The Changing Role of the CSR Professional with Kevin Martinez

The New York Corporate Social Responsibility Group cordially invites you to attend the January CSR Social

The Changing Role of the CSR Professional

WHEN: Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 pm

WHERE:
Honey Bar & Lounge - Backroom
243 W 14th St
bet 7th & 8th Ave
New York, NY 10001
(212) 620-0222

SCHEDULE:
6:30 - 7:00 Open Networking
7:00 - 7:15 Presentation by Kevin Martinez, Corporate Citizenship Expert
7:15 - 7:30 Q&A
7:30 - 8:30+ Open Networking

COST: Suggested donation $5

RSVP: lcandu at yahoo dot com

ABOUT: Kevin Martinez has made a successful career of developing and executing corporate social responsibility programming for Fortune 500 companies. He has provided leadership and direction to large teams responsible for environmental affairs, brand development, issues management, cause marketing, volunteer programs, sponsorship, public affairs and corporate giving. His extensive background also includes work with, government and non-profit organizations.

Most recently in his role as Executive Director of Corporate Citizenship at KPMG LLP, Kevin chaired the Firm's CSR Council whose role was to establish and develop a national strategy and plan for Corporate Responsibility that will integrate philanthropy, the KPMG Foundation, volunteerism and pro bono, sustainability and global development initiatives.

ABOUT: New York CSR Group is an increasingly popular New-York-based group of corporate responsibility and sustainability professionals and enthusiasts. We meet for various sustainability-related events as well as for montly informal networking and discussion events - CSR Socials. To join and for more information please follow these links on meetup.com , LinkedIn or Facebook

Copenhagen Climate Conference: New York City is among the Future Cities

All eyes and ears are tuned for the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen (December 7-18). Many small and large organizations are undertaking actions to encourage, support, and persuade their countries' representatives to make important decision and right commitments. The type and number of side events is impressive!

The FUTURE CITY Exhibition is one such event. New York is one of 10 cities to have been selected to participate in this interactive event which aims to highlight local sustainability initiatives. And New York has plenty to show for this. Mayor Bloomberg's administration's ambitious PLANYC 2030 aims to reduce the City's emissions by over 30%. The City set out to achieve this target by undertaking a whole range of initiatives such as reducing the number of cars and building more efficient power plants to reduce the inefficiencies of the main sourse of emissions in the NYC, the buildings. The mayor, known for his dedication to sustainability, will present the city's plans, challenges, and results at this exhibition in Copenhagen.

Besides New York and Copenhagen, the other cities to present their sustainability solutions are Barcelona, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Sao Paolo, and Toronto.

Climate change in the US: Mallen Baker's response to Al Gore's critics

I just read the latest blog by Mallen Baker, a UK-based CSR expert, Is the human race dumb enough to deserve extinction? and wanted to share it with you. I subscribe to his straight-to-the-point response to existing criticism directed toward Al Gore, former American Vice-President, who has taken on the cause of climate change. I couldn't have said it better.

I've just watched footage on the BBC website showing Jeremy Paxman asking pretty stupid questions of Al Gore. It's not Paxman's fault per se - he's just asking the same dumb questions others have been throwing around in the last few days.

Most remarkable is whether there is something to criticise in that Gore, as a businessman, has invested in renewable energy technologies. Is his 30 year campaign on climate change really just an extended commercial break?

It beggars belief that such nonsense gets airtime. As Gore himself says, if he invested in old style technologies he would be called a hypocrite. This is just about putting your money where your mouth is. Why wouldn't you?

It follows on from the "how much energy does Al Gore use" (his energy is provided by renewable sources) and "shouldn't Al Gore be vegetarian" (not if you don't believe in worldwide vegetarianism as a policy - as previously discussed here).

The point here is - the attacks are not the point.

It is a great diversion to use against anyone who argues for change to challenge them on their own behaviour. Why? Because it is a no-win scenario.

Almost nobody will meet the ideal in every aspect of how they live their life. So, on some pretty tiny aspect, they can be challenged - which then effectively undermines them and more importantly their message. And rather than debating the issue, you have a defensive conversation about personal behaviour.

And suppose they do meet every single aspect in every part of their life? At that point, they look so extreme, so unlike the rest of us, that they can be discounted as a bit of a nutter.

So why, in the run-up to Copenhagen, are we debating nuances of Al Gore's life rather than focusing on the issues?

It is because we have already lost a key aspect of the struggle on climate change. In the US - one of the most important countries in the world with regard to emissions, it has solidified into a partisan issue.

In the UK and many other countries, the fact of climate change has become the basis for political consensus. The parties can always squabble around the best policies to meet the targets without unnecessary cost. But the fact that the targets have to be met - that is a point of common agreement.

In the US. things are very different. And because it has become a partisan issue, the debate has got very little to do with science, and more to do with tribalism.

Al Gore has argued the case consistently, eloquently, and powerfully for many years. In retrospect, however, it may not prove to have been a good thing to have a former Vice President playing this role.

Because he belongs to one tribe. The other tribe will attack him, ridicule him, misrepresent him. Because he wears the other team's colours. And any stick is good enough to beat a dog.

A wholly non-partisan figure that could carry the respect on both sides of the political debate might have made more progress.

All very well to say - but where is such a non-partisan figure?

