Platinum status retained for the integration of corporate responsibility into business model
Veolia Environmental Services (UK) plc has retained its Platinum status in Business in the Community’s annual benchmark of responsible business management, the Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index).
The CR Index is the UK’s leading and most in-depth voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility. It has been run by Business in the Community for over a decade to help companies accurately measure and manage all aspects of their social and environmental performance.
The Platinum banding highlights that Veolia has once again been recognised for integrating corporate responsibility into its business model and has clear CR responsibilities and incentive structures at board and operational levels. Platinum demonstrate a number of years of CR performance improvement across key impacts, high levels of transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Veolia’s ranking reflects the successful launch of its 'Go further together' strategy encompassing a wide range of initiatives across its 12,000 strong workforce. These include extensive training development programmes, outstanding carbon performance and through its employees giving over 20,000 hours of community investment through employee volunteering.
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “The CR Index tells us that, despite the complexities of this agenda and the tough economic challenges they’re facing, our leading companies are continuing to invest in responsible business and truly integrate it within their operations.
“Responsible business matters – to businesses, employees, communities and the long term sustainability of the planet. As we launch the UK’s first Responsible Business Week to celebrate the powerful positive role business plays in society, this Index is a key tool to help the public to understand what good business looks like while also providing examples to inspire many more companies to accelerate the pace of change within their business.
“I congratulate Veolia Environmental Services for achieving platinum because it signifies a key step on the journey, a willingness to rise to the challenge and that they are part of a movement of responsible business in which all companies have their unique part to play. We look forward on working with, supporting and challenging Veolia to build on this achievement as we, together drive the transformational change needed to deliver a sustainable economy.”
Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive, Veolia Environmental Services (UK) plc said “With a team of over 12,000 staff Veolia is not only working in the community it is very much part of it. This year we have doubled the amount of time spent volunteering in local projects as well as opening our doors to residents at our facilities up and down the country. We will continue our journey investing in local communities now and into the future.”
The announcement had been timed to coincide with Responsible Business Week (15-19 April 2013) an initiative taking place across the UK this week to raise public awareness of the powerful, positive role of business in society.