Web Resources for Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR)
Adapted from research contained in Karen McNichol’s article
“Best Resources for
Corporate Social Responsibility”, Business Ethics, Summer 2001.
Updated by students in Business Ethics at OBU (Spring 2005)
And Cindy Meyer Hanchey, Ph.D.
Last Checked April 12, 2005
1. Best Practices and Company Profiles
This is an excellent site run by the organization Business for Social Responsibility. Focusing on giving businesses hands-on guidance in setting up social programs, topics such as social auditing, community involvement, business ethics, governance, the environment, employee relations, and corporate citizenship are being researched constantly. Visitors can create their own custom report for selected topics. Researchers will find their “best practice” examples useful as well.
This site is basically the BSR site
for Europe. Sponsored by Corporate Social Responsibility Europe, this site
offers best practice databanks, helpful research tools, and the CSR Matrix.
The CSR Matrix consists of a “grid” which allows visitors to call up complete
social reports on large companies to see how they “measure up”.
http://www.worldcsr.com
A portal offering access to the
leading business-led organizations on corporate social responsibility in the U.S. and Europe, this site offers numerous links for researchers. The site also offers the e-mail
newsletter “Business Impact News”.
http://www.responsibleshopper.org
An excellent site for individuals wishing to research specific companies. In-depth social profiles on countless companies are provided, looking at such areas as Superfund sites, toxic emissions, worker benefits and laudatory activities. Companies also receive letter ratings for performance in specific areas.
http://www.societyandbusiness.gov.uk
This site is sponsored by the United Kingdom government and serves as a gateway for corporate social responsibility in the UK. Different sections cover topics such as the government’s stance and involvement in CSR, pending legislation and policy, and current government programs. The site also offers links to “best practices” in the UK, various research resources, and current news regarding corporate social responsibility.
http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr
This site is managed by Mallen Baker, a leading activist for corporate social responsibility in the UK, and Development Director of Business in the Community. This site offers archived articles of his e-mail newsletter “Business Respect”, links to research, and commentary on current events. This site is distinguished for its issues-focused approach to CSR and frequent up-dates, remaining current.
Containing information provided by the International Business Leaders Forum, this site is a great starting place for understand CSR issues and the current environment. Lists of key issues and key players are provided, along with a wide selection of links to other resources. The site is kept current, with recent happenings posted and an events calendar of upcoming CSR events around the world.
Researchers can find articles, commentaries, and information on CSR on this website. Also kept very up-to-date, new additions to the site are highlighted and easy to find. One interesting aspect of the site is a county-by-country profile, keying researchers in to the pivotal issues in a particular region.
http://www.business-ethics.com
A link to the magazine “Business Ethics”, researchers can subscribe to the printed magazine or access on-line articles from current and previous issues. One of the only U.S. based media offerings on CSR, this site offers an interesting array of articles for the socially conscious consumer. The annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list is closely watched by advocates and available on this site.
2. Social Investing
One of the best social investing
sites on the web, this site posts breaking news free of charge to investors.
Performance statistics and fund descriptions are available for socially
responsible mutual funds and there is an investing center where one can build a
basket of social companies. There is also a community banking center with
information on savings accounts and money market funds with responsible banking
organization. The shareholder activism section offers status reports on social
resolution and is searchable by topics, such as equality, tobacco, militarism,
etc.
http://www.socialinvest.org
This is the site of the non-profit
professional membership association, the Social Investment Forum (SIF), and is
a useful pair to the above site. A unique feature of this site is the
collection of Moskowitz Prize-winning papers on research in social investing.
Also available is a directory to help visitors find a financial advisor
anywhere in the country, a mutual funds chart, a guide to community investing
and materials on SIF’s campaign to end predatory lending.
http://www.goodmoney.com
This site offers some unique
features, including the Good Money Industrial Average, a screened index which
outperformed the Dow in 2000. Also available are social profiles and
performance data for a variety of public companies – including the 400
companies in the Domini Social Index, companies with the best diversity record,
the Council on Economic Priorities “honor roll” list, and signers of the CERES
Principles (a voluntary environmental code of conduct).
