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Orientation Research behind this presentation Activities of RIMAS

Policies on CSR in Europe: An Overview of Topics and Instruments Reinhard Steurer Gerald Berger RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration www.sustainability.eu. Orientation

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Orientation Research behind this presentation Activities of RIMAS

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  1. Policies on CSR in Europe: An Overview of Topics and Instruments Reinhard SteurerGerald BergerRIMAS - Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administrationwww.sustainability.eu

  2. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  3. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Instruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  4. Recent projects on Sustainble Development (SD) • “European Environment” special issue on SD Strategies in Europe • ESDN (European Sustainable Development Network) Office www.sd-network.eu (financed by 8 European countries)

  5. Recent projects on SD • “European Environment” special issue on SD Strategies in Europe • ESDN (European Sustainable Development Network) Office www.sd-network.eu (financed by 8 European countries) Recent projects on CSR • Policies on CSR in Europe (City of Vienna) • Corporate Sustainability and CSR in Western and CEE Europe (Austrian National Bank) • Analysis of National Policies on CSR -- www.sustainability.eu/csr-policies for EU CSR High Level Group (DG Employment)

  6. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Instruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  7. CSR and SD: Similarities • Normative assumptions • are at the core of both SD and CSR/stakeholder management • Integrating • environmental and social aspects into economic policies/strategies is key for SD and CSR (triple bottom line) • Participation • in the societal context of SD is mirrored by stakeholder management in the context of CSR Source: Steurer, R et al (2005): Corporations, Stakeholders and Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Exploration of Business-Society Relations, in: Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281.

  8. CSR and SD: Differences • History • SD comes from the environmental, CSR from the social dimension • Institutional affiliation • SD still located in Environment, CSR in Social Ministries • Time horizon • SD focuses on future generations, CSR on present stakeholders • Scope • SD is a societal concept, CSR a management approach Source: Steurer, R et al (2005): Corporations, Stakeholders and Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Exploration of Business-Society Relations, in: Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281.

  9. Economic dimension Societal Concept Sustainable Development SRM Corporate Concept Corporate Sustainability Management Approach CSR Management Systems ISO … SRM SRM Environmental dimension Social dimension Source: Steurer, R et al (2005), Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281. Starting Point of conceptual development Stakeholder Relations Management (SRM) Level of specification

  10. Preliminary conclusions „CSR is a business contribution to SD” (European Commission 2001) Since CSR re-defines state-business and business- society relations, shaping concept and activities also concerns governments and civil society CSR policies are a new „government contribution to SD“ that complements (or compensates for the lack of) traditional social and environmental policies

  11. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  12. CSR policy instruments • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres Source: Fox T, Ward H, Howard B. 2002; World Bank; http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/16014IIED.pdf CSR policies study on awareness raising, see www.sustinability.eu/csr-policies

  13. Character of policy instruments in general • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres New governance and “soft-law approach” Regulatory approach

  14. Character of CSR policy instruments • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres New governance and “soft-law approach”

  15. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstrument and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  16. Key topics of CSR policies Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but • Raise awareness for CSR • Increase disclosure & transparency • Foster Socially Responsible Investment • Make Public Procurement sustainable • Help develop management and audit tools

  17. Topics covered in study for DG Employment • Raise awareness for CSR • Increase disclosure & transparency • Foster Socially Responsible Investment • Make Public Procurement sustainable • Help develop management and audit tools

  18. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  19. CSR awareness raising initiatives in Europe • RationaleIncrease awareness for CSR among government authorities, businesses and stakeholders • Method • 24 telephone interviews - 20 EU Member States covered • 3 case studies (Sw, NL, Den) • 3. Number of initiatives85

  20. Overview of CSR awareness raising instruments Others; 7.0% Education activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 17.7% Institutions: platforms/ centres; 8.2% Action plans/ programmes/strategy for CSR; 9.4% Government-sponsored guidelines; 10.6% Economic incentives (loans, grants, subsidies); 3.5% Information resources, e.g. website, studies, reports etc.; 10.6% Prices and awards (CSR audits/labels); 8.2% Multi-stakeholder fora; 4.8% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 9.4% Networks/partnerships/ agreements; 10.6%

  21. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Universities/schools; 6.2% Business/industry sectors; 1.6% Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Young people; 1.6% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6% Employees; 1.6% Others; 3.1%

  22. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Few initiatives focus exclusively on SMEs(no prices/awards) ---generally regarded as most important target group Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6%

  23. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Social partnersrarely mentioned as target group (even not in networks, multi-stakeholder fora etc.) Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6%

  24. Three case studies on CSR awareness raising • Denmark:“People & Profit” • Programme initiated in 2004 • Activities: research, training, dissemination of information • Goal: enhance competitiveness (foster CSR as a business case) • Netherlands:“Knowledge and Information Centre” on CSR since 2004 • Disseminate knowledge and good practices • Promote stakeholder dialogues • Foster partnerships • Sweden:“Globalt Ansvar” • Partnership for global responsibility • Government invites companies to join the partnership by adopting the OECD guidelines and the UN Global Compact

  25. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  26. Sustainable Public Procurement • RationaleBy making public procurement sustainable governments provide economic incentives for CSR • Method24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU Member States covered

  27. Countries covered in the SPP survey • Green: survey • Orange: other studies • Grey: not covered

  28. Sustainable Public Procurement • RationaleBy making public procurement sustainable governments provide economic incentives for CSR • Method74 contacts, 24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU Member States covered • Number of initiatives103

  29. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% 1/3 Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  30. EU Directives* on PP: Status of implementation 19: implemented 2 (Es, Lux): in preparation 1: not implemented 5: status unclear * „Procurement directive“ 2004/18/EC „Utilities directive“ 2004/17/EC

  31. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% 1/3 Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  32. Member States with National Action Plans on SPP/GPP 9: NAP adopted 7: NAP in preparation/ drafted 3: No (draft) NAP 8: Status unclear

  33. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Economic/financial instruments are missing, but… Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  34. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  35. Target groups of SPP initiatives Public sector in general; 66.0% National/federal level; 19.4% Business; 10.7% „Direct“ target group: 92.2% public sector „Indirect“ target group 100% businesses Others; 1.9% Regional and/or local level; 6.8% not identified; 8.7%

  36. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  37. Conclusions on CSR policies in Europe • CSR policies are different to traditional policy fields • because they rely more on new governance and soft-law • CSR policies can be pursued proactively or passively, depending on political ideologies and interests (change of course by the European Commission in 2005/2006!) • CSR policies complement traditional policies, • i.e. they cannot replace social, environmental or trade regulations

  38. THANK YOU! Reinhard Steurer reinhard.steurer@wu-wien.ac.at Gerald Berger Gerald.berger@wu-wien.ac.at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration Vienna, Austria www.sustainability.eu

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