CSR Policies in EU Member States:
An Overview of Topics and Instruments
Reinhard Steurer
Gerald Berger
RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing Sustainability
Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
www.sustainability.eu
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Instruments and topics
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Instruments and topics
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Recent projects on SD
• “European Environment” special issue on SD Strategies in
Europe
• European Sustainable Development Network: ESDN Office
www.sd-network.eu (financed by 8 European countries)
Recent projects on CSR
• Policies on CSR in Europe (City of Vienna)
• Corporate Sustainability and CSR in Western and CEE Europe
(Austrian National Bank)
• Analysis of National Policies on CSR -- www.sustainability.eu/csrpolicies for EU CSR High Level Group (DG Employment)
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Instruments and topics
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Economic dimension
Societal Concept
SRM
Sustainable Development
Corporate Concept
Corporate Sustainability
Management Approach
CSR
EMAS
ISO26000
Management Systems
Starting Point of conceptual development
Stakeholder Relations Management (SRM)
Level of specification
CSR Policies in EU Member States
Source: Steurer, R et al (2005),
Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3,
263-281.
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Preliminary conclusions
„CSR is a business contribution to SD”
(European Commission 2001)
Since CSR re-defines state-business and businesssociety relations, shaping concept and activities also
concerns governments and civil society
CSR policies are a new „government contribution to SD“
that complements (or compensates for the lack of) traditional
social and environmental policies
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Instruments and topics
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
CSR policy instruments
1. Informational or endorsing instruments:
Campaigns, guidelines, trainings
2. Partnering instruments:
Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues
3. Financial or economic instruments:
Subsidies, grants, prices/awards
4. Legal (mandating) instruments:
Laws, regulations, decrees
5. „Hybrid instruments“
Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres
CSR Policies in EU Member States
Source: Fox T, Ward H,
Howard B. 2002; World
Bank;
http://www.iied.org/pubs
/pdf/full/16014IIED.pdf
CSR policies study on
awareness raising,
see
www.sustinability.eu/cs
r-policies
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Character of policy instruments in general
1. Informational or endorsing instruments:
Campaigns, guidelines, trainings
2. Partnering instruments:
Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues
New governance
and “soft-law
approach”
3. Financial or economic instruments:
Subsidies, grants, prices/awards
Regulatory
approach
4. Legal (mandating) instruments:
Laws, regulations, decrees
5. „Hybrid instruments“
Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Character of CSR policy instruments
1. Informational or endorsing instruments:
Campaigns, guidelines, trainings
2. Partnering instruments:
Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues
3. Financial or economic instruments:
Subsidies, grants, prices/awards
New governance
and “soft-law
approach”
4. Legal (mandating) instruments:
Laws, regulations, decrees
5. „Hybrid instruments“
Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Instrument and topics
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Key topics of CSR policies
Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but
 Raise awareness and build capacities for CSR
 Increase disclosure, transparency and stakeholder involvement
 Foster Socially Responsible Investment
 Help develop and apply management/audit tools and practices
 Lead by example by adopting SR/SD practices in government
bodies, in particular regarding public procurement, reporting and
auditing
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Topics covered in study for DG Employment
Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but
 Raise awareness and build capacities for CSR
 Increase disclosure, transparency and stakeholder involvement
 Foster Socially Responsible Investment
 Help develop and apply management/audit tools and practices
 Lead by example by adopting SR/SD practices in government
bodies, in particular regarding public procurement, reporting
and auditing
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Topics and policy tools
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
CSR awareness raising initiatives in Europe
1. Rationale
Increase awareness for CSR among government authorities,
businesses and stakeholders
2. Method
24 telephone interviews - 20 EU Member States covered
3 case studies (Sw, NL, Den)
3. Number of initiatives
85
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Overview of CSR awareness raising instruments
Others; 7.0%
Institutions: platforms/
centres; 8.2%
Action plans/
programmes/strategy for
CSR; 9.4%
Education activities, e.g.
conferences, seminars,
trainings; 17.7%
Hybrid
tools and
others
Financial or
economic
instruments
Partnering
instruments
Economic incentives
(loans, grants,
subsidies); 3.5%
Prices and awards (CSR
audits/labels); 8.2%
Multi-stakeholder fora;
4.8%
Informational
or endorsing
instruments
Government-sponsored
guidelines; 10.6%
Information resources,
e.g. website, studies,
reports etc.; 10.6%
Information/awareness
raising campaigns; 9.4%
Networks/partnerships/
agreements; 10.6%
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Target groups of CSR awareness raising
45
Companies; 40.3%
40
35
Consumers/consumer
organizations/general
public; 7%
SMEs; 12.4%
NGOs; 10.1%
30
Universities/schools; 6.2%
Business/industry sectors; 1.6%
Trade unions/social
partners; 8.5%
Young people; 1.6%
25
20
15
Ministries/governmental
officials; 7.6%
Employees; 1.6%
Others; 3.1%
10
5
0
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Target groups of CSR awareness raising
45
Companies; 40.3%
40
35
Consumers/consumer
organizations/general
public; 7%
SMEs; 12.4%
NGOs; 10.1%
30
Trade unions/social
partners; 8.5%
25
20
15
10
Ministries/governmental
officials; 7.6%
Few initiatives
focus exclusively
on SMEs (no
prices/awards) --generally regarded
as most important
target group
5
0
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Target groups of CSR awareness raising
45
Companies; 40.3%
40
35
Consumers/consumer
organizations/general
public; 7%
SMEs; 12.4%
NGOs; 10.1%
30
Trade unions/social
partners; 8.5%
25
20
15
10
Ministries/governmental
officials; 7.6%
Social partners
rarely mentioned
as target group
(even not in
networks, multistakeholder fora
etc.)
