Archive for the ‘Corporate Responsibility’ Category

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

“The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ) and Clean Edge, Inc. have announced plans to launch the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® U.S. Index, an innovative and powerful tool for clean-energy investing. NASDAQ will begin disseminating the index on May 18.”

The Clear Energy Index will track the stock performance of 45 companies in the clean-energy industry, 35 listed on Nasdaq and 10 on the New York Stock Exchange. The companies included are engaged in the manufacturing, development, distribution, and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies ranging from solar energy to biofuels and advanced batteries.
“At long last, the tipping point is nigh: For the first time in modern history, clean-energy technologies are becoming cost-competitive with their “dirtier” counterparts.” Or so says the Clear-Energy Trend Report of 2006.

Markets are ever more concerned with such issues. Other examples of this trend are the FTSE4Good, the DJSI and others which are increasingly assesing more relevance to the sector.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

“Humanity is sitting on a time bomb. If the vast majority of the world’s scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert the major catastrophe that could send our entire planet’s climate system into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer waves beyond anything we have ever experienced – a catastrophe of our own making.” Al Gore’s speech on Global Warming is now a film called “An Inconvenient Truth”. It will come out on theaters May 24th.
Al Gore has travelled around the world delivering a presentation on the global climate change, proving that humankind must confront global warming now or face devastating consequences. He has recently been at the Skoll World Forum, and his speech is described by many as one which should not be missed, either live or at movie theaters.
Become Carbon Neutral and Take Action.
Learn more about Global Warming.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

The Top 50 U.S. companies for Diversity have been selected.
According to DiversityInc. , In human capital, retention across all racial/ethnic/gender categories was evaluated, looking for consistency that proves a company has unbiased retention for all groups. In corporate communications, questions on diversity training, employee-resource groups, mentoring and multicultural marketing were refined. In supplier diversity, for the first time, data on women- and minority-owned businesses was separated. And in CEO commitment, a proof of the chief executive’s direct involvement in diversity initiatives was sought.”
The top five companies of this year’s list are:
1. Verizon
2. Consolidated Edison Co. of NY
3. The Coca-Cola Co.
4. Health Care Service Corp.
5. HBO
For a full view of the list, click here.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management


At Paris, the heads of 18 major institutional investors from nine countries, representing more than $2 trillion in assets, will sign up to the Principles. They join a group of 32 institutional asset owners representing the original $2 trillion which backed the Principles during the international launch in New York.
“In fact, the Principles provide a blueprint for what is fast becoming the only way to do business in the globalizing markets of the 21st Century,” added Mme Barbut.
”The Principles for Responsible Investment forge a much-needed link between corporate responsibility and decision-making in the financial markets,” said Georg Kell, Executive Head of the Global Compact Office. “Through their focus on engagement, not divestment, the Principles represent a major milestone in our efforts to root global business in universal values to achieve a more sustainable global economy.”
To view the article in regards to the first $2 Trillion click here.
To view the 6 Principles click here.
To view the Signatories to the Principles click here.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2006 have been announced today. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) has been ranked No. 1
Now in its 7th year, the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list identifies companies among the Russell 1000, the S&P 500, and KLD’s Domini 400 Social Index that excel at serving a variety of stakeholders. Firms are ranked on service in eight stakeholder categories: shareholders, governance, community, diversity, employees, environment, human rights, and product.

Some companies that have been in the list all 7 years are:
Brady Corporation
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cummins, Inc.
Ecolab Inc.
Graco Inc.
Herman Miller, Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Intel Corporation
Modine Manufacturing Co.Pitney Bowes, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Company
St. Paul Travelers Companies
Southwest Airlines Company
Starbucks Corporation
Timberland Company
Whirlpool Corporation
To view the full list and/or read more about it click here.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

(CSRwire) New York – “In a historic development for global financial markets, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was today joined by a group of the world’s largest institutional investors at the international launch of the Principles for Responsible Investment.
The heads of leading institutions from 16 countries, representing more than $2 trillion in assets owned, officially signed the Principles at a special launch event at the New York Stock Exchange. The Principles were developed during a nearly year-long process convened by the UN Secretary-General and coordinated by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the UN Global Compact.”

