Archived Content

"SEE"ing Change: 2008 Progress Report

TO THE MEMBERS OF BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE:

Leadership companies lead ... and that is exactly what many Business Roundtable members are demonstrating through the S.E.E. Change (Society, Environment, Economy) initiative. S.E.E. Change was launched in late 2005 to showcase success and strengthen the relationship of environmental stewardship, social progress and economic growth within Roundtable member companies.

It has been said that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Certainly that has been our experience since the creation of S.E.E. Change. It is clear that we do not yet have all the answers and even that business by itself cannot come up with all the answers. However, in the following progress report, you will find a rich diversity of examples of Business Roundtable members advancing their sustainability journeys.

We created S.E.E. Change, in part, to move Business Roundtable beyond its traditional policy role by demonstrating the evolving role and contributions of corporate America to the betterment of society and the environment. We wanted the world to begin seeing the value of the innovation and technology that business can bring to creating a better world. I am convinced we are doing the right thing. Not only are we building a stronger business community, but we also are beginning to help solve some of the world’s toughest challenges. I hope you will browse through the examples in this report to see how some Business Roundtable members are fully integrating sustainability into their business models and have already established sustainability business goals in the tens of billions of dollars.

From my discussions with many of you, it is clear to me that many Business Roundtable companies not yet part of the S.E.E. Change initiative have much to offer that has not been shared with us. If you have not yet agreed to be part of S.E.E. Change, I urge you to consider doing so. I hope this report will inspire you to join us on the sustainability journey.

Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
DuPont
Chairman, Environment Task Force
Business Roundtable
 

TO THE MEMBERS OF BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE:

When Business Roundtable’s S.E.E. Change initiative was launched, it promoted “better business and a better world” — using the principles of sustainability to enhance shareholder value while promoting social and environmental progress. Roundtable member companies provide many products and services that make the lives of billions of people around the world better every day. S.E.E. Change illustrates that many of those products and services reinforce the goals of sustainable development.

S.E.E. Change is a relatively new initiative within Business Roundtable; it highlights the creativity, business sophistication and commitment that CEOs bring to environmental, economic and social progress. But S.E.E. Change is not the only commitment our CEOs have to these important goals. There are a wide range of other major initiatives under way at the Roundtable that positively affect global sustainability, such as our innovative report on wellness programs, our recent report on America’s energy future, our work to address international trade and climate change, our ongoing work on workforce and education challenges, our new Partnership for Disaster Response, and our Partnership for Urban Entrepreneurs. Practically every activity of the Roundtable provides opportunities for leaders in business to use sustainability principles to create new forms of business value that just a few years ago could not have been imagined.

Since late 2005, when DuPont’s Chairman and CEO Chad Holliday and six other Business Roundtable CEOs announced the creation of S.E.E. Change, it has grown to include 32 companies that support and are moving forward on the path to sustainable growth. In this first progress report, “SEE”ing Change, you will see the concrete actions and commitments of this diverse group of Roundtable member companies. These achievements reach beyond traditional projects and activities to sustainable products and services that respond to the demands of consumers and provide real business value to the companies creating them.

This first report on S.E.E. Change highlights just a few of the activities and initiatives that the companies profiled have under way to advance social and environmental goals. Their individual Web sites contain greater in-depth information on how they are addressing social, economic and environmental opportunities. If you would like to join with other leading Business Roundtable companies on S.E.E. Change’s progress toward sustainability, please contact Marian Hopkins at the Roundtable.

John Castellani
President
Business Roundtable

 

Overview and History of S.E.E. Change

In September 2005, Business Roundtable launched an unprecedented new sustainable growth initiative called S.E.E. Change (Society, Environment, Economy) to promote better business and a better world. Adoption of sustainability goals and metrics is a cornerstone of participation in S.E.E. Change. Each participating company is committing to tangible steps to achieve social, environmental and economic progress and concrete metrics to measure their accomplishments. These goals and metrics are a reflection of each company’s industry sector, business priorities and level of engagement with sustainability principles. The objective of S.E.E. Change is to motivate committed companies to minimize their global environmental footprint as they do business and to improve the environment and quality of life through new products, technology or services that create value for society and shareholders. For the many companies with existing programs in the area of sustainable growth, S.E.E. Change is intended to provide encouragement to take the next step and build on those programs.

