State-owned companies’ sustainability reports adhere to the global standards set by the Global Reporting Initiative. Photo: Nicho Södling/Johnér.

The sustainability reports of state-owned companies should comply with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. GRI seeks to uphold global standards in sustainability reporting and make it easier for outsiders to assess and compare companies from a social, environmental and economic perspective.

Gender equality

The EU Commission defines CSR as a concept “whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.” And Sweden is doing more than most. It topped the Responsible Competitiveness Index presented in the report The State of Responsible Competitiveness 2007 by international nonprofit organization AccountAbility.

The Responsible Competitiveness Index is based on a range of parameters that indicate the degree of corporate responsibility in relation to climate, working environment, corruption and social issues among companies in 108 countries.

In particular, the report highlighted gender equality in Sweden. “Sweden is the most progressive country worldwide, in part due to an equal number of men and women in parliamentary and ministerial positions, a long history of women at the ballot box, high female workforce participation rates and generous maternity leave.”

Among the top 100

Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, which specializes in analyzing companies for their environmental, social, and governance performance, ranked Atlas Copco, Fabege, H&M, Holmen, SCA and Scania among the 100 most socially and environmentally responsible companies in the world in 2008.

Swedish companies Atlas Copco, H&M and Scania are three of the most responsible worldwide. Photo: Konstantion Chernichkin

The companies were selected according to how they dealt with issues like energy efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions, working conditions and safety, as well as child and forced labor.

In 2007, Swedish business magazine Veckans Affärer highlighted the growing importance of environmental and social responsibility to Swedish companies in a survey of 100 large corporations. Eighty-eight percent of the companies said their work with CSR issues had increased. The main areas of focus were “climate and environment (81 percent)” and “being a good employer (78 percent).”

One way of gauging the level of responsibility businesses are taking in CSR is if they qualify for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes. Only companies that meet the highest requirements regarding the environment, personnel and human rights are accepted.

There are currently about 300 companies listed, representing 24 countries, and only one in ten applicants is successful. H&M, SKF and Volvo are among the Swedish companies represented.

Swedish state helps drive progress

Sweden was the first country with a coordinated function for CSR within government. Global Responsibility was launched within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as early as 2002, after the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. It encourages Swedish companies’ work on human rights, basic working conditions, combating corruption and a better environment. The starting point is the international conventions and standards for companies, which are formulated in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Global Compact, as well as the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO is the UN specialized agency for employment and workplace issues.

Fight against corruption

The Swedish government takes a hard line on corruption. Various studies have cited Swedish society as one of the least corrupt worldwide. And Sweden is looking to intensify efforts against corruption and to improve international cooperation in this area. Consequently, agreements have been reached with the EU, the Council of Europe, UN and OECD.

The relationship with China is an important strand of Swedish foreign policy. The two countries have an extensive political dialog on, for example, international issues and human rights. Sweden actively promotes trade and development in China, as well as culture, education and research.

In April 2008, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visited China along with Minister of Trade and Commerce Ewa Björling and Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren. The visit focused on climate change and sustainable development, but human rights and trade were also discussed.
Read the speeches on www.regeringen.se

Examples of CSR in Swedish companies

Coop
The supermarket chain has expanded its range of organic products, and the sale of these increased by 18 percent in 2007. Coop is also working to expand its range of fair trade goods. It recently started an energy saving project, Energijakten (The Energy Chase). Refrigerators, deep freezers and lighting are under review to see how new technology and procedures can reduce energy consumption.
www.coop.se

Ikea
The IKEA Social Initiative supports, among other projects, a Unicef initiative to promote children’s rights in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, an area from which Ikea buys many of its carpets. Child labor is prevented by addressing the root causes, including poverty, lack of schools, disability and disease.
www.ikea.com

Akzo Nobel
The industrial giant is working to reduce emissions of chemical waste. One example is a biodegradable paint for freighters
that stops the formation of algae, which impedes ships’ progress and wastes fuel.
www.akzonobel.se

Indiska
The fashion and home furnishing chain has for many years influenced the working conditions and production processes in the factories where its goods are produced. All suppliers are required to sign the Indiska Code of Conduct, which is based on the ILO and UN conventions on working conditions and children’s rights.
http://indiska.com

Assa Abloy
The Swedish locksmith received a top rating from Amnesty International in March 2008 for its work on human rights.
www.assaabloy.com 

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