Grievance Mechanisms and Remedy during the COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 has aggravated existing inequalities, with rapidly changing business operating environments requiring fast decision-making based on often imperfect information. There is little doubt that some company decisions will have caused harm to employees, local residents, or customers. Companies will be held to account and asked to rectify these harms and to fulfill their duties to provide access to remedy.

#human rights

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Strengthening ESG Reporting and Performance in the COVID-19 Era
Events

Strengthening ESG Reporting and Performance in the COVID-19 Era

Webinar: Wednesday June 17, 2020

Join BSR, APG, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and the Singapore Exchange in discussing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on ESG reporting.

Event Recording

Supporting LGBTI People during Pride Month 2020 and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Blog

Supporting LGBTI People during Pride Month 2020 and the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has exposed many of the structural and systemic issues disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, including people of color, LGBTI people, migrants, and more. As we celebrate Pride Month in 2020, it is more important than ever to recognize the struggles of disenfranchised communities all over the world and the interconnectivity of these struggles for justice and equality.

#human rights

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Sustainability Reporting in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned and Vision for a New Future
Events

Sustainability Reporting in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned and Vision for a New Future

Webinar: Thursday June 11, 2020

Join the CEOs of BSR, GRI, and SASB to discuss the role of reporting in the context of COVID-19 and hear early lessons on what the pandemic is teaching us about materiality, disclosure, stakeholder engagement and systems thinking.

Event Recording

A Human Rights-Based Approach to COVID-19 Decision-Making
Blog

A Human Rights-Based Approach to COVID-19 Decision-Making

BSR has developed three primers on how to respect human rights during the COVID-19 crisis: one for the energy and extractives sector, one for the food, beverage, and agriculture sector, and one for the transportation and logistics sector.

#human rights

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Today and Tomorrow: COVID-19 and the Increased Relevance of Corporate Sustainability
Blog

Today and Tomorrow: COVID-19 and the Increased Relevance of Corporate Sustainability

At GlobeScan and BSR, we spend our time working with some of the largest businesses in the world. We wanted to understand both the immediate effect on the sustainability efforts of the companies we work with and also to begin to understand what long-term implications they are anticipating as a result of the pandemic.

#sustainability management

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COVID-19, Women Workers, and the Healthy Supply Chain
Events

COVID-19, Women Workers, and the Healthy Supply Chain

Webinar: Tuesday June 9, 2020

The United Nations Foundation’s Universal Access Project, BSR's HERproject, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) are hosting the webinar "COVID-19, Women Workers, and the Healthy Supply Chain" on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Event Recording

Rising to the Top: Six Big Sustainability Issues Companies Should Watch During COVID-19
Blog

Rising to the Top: Six Big Sustainability Issues Companies Should Watch During COVID-19

COVID-19 has changed our present, and very likely our future. The parts of the sustainability agenda that deliver top-line value, motivate coworkers, and demonstrate to customers that a company is looking after more than short-term financial gain are the things that matter right now.

#sustainability management

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COVID-19: Protecting Vulnerable Workers in Asia
Events

COVID-19: Protecting Vulnerable Workers in Asia

Webinar: Wednesday May 20, 2020

Join BSR for a discussion on the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable workers in Asia and how companies should formulate responses to address their specific needs while ensuring the protection of their rights.

Event Recording

Sustainability Reporting in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned and Vision for a New Future
Events

Sustainability Reporting in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned and Vision for a New Future

Webinar: Wednesday May 20, 2020

Join the CEOs of BSR, GRI, and SASB to discuss the role of reporting in the context of COVID-19 and hear early lessons on what the pandemic is teaching us about materiality, disclosure, stakeholder engagement and systems thinking.

Event Recording

The BSR Conference Reimagined
Blog

The BSR Conference Reimagined

The health and safety of our community and society at large is our top priority. For this reason, the BSR Conference 2020 is going virtual.

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Integrating a Gender Lens into Private Sector COVID-19 Recovery Plans (Asia-Pacific)
Events

Integrating a Gender Lens into Private Sector COVID-19 Recovery Plans (Asia-Pacific)

Webinar: Tuesday May 19, 2020

Join us to learn how companies are using the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in their COVID-19 recovery measures, plus we’ll take you through a simple assessment and action-planning tool to get your started!

Event Recording

A Post-COVID-19 Agenda for Sustainability Reporting
Blog

A Post-COVID-19 Agenda for Sustainability Reporting

The world of sustainability reporting after COVID-19 will be very different than the world that preceded it. What should change?

#reporting and communications

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Mitigation and Resilience Building: A Response to the COVID-19 Effects
Blog

Mitigation and Resilience Building: A Response to the COVID-19 Effects

More than any crisis in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the urgency of creating more resilient businesses and economies.

#supply chain #sustainability management

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COVID-19: External Resources for Business
 

COVID-19: External Resources for Business

A list of external resources on sustainability, ESG, and CSR for companies and stakeholders during the COVID-19 crisis.

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Reopening with Resilience: Ensuring Health, Safety, and Well-Being in the Return to Work
Events

Reopening with Resilience: Ensuring Health, Safety, and Well-Being in the Return to Work

Webinar: Thursday May 7, 2020

Join the conversation with leaders from Harvard, Merck, and BSR who will share health and safety best practices as you prepare to re-open your doors after COVID-19.

Event Recording

COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis: Building Resilience with People at the Core
Blog

COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis: Building Resilience with People at the Core

Whether it’s a pandemic or climate-related impact, those with the least, and those faced with the most extreme socioeconomic barriers, will suffer the most. The impacts that these populations face have the potential to disrupt business, from operations and supply chains down to the vital communities on which business depends.