S.E.E. Change shows that the traditional goals of higher profit and lower cost are compatible with a strong commitment to social improvement and environmental stewardship.

The leadership efforts of S.E.E. Change companies include the following:

◗◗ Connecting the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development;
◗◗ Documenting the business case for sustainable growth strategies;
◗◗ Promoting understanding and adoption of sustainable growth strategies by the broader business community;
◗◗ Demonstrating that market forces can drive companies to conduct business in a way that benefits shareholders, society and the environment; and
◗◗ Forging partnerships between business, government and other stakeholders with a common interest in using sustainability principles to meet environmental, social and business needs.

The sustainable growth efforts of S.E.E. Change members are focused on high-priority social and environmental challenges, such as enhancing water conservation and quality, using energy more efficiently, increasing transportation mobility, improving raw material yield, using natural resources more efficiently, mitigating the risk of climate change, and helping to eradicate disease and poverty.

S.E.E. Change Initiative Members’ Activities

There currently are 32 members of S.E.E. Change. This report demonstrates how these companies are advancing social, environmental and economic progress.

Sixteen S.E.E. Change members are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and 24 of the companies publish an annual sustainability/environmental health and safety report. In addition, S.E.E. Change members participate in several other environmental and sustainability-focused initiatives and activities, including Business for Social Responsibility, The Conference Board, the Global Environmental Management Initiative and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Of the 32 S.E.E. Change member companies, 30 participate in Business Roundtable’s Climate RESOLVE (Responsible Environmental Steps, Opportunities to Lead by Voluntary Efforts) program, and 15 participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders. In addition, 26 of the S.E.E. Change members have established energy and water goals — some of which have been met and/ or surpassed.

Summary of Other Business Roundtable Member
Leadership Activities

More Diverse, More Domestic, More Efficient:
A Vision for America’s Energy Future

Business Roundtable unveiled a wide-ranging energy plan calling for a more diversified and domestic-based energy supply mix, increased energy efficiency, and greater investment in new energy technologies.

The recommendations — developed through a consensus-driven process led by Business Roundtable’s CEO members representing multiple sectors of the economy — call for a mix of sound government policies; technological innovation; and proactive, voluntary efforts.

With this blueprint, America’s CEOs are speaking with one voice and calling for new approaches to meet energy challenges. The plan will help ensure our nation’s energy security by making our energy system more diverse, more domestic and more efficient. Our plan recognizes that we cannot afford to ignore any pathway that will contribute to stable, clean and affordable energy supplies. This includes ethanol and other bio-fuels, nuclear power, greater access to conventional domestic oil and natural gas reserves, coal-to-liquids, coal gasification, and energy efficiency.

The report was developed in response to ongoing energy-related concerns of Business Roundtable member CEOs as expressed in Roundtable member surveys. Business Roundtable CEOs have ranked energy costs as one of the most pressing and difficult challenges affecting their businesses and the overall U.S. economy.

Climate RESOLVE

Business Roundtable is committed to being an influential leader in the climate change discussion. Recognizing the potentially serious and farreaching consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems, Business Roundtable CEOs called for action in a climate change statement released in July 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Business Roundtable’s Climate RESOLVE, now in its sixth year, has worked in partnership with Business Roundtable member companies to take action to reduce GHG emissions. Climate RESOLVE is the only broad-based business initiative dedicated to helping its members reduce their GHG emissions through one-on-one counseling, learning sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and exposure to member company best practices. The initiative has spurred greater awareness of climate issues in the business community and motivated many companies to develop policies and strategies for managing their emissions.

