10.01.2007 - 12:05pm ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK CITY, NY - October 1, 2007 - The editors and analysts of Ethisphere Magazine, a global print publication of the Ethisphere Council, dedicated to illuminating the important correlation between ethics and profit, are now accepting 2008 applications from companies seeking the industry's highest recognition for compliance and ethics programs, the Ethics Inside Certified seal.

The Ethics Inside Certification designation is the only independent verification of a company's ethics and compliance program and practices. Any size of company can apply, but must demonstrate a superior ethics culture versus its peers, and should have adequate compliance systems and programs to reasonably prevent compliance failures. Fifteen separate criteria are evaluated, including employee culture, code of conduct, internal controls, whistle-blower/ombudsman systems, monitoring, and corporate citizenship, among others.

"Corporations are increasingly recognizing the correlation between ethical business practices and long-term market success," said Stefan Linssen, an editor of Ethisphere Magazine. "The impacts of ethical practices are far more reaching than simply satisfying regulatory requirements. Consumers, employees and potential investors alike all want the companies they frequent or invest in to do business in a manner they can respect."

Ethisphere Magazine recently released "The World's Most Ethical Companies" ranking, which highlighted select companies that have already received the Ethics Inside Certified seal. Some of the recipients thus far include The Gap, Ecolab, Sun Microsystems, S.C. Johnson & Son, Deere, and Duke Energy.

All applicants receive detailed reports, which provide information on how their companies measure up in each category, and suggestions and guidelines for improvement. If a company fails, the Ethisphere analysts will work with the company to help improve shortcomings over a given period of 'cure' time.

Visit http://ethisphere.com/inside inside for more information on becoming Ethics Inside Certified.

Thought-provoking, informative, and at times irreverent, Ethisphere Magazine offers insight to readers on gaining market share and creating sustainable competitive advantage through ethical business practices and corporate citizenship. With a subscriber base of 65,000 Board members, CEOs, General Counsel, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officers and senior executives, Ethisphere Magazine is the largest print publication in compliance, ethics and corporate social responsibility.

About The Publisher

The Ethisphere Council is a membership-only organization sponsored by nearly 200 corporations. Charter underwriters of the Council include TRACE International, a leading non-profit in combating global corruption, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the largest organization dedicated to serving the needs of more than 6,000 members of corporate Boards of Directors around the globe, Corpedia, a leader in risk assessment and eLearning for ethics and compliance, the Practising Law Institute, a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the professionalism of attorneys and others and LexisNexis, a leading provider of comprehensive information and business solutions. Corporate members of the Council include such firms as Deutsche Telekom, Time Warner, Dresser Industries, Avaya and Kraft. The Council is dedicated to the research, creation, and sharing of best practices in ethics, compliance, and corporate governance among its membership companies. It also focuses on the development and advancement of its members through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice, and unique career opportunities. More information on membership can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.

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