Embaixada do Conhecimento: Noticia-International Day of Cooperatives, 7 July 2007,"Cooperative Values and Principles for Corporate Social Responsibility"

COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION AND ADANCEMENT OF COOPERATIVES

COPAC is a successful and on-going partnership between representatives of the cooperative movement, farmers´ organizations, cooperative development agencies, and the United Nations and its agencies. Members work together on equal terms to promote and coordinate sustainable cooperative development through policy dialogues, technical cooperation and information, and concrete collaborative activities.

Background

This year the theme of the International Day highlights the fact that cooperatives are by their very nature enterprises that balance or integrate economic, environmental,and social imperatives while at the same time addressing their members and member expectations. stakeholder expectations and thus promote "corporate social responsibility" or CRS.Corporate social responsibility is an evolving term with no standard definition or a fully recognized set of specific criteria. However, there is general agreement that it aligns business operations with social values. CSR focuses on the social, environmental, and financial success of an enterprise with the goal being to positively impact society while achieving business success and embraces two main concepts—accountability and transparency.
CSR commitments and activities typically address aspects of an enterprise's behaviour (including its policies and practices) with respect to such key elements as; health and safety, environmental protection, human rights, human resource management practices, corporate governance, community development, and consumer protection, labour protection, supplier relations, business ethics, and stakeholder rights.Enterprises are motivated to involve stakeholders in their decision-making and to address societal challenges because today's stakeholders are increasingly aware of the importance and impact of decisions by corporations and other enterprises on society and the environment. The stakeholders can reward or punish enteprises. Enterprises can be motivated to change their commercial behaviour in response to the business case which a CSR approach potentially promises. This includes:

stronger financial performance and profitability (e.g. through eco-efficiency),
improved accountability to and assessments from the investment community,
enhanced employee commitment,
decreased vulnerability through stronger relationships with communities, and
improved reputation and branding.

General Info

United Nations Global Compact - The world's largest corporate responsibility initiative covering human rights, anti-corruption, labour and the environment
World Business Forum for Sustainable Development
Global Reporting Initiative: The GRI is used by many cooperatives and businesses as a tool in developing sustainability reports.
AccountAbility: The AA1000 Series is a set of standards, guidelines and user notes intended to provide the basis for improving the sustainability performance of organisations. It is also used by numerous cooperatives
CSR Europe: Member institution for promoting CSR in Europe amongst businesses
Corporate Social Responsibility and Decent Work: ILO initiative to support the positive contribution that business, through CSR, can make to promoting decent work around the world. rmation on CSR

Information resources Cooperatives and CSR

European Association of Co-operative Banks: Report on CSR and the performance of cooperative banks
Cooperatives Europe and CSR
Co-operatives UK - Key Social and Cooperative Performance Indicators

Cooperative Sustainability Reports or Websites