What We Have Accomplished:

◗◗ Motivated more than 70 percent of Business Roundtable’s membership to take action to address climate change.
◗◗ Conducted six full workshops, each widely attended.
◗◗ Coordinated more than 50 learning sessions on options to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions for both the manufacturing and service sectors, including sessions on renewable energy; government programs; GHG accounting; and best practices and success stories in the areas of lighting, heating and cooling.
◗◗ Provided one-on-one counseling and created comprehensive member tools and resources for participating companies.
◗◗ Created a new pilot metrics program for companies to report their GHG emissions.

What Is Next?

◗◗ Strive for 100 percent participation by Business Roundtable members.
◗◗ Provide the latest relevant domestic and global climate information.
◗◗ Expand and improve metrics and reporting.
◗◗ Share success stories and best practices.

 Partnership for Disaster Response

Today, business response to disasters is no longer a charitable issue but a public policy one, directly affecting employers’ workforce and operations. Business Roundtable established Partnership for Disaster Response as a special initiative in May 2005, following the unprecedented outpouring of corporate contributions for the South Asian tsunami relief effort. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck, the Roundtable activated Partnership for Disaster Response, urging member companies to contribute to the relief effort and facilitating communications about critical on-the-ground needs.

Business Roundtable announced a formal partnership with the American Red Cross in September 2007 to help the business community and nonprofit sectors strengthen the nation’s disaster response system. Select areas of collaboration include the following:

◗◗ Use the Partnership’s Web site, www.respondtodisaster.com, to share companies’ firsthand reports from a disaster site with the Red Cross to expedite relief and recovery efforts;
◗◗ Expand a model program, Ready When the Time Comes, to train employees to serve as Red Cross volunteers during a disaster;
◗◗ Install a representative of the business community in the Red Cross’ Disaster Operations Center; and
◗◗ Develop a database of goods and services companies can potentially give during a disaster.

In response to the 2007 California wildfires, Business Roundtable was immediately in touch with the American Red Cross to determine critical needs and speed the relief effort. Business Roundtable companies donated more than $2.5 million, including warehousing space, fuel cards and transportation services — specific items that the Red Cross requested.

Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative

Business Roundtable — in partnership with federal, state and local government agencies; businesses; community organizations; academic institutions; and construction trade groups and associations — launched the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative, an effort to recruit and train up to 20,000 skilled construction laborers for the Gulf Coast region by the end of 2009. The Initiative supplements ongoing efforts in both the public and private sectors to develop the skilled workforce needed to help the Gulf Coast region rebuild following the devastation of the 2005 hurricane season. Through the Initiative, eligible participants can enroll in free skills courses, preparing them for entry-level employment in the construction industry. Training classes are available at campuses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas with funding made available through federal and state grants, particularly the U.S. Department of Labor’s Pathways to Construction grants. As of December 2007, the Initiative had achieved more than 13,000 training completions. To increase the visibility of the program and attract participants, the Initiative sponsors a recruitment campaign, GREAT (Get Rewarded for Education and Advancement Training). More information can be found at www.ImGREAT.org or by calling 888-52-GREAT.

Institute for Corporate Ethics

Founded in 2004, the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics is an independent entity established to renew and enhance the link between ethical behavior and business practice. The Institute brings together business leaders and 18 leading faculty from 13 top business schools to fulfill its mission of embedding ethics into everyday business decisionmaking.

The Institute conducts seminars for CEOs, board members and senior executives, and it publishes studies ranging from Short Term Earnings Guidance to Principles and Practices for a Model Business Ethics Program and “bridge papers” featuring leading professors alongside commentary from CEOs.

The Institute’s new Ethics Seminars will be delivered in a new format providing greater topical focus on the most important ethics issues identified by executives. For more information, contact Dean Krehmeyer at KrehmeyerD@darden.virginia.edu, or visit the Institute’s Web site at www.corporate-ethics.org.

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