Domini is the first and largest socially and environmentally screened index fund in the world, as well as two unique investment vehicles that invest in community economic development – the Domini Social Bond Fund and the Domini Money Market Account. Domini screens its investments using social and environmental criteria which include alcohol, gambling, tobacco, nuclear power, and etc. Domini seeks to avoid investment in certain industries whose practices are believed to be detrimental to society.
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) combines investors' financial objectives with their concerns about social, environmental and ethical (SEE) issues. Screening is usually divided into "negative" screening to exclude unacceptable shares from the portfolio and "positive" screening to select companies with superior SEE performance.
At Calvert, investment success isn't measured by numbers alone. In their view, a successful investment is one that not only earns competitive returns but also helps to build a sustainable future and enhance quality of life. Since 1982, Calvert has been committed to the belief that investment returns and sensitivity to social issues - like the environment, corporate ethics, and human rights - go hand in hand. Offering the largest family of socially responsible mutual funds nationwide, Calvert looks for good corporate citizens that are leaders today and will remain leaders tomorrow. As shareholder advocates, they encourage companies to adopt higher standards of social and environmental reasonability.
3. Corporate Watchdogs
Calling itself “The Watchdog of the Web”, Corp-Watch offers news that is often hard to find elsewhere on human rights, abuses abroad, public policy and environmental news, including on-site reporting of protests. The site also offers an Issues Library and a Hands-On Guide to On-Line Corporate Research that makes research easy.
http://www.corporatepredators.org
The voice of this site is Russel Mokhiber, editor of the weekly newsletter Corporate Crime Reporter. This site offers a compilation of weekly e-mail columns called “Focus on the Corporation”, presenting a valuable, quirky voice in corporate responsibility. Topics covered range from how the chemical industry responded to Bill Moyers TV program on industry cover-up to how little academic research focuses on corporate crime to why it’s inappropriate to legally view corporations as “persons”.
http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org
Managed by the Corporate Accountability
International Online organization. This organization protects people by waging
battles against what they view as irresponsible or dangerous corporate
actions. Researchers can read about current issues, see what campaigns the
organization is currently working on, and see how they can get involved.
http://www.consumerreports.org
Consumer Reports is an excellent source of information on a wide array of products – from automobiles to car seats to appliances and more. The company rates products on different criteria, and serves in a “watchdog” role by helping the consumer stay informed and keeping companies accountable for their products.
GRACE (Global Resource Action Center for the Environment) runs this site dedicated to making new links between communities with the result of bettering the state of the environment. Click on the “Corporate Accountability” link to access a list of other corporate watchdog sites.
This site publishes a quarterly journal uncovering what they see as deceptive, misleading public relation practices by large corporations.
The Governmental Accountability Project is a public interest group that promotes government and corporate accountability by promoting free speech, defending whistle blowers, and empowering citizen activists. Their site contains press releases, news articles, and helpful information for how citizens can be involved.
4. Labor and Human Rights
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/multi/basi.htm
This database on Business and Social Initiatives includes comprehensive information on private sector initiatives which address labor and social conditions in the workplace and in the community where enterprises operate. The database features corporate policies and reports, codes of conduct, accreditation and certification criteria, and labeling and other programs. It allows you to undertake customized searches to retrieve information on specific companies and organizations, countries, regions, business sectors and labor and employment issues. The site also has links to publications and other information resources.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/support/lib/dblist.htm
The International Labor Organization provides several different databases. Researchers can look for information in the following areas: country and regional information, labor legislation, labor statistics, occupational safety, social security, terminology, vocational training and rehabilitation, and the world of work.
http://www.campaignforlaborrights.org/
The Campaign for Labor Rights is a labor organization specializing in the struggles of workers in sweatshops around the world. The organization is based in Washington, D.C.
Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly. It indicates a purpose to protect human rights of people around the world.
http://www.laborrights.org/links/
Links to labor rights from the site of the International Labor Rights Fund.
5. Progressive Economics
This site, managed by The American Prospect magazine, is a one-stop source for the best thinking in progressive economic policy. The Electronic Policy Network (EPN) is an on-line consortium of over 100 progressive policy centers nationwide. Idea Central is a feature that offers on-line bibliographies on different topics. Certain topics get “Issues in Depth” treatment. Another feature, “What’s New”, looks at recent reports and research papers by member policy centers.