5
0
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Three case studies on CSR awareness raising
Denmark:
“People & Profit”
• Programme initiated
in 2004
• Activities: research,
training,
dissemination of
information
• Goal: enhance
competitiveness
(foster CSR as a
business case)
CSR Policies in EU Member States
Netherlands:
“Knowledge and
Information Centre”
on CSR since 2004
• Disseminate
knowledge and good
practices
• Promote
stakeholder
dialogues
• Foster partnerships
Sweden:
“Globalt Ansvar”
• Partnership for
global responsibility
• Government
invites companies
to join the
partnership by
adopting the OECD
guidelines and the
UN Global Compact
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Topics and policy tools
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Sustainable Public Procurement
1. Rationale
By making public procurement sustainable governments provide
economic incentives for CSR
2. Method
24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU
Member States covered
3. Number of initiatives
103
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Overview of SPP initiatives
Educational activities, e.g.
conferences, seminars,
trainings; 3.9%
Platforms/centres/
institutions; 5.8%
Government-sponsored
guidelines; 13.6%
Action plans/
programmes/strategies
for CSR; 27.2%
Hybrid
instruments
Informational
instruments
Partnering
instruments
Information resources,
e.g. websites, studies,
reports, etc.; 11.7%
Information/awareness
raising campaigns; 1.9%
Legal
instruments
Circulars; 4.9%
Networks/partnerships/
agreements; 1.0%
Decrees, resolutions;
4.9%
Laws; 25.2%
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
EU Directives* on PP: Status of implementation
19: implemented
2 (Es, Lux): in preparation
1: not implemented
5: status unclear
* „Procurement directive“ 2004/18/EC
„Utilities directive“ 2004/17/EC
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Overview of SPP initiatives
Educational activities, e.g.
conferences, seminars,
trainings; 3.9%
Platforms/centres/
institutions; 5.8%
Government-sponsored
guidelines; 13.6%
Action plans/
programmes/strategies
for CSR; 27.2%
Hybrid
instruments
Informational
instruments
Partnering
instruments
Information resources,
e.g. websites, studies,
reports, etc.; 11.7%
Information/awareness
raising campaigns; 1.9%
Legal
instruments
Circulars; 4.9%
Networks/partnerships/
agreements; 1.0%
Decrees, resolutions;
4.9%
Laws; 25.2%
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Member States with National Action Plans on SPP/GPP
9: NAP adopted
7: NAP in preparation/
drafted
3: No (draft) NAP
8: Status unclear
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Overview of SPP initiatives
Educational activities, e.g.
conferences, seminars,
trainings; 3.9%
Platforms/centres/
institutions; 5.8%
Government-sponsored
guidelines; 13.6%
Action plans/
programmes/strategies
for CSR; 27.2%
Hybrid
instruments
Informational
instruments
Information resources,
e.g. websites, studies,
reports, etc.; 11.7%
Partnering
instruments
Information/awareness
raising campaigns; 1.9%
Legal
instruments
Circulars; 4.9%
Decrees, resolutions;
4.9%
Networks/partnerships/
Economic/financial
agreements; 1.0%
instruments are
missing, but…
Laws; 25.2%
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Overview of SPP initiatives
Educational activities, e.g.
conferences, seminars,
trainings; 3.9%
Platforms/centres/
institutions; 5.8%
Government-sponsored
guidelines; 13.6%
Action plans/
programmes/strategies
for CSR; 27.2%
Informational
Hybrid
Indirectly:
All
instruments
instruments
SPP initiatives
foster CSR by
providing
economic/
Partnering
financial
instruments
incentives
Legal
instruments
Circulars; 4.9%
Information resources,
e.g. websites, studies,
reports, etc.; 11.7%
Information/awareness
raising campaigns; 1.9%
Networks/partnerships/
agreements; 1.0%
Decrees, resolutions;
4.9%
Laws; 25.2%
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Target groups of SPP initiatives
70
Public sector in
general; 66.0%
60
50
National/federal
level; 19.4%
Business; 10.7%
40
Others; 1.9%
30
Regional and/or
local level; 6.8%
„Direct“ target group:
92.2% public
sector
not identified; 8.7%
20
10
„Indirect“ target group
100% businesses
0
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Orientation
1. Research behind this presentation
Activities of RIMAS
2. Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies
Conceptual and political clarifications
3. The CSR policy field
Topics and policy tools
4. A closer look at two topics
CSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement
5. Conclusions
EU and Member State policies on CSR
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
Conclusions on CSR policies in Europe
1. CSR policies are different to traditional policy fields
because they rely more on new governance and soft-law
2. CSR policies can be pursued proactively or passively,
depending on political ideologies and interests (change of course
by the European Commission in 2005/2006!)
3. CSR policies complement traditional policies,
i.e. they cannot replace social, environmental or trade regulations
completely
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007
THANK YOU!
Reinhard Steurer
[email protected]
Gerald Berger
[email protected]
RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability
Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
Vienna, Austria
www.sustainability.eu
CSR Policies in EU Member States
The Role of Government in SR, 3 Nov 2007