CSR challenge for firms
Dubbed «the Corporate Social Responsibility Constitution,» the European Catalogue of Good CSR Practices was officially introduced last week in Athens by the Hellenic Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Hellas). The CSR blueprint bears the name «A European Roadmap for Business» and is the result of the experience and success of the European business network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Europe), whose members include 1,500 companies with 18 representatives in 15 countries. The roadmap was presented by CSR Europe’s communication director, Jan Noterdaeme. Also present was Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, who qualified the catalog’s issuance of «a key point» in the course of promoting the practice of CSR in Greece. This initiative is meant to gather a significant number of companies that wish to contribute with solutions and innovations in harmony with the commitments of the European CSR movement. Any companies showing active interest will have placed at their disposal data that will allow them to assess their progress along the roadmap’s goals and strategy. The information collected will be published in the edition of an Annual Roadmap Scorecard. The project’s central aim (among the 10 mentioned) is the companies’ investment in developing skills and competence in the education for life of employees and managers «to secure the broadening of entrepreneurial efficiency and support the employability of workers.» CSR Europe, after 10 years of committing themselves to the slogan «profits and people should progress at the same rate,» has conducted a rich and constructive dialogue before pushing forward with this initiative. The call is in the form of an open invitation to all European enterprises, asking them to join the effort and share the vision of European enterprise for 2010. This entails the acquisition of new skills and innovation in every sector of business initiative. In Greece, CSR Hellas has been the European network’s representative since 2000. With the motto «You make the change,» it now hopes to convince more companies than just its 80 members to follow the Good CSR Practices Catalog, which it feels ultimately supports any viable and competitive company.
