CSR: Sweden leads by example in corporate responsibility

Extensive environmental protection, active measures to improve work environments, investments in cleantech......these are all examples of how laws and regulations can encourage responsible corporate behavior. But many Swedish companies chose to do more than they are legally required to.

Corporate responsibility is used to describe the work that companies do voluntarily that has a positive impact on society, the environment or the economy. The EU Commission uses the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) and defines it as a concept “whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.” Efforts to lower emissions of carbon dioxide, promotion of equal career opportunities and involvement with local communities are examples of such initiatives.

Swedenis doing more than most, and has been doing so for some time. Back in 2007, in the final State of Responsibility Competitiveness report by international nonprofit organization AccountAbility, Sweden topped the Responsible Competitiveness Index. The index was based on a range of parameters covering climate, working environment, corruption and social issues among companies in 108 countries. In particular, the report highlighted gender equality in Sweden.

Leading in cleantech
Yet as awareness of corporate responsibility has matured, the scope of reporting has had to be redefined. AccountAbility states that the topic is now too broad to cover accurately in only one index, so it has refocused its research on specific areas. One of its reports, the Climate Competitiveness Index 2010, acknowledges the Nordic countries to be in the forefront of combating climate change and promoting the development of “cleantech,” an umbrella term for innovations that reduce emissions or energy consumption.

Gender equality
When it comes to gender equality, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2010 states that Sweden and the other Nordic countries “emerge as top performers and true leaders on gender equality … and thus serve as models and useful benchmarks for international comparisons.” The Report benchmarks national gender gaps based on economic, political, education and health criteria.
Gender equality is one important aspect of the way companies work with corporate responsibility. They can promote equality, for example by making it possible for parents to combine work and family, encouraging shared participation in childcare, and giving women and men equal opportunities to rise to leadership positions.
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Source: www.sweden.se