Corporate Social Responsibility

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7.10.2007 - 09:00pm ET

CSR News from:	Business for Social Responsibility
News Categories:	CSR - General
	Research, Reports & Publications

BSR Outlines Vision at UN Global Compact Summit: Moving "Beyond Monitoring" for Sustainable Supply Chains

(CSRwire) Geneva, Switzerland – 10 July 2007 – At last week's UN Global Compact Summit in Geneva, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) presented "Beyond Monitoring: A New Vision for Supply Chain Management," a report that outlines a comprehensive approach to sustainable supply chains. Designed to create systemic change in supply chains, BSR's "Beyond Monitoring" framework aims to materially improve the well-being of workers and communities globally.

"While we have made some important progress in protecting core labor rights through codes of conduct," said Aron Cramer, BSR's President and CEO, "now it's time to shift to next-generation approaches that ensure systemic change for the long-term."

BSR's report calls for a four-part approach that focuses greater attention on the root causes of social and environmental shortcomings in global supply chains, rather than identifying symptomatic issues.

The approach BSR is presenting has four pillars, including:

Buyers' Internal Alignment of purchasing practices with social and environmental objectives.

Supplier Ownership of good working and environmental conditions in their workplaces.

Empowerment of Workers taking a stronger role in asserting and protecting their own rights, and

Public Policy Frameworks that ensure wider and more even application of relevant laws.

BSR aims to encourage companies to remake strategies, redeploy resources and consider new partnerships in pursuit of this model that has the potential to achieve more lasting change. The approach integrates labor and environmental considerations more fully into companies’ supply chain management, while also re-emphasizing the roles of two often overlooked constituencies — workers and governments.

The "Beyond Monitoring" report (available at www.BSR.org/BeMoReport)highlights two initiatives that exemplify the comprehensive approach of this framework: an expansion of the Better Work program to Jordan, Lesotho and Vietnam based on improvements in labor standards and enterprise performance at factories in Cambodia; and a multi-faceted effort in China's communications and technology sector to meet international social and environmental requirements and improve industry competitiveness.

"Our goal is to ensure that the labor rights principles in the UN Global Compact, as well as others established through international agreements, local laws and corporate principles, are realized fully," said Cramer in releasing the new report. "We hope this framework not only inspires the necessary action, but helps lead the way."

BSR is launching a range of activities in support of the concept outlined here. Companies interested in learning more about Beyond Monitoring may email beyondmonitoring@bsr.org for details.

About BSR
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing socially responsible business solutions to many of the world’s leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in Europe, China and Hong Kong, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and stakeholders to create a more just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.BSR.org.

For more information please contact:

Barbara-Anne Greenwald, Communications Manager
BSR
415-984-3233
www.bsr.org

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