The principles are being implemented as well in Spain. On April 26th, the “4th Day on Implementing the 10 Principles” took place at Instituto de Empresa. DKV Seguros and Bancaja gave their views in regards to the 6th Principle (the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.) and on how their companies are successfully implementing it. FCC Construcción gave their insight on the 7th principle (Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges).

Van Culver, IMBA 2006 Candidate

Instituto de Empresa Global Citizenship Challenge Team: Van Culver, Russ Browder, Imke Buttkus, Alberto Ordiales, and Alex Corrie (left to right).
On April 1st, a team of Instituto de Empresa (IE) MBA students joined five other business school teams for the finals of The Global Citizenship Challenge, held on the campus of Thunderbird’s Garvin School of International Management in Phoenix, Arizona. The team, sponsored by PwC & IE Corporate Responsibility Center and IE, competed against 55 teams from top business schools to earn the right to attend the finals, where they placed 3rd. IE was the only non-U.S. school selected for the finals. The Challenge, sponsored by Merck, The X-Prize Foundation, and Net Impact, is the largest global case competition in the world focusing on corporate citizenship, sustainability and international development. The final round question challenged teams to devise a way to facilitate cooperation amongst the private and public sectors in order to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The IE team proposed an entrepreneurial approach, whereby a social enterprise would match complementary organizations with opportunities in developing countries and provide services to help maintain the partnerships.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

The 2006 Commitment to Development Award honors an individual or organization from the rich world who has made a significant contribution to changing attitudes and policies towards the developing world. It is sponsored by Center for Global Development and Foreign Policy magazine.

The nominees for this year are:

Bill and Melinda Gates, Philanthropists

Bono, Musician and Development Advocate

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (Make Poverty History, One Campaign, etc.)

Jeffrey Sachs, Professor and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University

Jim Fruchterman, Founder and CEO of Benetech.org

Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)

William Clinton, Former US President

William Easterly; Author and Professor, NYU
Or Nobody, No award should be given for 2006.
Once you vote, you can see how the nominees are doing on the final race, which ends this week. The Award Recipient, who will be chosen by an expert panel, and the People’s Choice winner will be announced on May 2. To cast your vote click here.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management

Financial Times, together with the International Finance Corporation are hosting the Sustainable Banking Awards. The award has been created in order to recognise banks that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social and environmental objectives into their operations. This year, 48 institutions from 28 countries are taking part in the competition.
The 2006 awards will be given in five categories which are:
• Sustainable Bank of the Year
• Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year
• Sustainable Bankers of the Year
• Sustainable Deal of the Year
• Sustainable Energy Finance Deal of the Year
The FT Sustainable Banking Awards has a panel of judges which can be viewed here. The technical advisers on the awards programme are consultants of Sustainable Finance Ltd.
The winners will be announced at a Gala Awards Ceremony at the Financial Times offices in London on June 12, 2006.

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE’s Social Impact Management


“Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” Nelson Mandela
The white band has become the symbol of the global fight to end poverty.
In 2005 8 million people wore the white band in the world’s largest movilization in history against poverty.
In 2006 a month of mobilization will be launched on September 16th which will build up to a climax on a global white band day on the “International Day on the Eradication of Poverty” on October 17th.
To know more about this global movement visit the links bellow and view the most moving video series on FILMS TO WATCH featuring Bono, Nelson Mandela and many others.
“What will our generation be remembered for? The internet? Yes. The war against terror? Yes. Wouldn’t it be great if we were also remembered as being the ones that set about making poverty history?” Bono
Global Call to Action Against Poverty, worldwide alliance committed to making world leaders live up to their promises, and to making a breakthrough on poverty. See who is part of the global alliance.
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, UK member of the coalition.
ONE, US member of the coalition.