9.10.2007 - 03:20pm ET

(CSRwire) This study examines how sustainability is advanced through industry associations and where government can support associations in the promotion of sustainability and CSR among their members. Study findings document the current activities of seven Canadian associations and point to strengths and opportunities for improvement. The report also proposes sustainability roadmaps for industry associations and government interested in helping companies on their sustainability journeys.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – September 10, 2007 - Strandberg Consulting and Five Winds International have released "The Role of Industry Associations in the Promotion of Sustainability and CSR", a study funded by Natural Resources Canada in order to better understand the role industry associations are playing to advance sustainability amongst Canadian firms. Seven industry associations were chosen as representative of the Canadian economy, covering mining, oil and gas, retail, banking, manufacturing and exporting, chemicals and forestry sectors. Current practices such as board oversight and executive management, stakeholder engagement, resources and tools, incentive programs, mandated performance requirements and reporting were benchmarked. Senior staff and 2 member companies of each association were interviewed for their views on the ideal role of the association to advance industry sustainability, current strengths, gaps and success factors. They were also asked to comment upon how governments could support industry associations in their quest to advance sector sustainability.

"A key finding of the study is that a number of associations have mandated performance requirements of their members, including sustainability certification, environmental performance reporting and community engagement standards," commented Coro Strandberg, Principal of Strandberg Consulting and one of the study authors. "These same industry groups – forestry, chemicals and oil and gas – are also reporting on their sector’s sustainability performance, clearly best practice amongst Canadian industry associations."
Kevin Brady, Director of Five Winds International and a study advisor, pointed out that there are a number of gaps in industry programming as well. "There is a lack of formal target setting and the social aspects of sustainability are not as well programmed. Furthermore, we found little evidence that industry associations were managing their own operational footprints. However, the fact that most associations had board committees that are engaged in sustainability and corporate social responsibility matters is a positive sign."

Interviews with association representatives and member companies pointed to a road map that associations could follow if they wished to advance the sustainability of their members, as follows:



Strandberg Consulting and Five Winds International plan to develop this framework into a guide for industry and business associations in the fall of 2007.

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