#climate change #human rights #inclusive economy #supply chain

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Sustainability Reporting and Early Lessons from COVID-19
Blog

Sustainability Reporting and Early Lessons from COVID-19

BSR has observed several trends emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with best practices on reporting. We are sharing these insights here to assist company sustainability teams as they strive to keep stakeholders informed—despite, in many cases, the reality of limited time and diminished resources.

#reporting and communications #strategy and integration #sustainability management

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Understanding Connections Between Climate and Public Health
Blog

Understanding Connections Between Climate and Public Health

The global coronavirus pandemic is bringing the connection between climate and public health into focus. In recognition of Earth Day, Levi Strauss & Co. interviewed experts at the nexus of climate and public health to better understand the links and what needs to be done.

#climate change #healthcare

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ESG Isn’t Going Anywhere: Investor Expectations in the Age of COVID-19
Blog

ESG Isn’t Going Anywhere: Investor Expectations in the Age of COVID-19

One of the most important topics in corporate sustainability is the dramatic increase in attention by investors on the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. How will the rise of COVID-19 affect ESG investing strategies both in the short term and the long term, and what does it mean for companies?

#financial services

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Women in Supply Chains: On the Frontlines of COVID-19’s Impact
Blog

Women in Supply Chains: On the Frontlines of COVID-19’s Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly transformed from a global health crisis into a financial crisis, particularly for low-income female workers in global supply chains. However, companies can effectively deploy preventative measures to support workers and workplaces to protect their health and strengthen their financial resilience.

#supply chain #womens empowerment

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Wings of Change: A Scenario Realized
Blog

Wings of Change: A Scenario Realized

As we move through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, Merck's Cathryn Gunther offers her thoughts on consequential gifts that might materialize from the crisis, and the role companies can play in making them a reality.

#healthcare #sustainability management

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COVID-19 and Our Future World
Blog

COVID-19 and Our Future World

BSR and Polecat analyze the top ESG issues and sectors arising in global discourse about COVID-19 over the last fortnight.

#climate change #human rights #inclusive economy #strategy and integration #sustainability management

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Three Ways Businesses Can Protect LGBTIQ Rights in the Face of COVID-19
Blog

Three Ways Businesses Can Protect LGBTIQ Rights in the Face of COVID-19

COVID-19 will take an increased toll on those groups who were marginalized, vulnerable, and excluded before the pandemic hit, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people. For LGBTIQ people who have experienced a lifetime of discrimination, especially in places with deep poverty, tenuous healthcare delivery systems, and fragile government infrastructure, the sober truth is that this global emergency presents immediate unimaginable challenges.

#human rights

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Resilient Business Strategies: The Road to Recovery Based on Sustainability Principles
Blog

Resilient Business Strategies: The Road to Recovery Based on Sustainability Principles

In the wake of COVID-19, we are calling for business to “meet the moment and build the future.” In doing so, resilient business strategies will be fundamentally important to business success as well as economic and social recovery.

#strategy and integration #sustainability management

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How Sustainability Teams Can Meet the Moment
Blog

How Sustainability Teams Can Meet the Moment

It’s still too early to know the full human and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But eventually, we will need to begin to ponder the question: how will we rebuild once the crisis has passed? What can sustainability teams in companies expect?

#strategy and integration #sustainability management

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Meeting the Moment: Building Resilience through Collaboration
Blog

Meeting the Moment: Building Resilience through Collaboration

As the wave of the coronavirus crisis has landed on our communities, workplaces and economies, we are finding that our Collaborative Initiatives are becoming even more important—even critical—to our members as a way to maintain momentum on important sustainability issues.

#collaboration #sustainability management

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The Urgency of a New Social Contract
Blog

The Urgency of a New Social Contract

Last year, BSR launched an effort calling for a modernized social contract for the 21st century. We’re now inviting all our member companies and partners interested in seizing this moment to modernize the social contract to get in touch and co-create a plan of action.

#human rights #inclusive economy

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Meet the Moment. Build the Future.
Blog

Meet the Moment. Build the Future.

As the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic continue to spread, we at BSR are working hard to continue supporting our member companies around the world. Our approach at BSR can be summed up in six words: Meet the Moment. Build the Future.

#bsr news

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COVID-19: A Rapid Human Rights Due Diligence Tool for Companies
Blog

COVID-19: A Rapid Human Rights Due Diligence Tool for Companies

The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has reached such a level of imminent threat to public health that restrictions on certain human rights, such as limiting freedom of movement, appear to be justified. But this begs a critically important question: what are the key human rights principles for companies to uphold during this public emergency?

#human rights

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An Update from BSR on COVID-19
Blog

An Update from BSR on COVID-19

Our movement for resilient, sustainable business has never been more relevant, or important. BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer addresses the COVID-19 coronavirus.

#bsr news

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Business Lessons from Phase One of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Blog

Business Lessons from Phase One of the COVID-19 Pandemic

As we take time to think first of the health of our families, friends, and communities in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, here are five lessons to guide us through these turbulent times and the uncertainties which lie ahead.

#climate change #healthcare #human rights #sustainability management

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Respecting Human Rights While Protecting Public Health
Blog

Respecting Human Rights While Protecting Public Health

As the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak disrupts global supply chains and shutters factories and stores around the world, companies are grappling in real time with the human rights implications of the coronavirus response. How can we best protect public health while respecting individual human rights?

#healthcare #human rights

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The Impact of Coronavirus on Workers, Business Operations, and Supply Chains in China
Blog

The Impact of Coronavirus on Workers, Business Operations, and Supply Chains in China

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has had an obvious and immediate impact on China’s economy. Here's how it has impacted workers' travel, supply chains, and the economy on local and global levels.

#supply chain

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