1st Edition

Corporate Responsibility Coalitions The Past, Present, and Future of Alliances for Sustainable Capitalism

By David Grayson, Nelson Jane Copyright 2013

    The significance of business-led corporate responsibility coalitions is indisputable. The WBCSD has 200 member companies with combined annual revenues of US$7 _trillion_; the UN Global Compact has almost 8,000 corporate members, over two-thirds of them from developing countries. It is estimated that there are more than 110 national and international generalist business-led CR coalitions. But there is now urgent need for informed and balanced analysis of their achievements, their progress and their potential.

    Why did these coalitions start and grow? What have been their impacts? Where are they heading now? Where should they be going? What is the future? In a period of austerity, the business and public sector must decide whether funding these coalitions is a priority.

    To meet current crises, there will have to be a great deal more business involvement; but efforts of individual corporations will not be sufficient. There is also a need for far more collective action among companies and more collaborative action between different sectors of society. Business-led CR coalitions with their decades of convening experience could play an important role in this process - if they are fit for purpose going forward.

    Authors David Grayson and Jane Nelson have been actively involved in such coalitions for decades. In Corporate Responsibility Coalitions they first explore the past, present and future of these coalitions: the emergence of new models of collective corporate action over the past four decades; the current state of play, and the increasing number, diversity and complexity in terms of how they not only network with each other but also engage in a much broader universe of institutions that are promoting responsible business practices. In addition, the book provides in-depth profiles of the most strategic, effective and long-standing coalitions, including: Business for Social Responsibility; Business in the Community; CSR Europe; Instituto Ethos; International Business Leaders Forum; the UN Global Compact; and the WBCSD.

    This book will be required reading for key supporters and potential partners of such coalitions in companies, governments, international development agencies, foundations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and think-tanks. It also aims to inspire a future generation of leaders to be more aware of the role of business as a partner in driving more inclusive, green and responsible growth, and to help them develop new types of leadership skills so that they can be effective in finding multi-stakeholder solutions to complex and systemic challenges.

    Preface

    Acknowledgments

    Introduction

    Part 1. The past: The emergence of new models of collective business leadership

    1. The rise of the corporate responsibility movement

    2. The definition of business-led corporate responsibility coalitions

    3. The evolution of business-led corporate responsibility coalitions

    4. Global trends and motivations driving the growth of corporate responsibility coalitions

    5. The leadership role of individual champions, companies and foundations in building the coalitions

    Part 2. The present: Assessing the impact of coalitions today

    6. The number and diversity of corporate responsibility coalitions

    7. Coalitions as part of a broader ecosystem promoting responsible business

    8. The key roles of corporate responsibility coalitions

    9. How coalitions organize themselves

    10. Networking among the coalitions

    11. Assessing the impact of coalitions

    Part 3. The Future: The leadership challenge for corporate responsibility coalitions

    12. The need for greater corporate responsibility and collective action

    13. An agenda for action for corporate responsibility coalitions

    14. Are corporate responsibility coalitions fit for the future?

    15. Recommendations and conclusion Profiles of leading corporate responsibility coalitions and Sui Generis organizations

    1. Business for Social Responsibility

    2. Business in the Community

    3. CSR Europe

    4. Instituto Ethos

    5. International Business Leaders Forum

    6. Maala–Business for Social Responsibility

    7. National Business Initiative for Growth, Development and Democracy

    8. Philippine Business for Social Progress

    9. World Business Council for Sustainable Development

    10. World Environment Center

    11. United Nations Global Compact

    12. World Economic Forum

    Appendix 1. Corporate responsibility time-line

    Appendix 2. Research methodology

    Appendix 3. GlobeScan coalition survey and survey respondents

    Endnotes

    Index

    Biography

    Grayson, David; Jane, Nelson