| UK firms not really into green issues |
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| Tuesday, 26 February 2008 | |
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UK businesses are more interested in implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies to impress employees than out of any desire to save the planet.
New research by business and financial advisers Grant Thornton highlighted that 54 per cent of UK businesses are influenced to move towards more ethically responsible practices by a desire to attract or retain staff, but only 30 per cent are doing so because they are concerned about the planet. Cost management is also a key factor, with 52 per cent citing this as an important motivator. Concern about public perception was mentioned by 48 per cent of businesses, emphasising the extent to which CSR policies are now recognised as being an important element in creating brand profile. Shortage of skilled staff Alysoun Stewart, head of entrepreneurial advisory at Grant Thornton, explained that bottom line profitability will be the greatest imperative for businesses. Given that the shortage of skilled staff is one of the biggest issues facing UK businesses, Stewart said it was easy to understand that attracting and retaining staff would be a top priority. “It is encouraging to see CSR policies coming to the fore as an important element in the achievement of these objectives, however, recognising that such measures are good for business as well as good for the planet," Stewart added. Government pressure was the least influential factor for UK business, with only one fifth (22 per cent) saying such pressure would cause them to act. One area where government influence may be having an impact is waste management. New government guidelines on waste management were introduced on 31 October 2007, which require businesses to treat their waste or face penalties for non-compliance. This may explain why waste management is the area that the largest number of UK businesses (83 per cent) say they have improved on in the last year. Global picture Taking the EU as a whole, an average of 35 per cent of businesses cited concern for the planet as the motivation for taking action. This is below the global average of 40 per cent but above the UK's 30 per cent response. In the US, however, only 21 per cent of businesses mentioned a motivation to save the planet. Stewart said that although the US Government had pledged its commitment to confronting global climate change, this attitude did not seem to have filtered through to US businesses yet. “As the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, the US is going to have to find a way to get this message across more effectively," Stewart added. The UK follows the global trend as far as recruitment and retention is concerned as across all the countries surveyed, this was found to be the factor that most influenced businesses in deciding to move towards more ethical business practices (65 per cent). Beijing Olympics The consciousness of public perception is also having an impact on how businesses are communicating their CSR commitment. China came top of the countries that incorporates their ethical business practice policies into a written document (74 per cent), helping to promote the perception that China is an ethically aware country. Chinese businesses will be conscious of the scrutiny that they will come under during the Beijing Olympics and may therefore be taking measures now to enhance their reputation and to avoid criticism. The UK (49 per cent) comes above the EU average for having ethical practice policies incorporated into a written document (45 per cent), but still falls behind the average for Latin America, (64 per cent), North America (63 per cent), and East Asia (61 per cent). "Just because a business has its CSR polices down on paper doesn't necessarily mean that they are acting upon them. Businesses need to act to show that they are really committed to making a difference," Stewart concluded. Related articles
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