Experiences from Denmark Action Plan and Legislation on

Experiences from Denmark: Action Plan and Legislation on CSR by Carsten Ingerslev Danish Government Center for CSR Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

The Danish Government Centre for CSR Who: Part of Danish Ministry of Economics and Industry Why: Giving Danish businesses a competitive advantage, by addressing the CSR agenda in a strategic manner What: Providing training, tools, inspiration and knowledge How: Staying abreast of latest international knowledge and developments, implementing it in a pragmatic way that’s at eye level with Danish SME’s 2 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

Strategic CSR Integrate CSR into the company’s core business concept. Synergy between business demands and society needs. Balancing the company’s chain of values against the competitive context to benefit society and the company the most. GOAL: To go beyond best practice, differentiating from rivals and attracting customers while serving society. (Ref. Porter & Kramer 2006) 3 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

Three stages of CSR Business-driven/strategic CSR Innovation Sustainable Business Models Compliance CSR as Value Creation CSR as Risk Management Provide funding and skills 4 CSR as Corporate Philanthropy Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010 Fundamental Strategic and Operational Impact Medium to High Strategic and Operational Impact Little Strategic or Operational Impact

An international perspective • The challenges are on the international market • International frameworks are needed – For businesses: UN Global Compact – For investors: ’Principles for Responsible Investments’ – PRI • Both are: – International frames of reference – Widely recognized – Compatible with strategic CSR 5 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

The beginning: A large scale CSR-project • Comprehensive training for more than 12. 000 employees in SME’s • From 2005 – 2007 • Budget: 3 million EURO • Finance from The European Social Fund and The Danish Labour Market Authority 6 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

CSR-Compass – a responsible sourcing tool Target group: Companies, who 1) get demand about CSR from customers 2) want to demand CSR from their suppliers More than 5000 users per month 7 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

The Government’s Action Plan for CSR • Launched in May 2008 • Denmark and Danish businesses should be associated internationally with responsible growth • Danish businesses should benefit more from their leading position within CSR meet global challenges, while at the same time increasing Danish competitiveness and growth 8 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

Initiatives in the Action Plan for CSR 30 initiatives within four action areas: 1. Propagating business-driven social responsibility 2. Promoting businesses’ social responsibility through Government activities 3. Corporate sector’s climate responsibility 4. Marketing Denmark for responsible growth 9 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

Initiatives – some examples • Encouraging businesses to take up CSR as a strategic activity • Integration of Global Compact/UN PRI in state activities • Conference on Socially Responsible Investing at Princeton University (November 2008) • Setting up of a national Council for CSR (August 2009) • Improving communication and developing web tools • Mandatory reporting on CSR for large companies and investors (December 2008) 10 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

New law: CSR reporting mandatory for large businesses • It is mandatory to report about CSR for the 1100 largest companies and institutional investors – not to work with CSR • They must report on their policies on CSR, how these are translated into action and the results of the work with CSR • No CSR – must be also be disclosed • Members of UN Global Compact or UN PRI can refer to their communication on progress instead 11 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

Why make a law on CSR-reporting? Transparency is essential • If a company wants to be publicly recognized • If a company wants to reap the full benefit of its efforts • If the company wants to engage its stakeholders 12 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

The law supports UN Global Compact & PRI • Strong support to international framework for CSR – UN Global Compact and PRI • Number of Danish members of Global Compact has more than tripled - from 54 to 163 companies • Number of Danish member of PRI has tripled – from 4 to 18 investors 13 Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010

More information Info and tools: http: //www. csrgov. dk Blog on CSR: http: //blog. csrgov. dk CONTACT: Government Centre for CSR: csrgov@eogs. dk Carsten Ingerslev: 14 cin@eogs. dk Carsten Ingerslev , Brussels, 23 rd February 2010