This valuable site is run by The New Economics Foundation, a UK non-profit think tank created in 1986 to focus on “constructing a new economy centered on people and the environment”. Different areas on the site focus on powerful tools for economic change. A monthly web-based newsletter provides commentary on different issues concerning progressive economics.
http://www.progressiveliving.org/economics_frameset.htm
This website is a “field guide” that relates the ideas of progressive economics and economics in general. It offers simple definitions of economics and other related terms along with a summary of important topics. The site gives guidelines on how Americans have a social responsibility to the economy and one another. Other sites of interest are also linked.
This is a Canadian based web site that is a progressive economics forum with the goal of promoting the development of an alternative, progressive economics community in Canada.
http://www.jacksonprogressive.com/
This site is an online journal of politics and the arts. It gives articles and topics relating to current events and political happenings. There are several links on this site to featured countries and current issues.
The progressive review is an online journal and archive of alternative news and information. One of the best features of this site is the ability to access news from years past in the archive. Along with this political historical information there is also access to current news relating to the U.S. economy and the economic status of other countries.
6. Employee Ownership
For researchers in employee ownership, the Capital Ownership Group (COG) site is indispensable. COG is a virtual think tank of individuals – including academics, employee ownership specialists, and business leaders worldwide – who aim to promote broadened ownership of productive capital. The site’s library allows visitors to browse ongoing discussions, access papers and reports, and much more.
This is the site of the National Center for Employee Ownership, a non-profit research and membership organization that is one of the best sources for employee ownership information. Its web library features valuable introductions to various issues. Also available are a wealth of links to related sites, plus news and statistics on employee ownership.
The sponsor of this site is the Foundation for Enterprise Development – a non-profit started by Robert Beyster, founded of employee-owned SAIC – which is an organization that aims to promote employee ownership. A monthly online magazine features profiles of employee ownership at specific companies, articles on developing an ownership culture, plus news. An e-mail service updates readers on headlines.
http://www.the-esop-emplowner.org
From the ESOP Association – a membership and lobbying organization – this site offers a resource li8brary, news of events, reports on legislative victories, and information on legislative initiatives.
This is the corporate site for SAIC, the company founded by Robert Beyster that is completely employee owned.
http://www.employeeownershipfoundation.org
The Employee Ownership Foundation's (EOF) primary purpose is to support programs that will increase the level of awareness and appreciation of the benefits of employee ownership and increase the number of employees who have access to this benefit. This site will tell you why the EOP believe employee ownership, and will help you find out more about the EOF's program initiatives, and how you can support the EOF.
http://www.employee-ownership.org.uk/
This site is the home page provided by several organizations in the European Union that serves to provide employers with information regarding employee ownership options. Technical issues and case studies can be found on the site.
Vermont Employee Ownership Center website that features resources for people interested in learning more about employee ownership or wanting to possibly set up employee owned businesses. Also contains a list and links to employee owned businesses that operate in Vermont.
http://www.jobownership.co.uk/
This site is sponsored by Job Ownership Limited (JOL) which refers to itself as “the voice of employee owned business in the UK”. The JOL is an association of employee owned and trust businesses. JOL provides information, help, and new thinking about employee ownership, along with certain services to its members.
http://www.planning.unc.edu/courses/261/pisunyer/resources.html
This Employee Ownership Resources and Links page provides researchers with a list of helpful organizations, an extensive “Reading List” that covers a variety of topics related to employee ownership, and a list of the few state agencies that exist to foster employee ownership.
http://www.inc.com/guides/hr/20695.html
This site lists and provides links for different articles and studies that have been presented in the print magazine Inc. regarding employee ownership.
http://ownershipassociates.com/survey.shtm
Visitors to this site will find a “mini e-booklet” called Surveys and Employee Ownership, a resource prepared and provided by the group Ownership Associates and is a great introduction to people needing to get the basic facts about employee ownership. Also helpful is the bibliography and suggested reading list available at the end of the paper.
http://www.efesonline.org/EOLE/FifthMeetingEN.htm
This site is sponsored by the European Federation of Employee Shareownership and contains information regarding their program Employee Ownership Learning and Education.
