corporate responsibility index

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The Corporate Responsibility Index

... is a strategic management tool to enhance the capacity of businesses to develop, measure and communicate best practice in the field of corporate responsibility in Australia.

The product of a business-led initiative, and developed by UK charity Business in the Community, the Index is a proven business tool, ensuring a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting upon the various impacts that companies have upon society and their environment. It works as a management tool for companies, providing valuable information on how their approach to corporate responsibility is integrated into mainstream business operations. Participation in the Index is on a voluntary basis and involves companies undertaking a rigorous self assessment process of how they incorporate principles of corporate responsibility.

The Corporate Responsibility Index is the only voluntary, non-prescriptive framework for corporate responsibility in Australia and New Zealand, enabling companies to identify their non-financial risk, as well as to develop and improve corporate responsibility in line with their business strategy.

In 2006 flexible engagement options were introduced in addition to the Public Benchmark to accommodate a greater number of companies in their varying stages of developing and integrating corporate responsibility into their business. These new tools present a real opportunity for businesses developing their corporate responsibility strategies by allowing a company to complete the full Index on a private basis or complete Index modules in environment, community and/or workplace.

The sixth Corporate Responsibility Index (2008-09) will launch on Monday 29 September 2008

If you have not already registered and wish to participate please fax or email back the registration form (PDF).

As a participant you will receive a secure company username and password for access to BITC’s Online Benchmarking tool and the 2008 CRI Questions and the Australia New Zealand Edition Guidance Notes. Company submissions are due ten working weeks later on 5 December 2008.

To assist companies in the process we are holding workshops nationally and in New Zealand in October. The workshops will present guidance from the validators of the CRI and practical advice from previously participating companies. We will also have the opportunity to update participants on new initiatives enabled by the Federal Government funding, through Treasury. We will advise workshops dates as soon as they are confirmed.

Sixth Corporate Responsibility Index timeline (2008-09)

  • July to August 2008: Information Seminars
  • 29 September 2008: Corporate Responsibility Index launched online – companies have a ten week period to complete submissions
  • October 2008: Corporate Responsibility Index 'getting started' workshops – Dates TBA see events for more details
  • 5 December 2008: CR Index company submissions due
  • December 2008 to February 2009: Validation of Corporate Responsibility Index submissions
  • April 2009: Corporate Responsibility Index individual feedback reports issued to companies
  • May 2009: Results of sixth Corporate Responsibility Index published
  • May 2009: 10th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development (location tbc)

If you wish to participate in the upcoming Corporate Responsibility Index or would like further information please contact St James Ethics Centre on +61 (0)2 9299 9566.

2007 Corporate Responsibility Index results

Follow the links below to learn more about the 2007 Index.

 

about the corporate
responsibility index

 

about corporate responsibility

 

frequently asked
questions

 

Funding announcement

The Federal Government, through Treasury, has commissioned St James Ethics Centre to undertake a three year project to expand responsible business practice nationally.

The funding was announced at the 9th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Parliament House, Canberra by The Honourable Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a national address on sustainability, climate change and Australia's role in global solutions.

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The Corporate Responsibility Index is funded by the Australian Federal Government. The Index, developed and maintained by Business in the Community in the UK, is a project of St James Ethics Centre supported by Ernst & Young. Our media partners are The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Project catalyst: Pilotlight Australia.