7. Sustainability
Run by Joel Makower, editor of The Green Business Letter, Green Biz is the best site on progressive environmental business activities. It enables visitors to discover what companies are doing, and to access citations of countless web resources and reports, on topics like sustainable management, green auditing, EPA programs, pending legislation, clean technologies, recycling, and all things green!
Run by the non-profit Redefining Progress – which produces the Genuine Progress Indicator as a counterpoint to GDP – this site offers news on topics like climate change, forest-land protection, tax reform, and congressional influence peddling. Numerous studies on environmental justice, tax fairness, and community indicators are available, plus links to other climate change sites.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com
The monthly on-line magazine Sustainable Business offers news on the “green economy”, covering recycling, product take-back, legislative developments, and so forth. Other features are a database of “Green Dream Job” openings, plus a section to help green businesses find venture capital. A library features web sites, reports, and books.
The new organization Clean Edge focuses on helping investors, industry, and society understand and profit from clean technology. The site offers news from 1,800 sources, stock trading information on 25 companies, plus lists on conferences, trade associations and research centers.
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/
Supported by the Sustainable Business Network, this website provides information for businesses that are interested in sustainable development practices. They define Sustainable Businesses as the integration of economic growth, social equity and environmental management, both for now and for the future.
This site is sponsored by the Sustainable Communities Network, whose goal is “linking citizens to resources and to one another to create healthy, vital, sustainable communities”. This website contains information on planning sustainable events, community organizations, and community events that will be successful and efficient
Provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, this site explains the strategies and tools that companies can draw on to translate an aspiration of sustainability into practical, effective solutions. The case studies from around the world are provided as an example of each measure. They cover six different sectors which are: current issues, strategies and tools, markets, banking and investments, working with NGOs, and training opportunities.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.org/
The Sustainable Business Institute (SBI) is recognized worldwide as the premier catalyst acting on behalf of the public to bring together global business leaders and their organizations to initiate, implement and communicate equitable worldwide sustainability practices. Their mission is to benefit the public through outreach initiatives that encourage business leaders to identify, create, implement and communicate economically viable sustainability practices.
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/business/buintro.shtml
This site, run by the US Department of Energy-Smart Communities Network, is dedicated to creating energy smart communities that are increasingly more and more environmentally conscious.
8. Ethics
http://commerce.depaul.edu/ethics/
Sponsored by the Institute or Business and Professional Ethics at DePaul University, this site offers a large compilation of ethics resources on the web, categorized by topic; educational resources for teachers and trainers, including syllabi; faculty position announcements; calls for papers; a calendar of events; a list of other ethics institutes, and much more.
From the Center for Applied Ethics at the University of British Columbia in Canada, this side offers a particularly valuable compilation about ethics codes – featuring sample codes, guidance on writing a code, plus books and articles on the topic. Other features are links to ethics institutes, consultants, course materials, publications, and collections of articles.
http://www.ethics.org/businessethics.html
Sponsored by the Ethics Resource Center, this site features valuable data from several business ethics surveys 1994-2000, information on character education for youth, a compendium of codes, plus links to many ethics centers and organization. A research bibliography covers topics like measuring success in an ethics in a global economy. A provocative “Ethics Quick Test” can be taken on-line.
http://www.business-ethics.com/
Already listed under the heading of corporate responsibility, this site is the home to the monthly magazine that deals with many different areas of business ethics. Articles from this and previous issues are available, along with recent news and links to other helpful sites.
Presented by the George S. May International Company, this site offers a very helpful list of business ethics related articles. Many of the articles are more application based than mere academic discussions and should prove very helpful to the average person looking for some practical guidance.
The Ethics Resource Center on this site provides information on general business ethics and extensive list of business ethics articles. Topics covered include ERC News and Special Features, ERC Publications, Organizational Ethics, Global Ethics, and Character Development. A very good site for those wanting resources for teaching ethics to a wide variety of people.