This is why businesses have such an important role to play. As we have seen with the mini-walkout from the US Chamber over its critical voice on climate, businesses can take a lead. And they are a force that carries real weight with all sides of the political divide.

They are the constituency that is pragmatic. They will seek to influence either tribe to get the right policies. They are not tribal - and they are important to both tribes.

There is a real imperative to building political leadership and consensus amongst American businesses. Their voice in the ongoing debate is key to future success.

If they can see the enlightened case for change - as many businesses in different parts of the world have done - there may just be a chance. If they focus on the short term because that's where the current honey pot is located - then they will have just been another face of the dumb human race that once walked the earth.

October CSR Social: Ryan Fix and PUREPROJECTS

The New York Corporate Social Responsibility Meetup got together for the October CSR Social last night, October 20. The theme of this increasingly popular monthly event in New York - Social Enterprise - A New Way Forward - was inspired by Ryan Fix, a New York-based social entrepreneur.

Ryan described his path towards social entrepreneurship and the result of his efforts, PURE, a unique organization dedicated to supporting a creative sustainable economy via the transformation of ideas into value based enterprises that are sustainable on all levels, or PUREPROJECTS.

You can find the website, description and other information on each of these initiative on the main site. One project that opens today is the BoHo Bodega, the world's first pop-up shop that reintroduces the quintessential New York City corner store experience as a gateway to green foods, drinks, and household products with every sale being donated to charity. It will bring environmentally-sound products to New Yorkers for five days starting today, October 21. This temporary bodega-style store offers products with an eco-focus at a greatly reduced price to encourage shoppers who believe green is beyond their budget to try healthier, eco-friendly alternatives to regular purchases. Goods are donated by eco-conscious brands including Vita Coco, Green Forest, Organic India, Kiss My Face and Simply Organic and proceeds will benefit a leading nonprofit, the Council on the Environment of New York City. I will check it out and hope you will, too!

Curious facts about the water bottle you just bought

People continue buying lots of bottled water. Worth billions of dollars annually. It turns out - as this video shows - mostly because they LIKE to believe it's better. In reality, it's the tap water that is much better for you. It costs lest, is stricter regulated and more sustainable.

Recycling: a responsible way of Waste Management

One way companies can score high in the sustainability department is by minding their waste. For instance, sustainable waste management is a major category in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) - a set of green building standards that many companies strive to achieve.

So it's good news when an innovative waste management company is there to support such efforts. The Waste Management company provides Healthcare Solutions, a sustainability-focused service for healthcare facilities. The following stories illustrate the way this service works, the types of partnership it creates, and the kind of outcomes it brings about.

Officials at Washington County Healthcare System in Hagerstown, MD asked Waste Management to clear out a 50,000-square-foot warehouse of what they considered to be junk, as the 341-bed hospital prepares to move next year. Instead, the company's staff worked together to recycle, donate or shred what the hospital was going to throw out: floor tiles, lighting, carpet, sinks, shelving, office equipment, confidential documents, and hundreds of stainless steel bedpans.

After one day of clean out in August, four tons of metal had been trucked to a scrap yard and five box trucks of donations had been given to ReStore, one of Habitat for Humanity’s 600 retail building supply stores. The donations are expected to help build a house for a needy family in the Hagerstown area. Another clean out day is scheduled for the third week in October to donate and recycle even more materials.

WH Healthcare Solutions built a similar partnership with New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. The hospital intended to throw away 210 microwave ovens used in break rooms and pantries; instead, the company suggested they be donated to a local charity. The microwaves were given to Goodwill Industries of Greater NY/Northern NJ. As a result, approximately three tons of waste was diverted from the waste stream, the hospital saved $1,000 in avoided disposal costs, and Goodwill gained $5,250 for selling the ovens at $25 each in their retail store.

2009 Corporate Citizenship Survey: corporate responsibility is important despite recession

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and the Hitachi Foundation launched their 4th biennial Corporate Citizenship in the US Survey All findings are interesting, but I'll highlight these:

The majority (54%) of executives surveyed said corporate citizenship is even more important in a recession.

As many 52% said they offer sustainable products/services and 72% said they are reducing costs through improved materials efficiency.

Although most companies said they are not reducing their corporate citizenship budgets, those that did preferred to cut philanthropy/giving (38%), increase layoffs(27%), and reduce R&D for sustainable products (19%).

This latter type of cost is what I'm mostly interested in. Companies have the potential of influencing and changing current lifestyles and consumption habits especially by developing and marketing sustainable products and services. It is therefore very important that companies continue and expand their sustainable R&D as 15% of companies surveyed are already doing.

Countdown to Copenhagen 2009

As governments are preparing for the upcoming world conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will start on December 7, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark, lots of people are looking forward to and have high expectations of this event.

In New York City, Oxfam's Human Countdown: Climate Wake Up Call kicks off the NYC Climate Change week. Check out the schedule and participate in events to increase awareness about the urgency of smart climate change policy, and importance of the US commitment.

Another NYC-based group, Sustainability Practice Network, held a panel on the issues and challenges facing this meeting. Pai Gee-Janssens, member of the New York Corporate Social Responsibility Meetup, offers a thorough overview of the event plus a brief history of climate change talks on Alternative Energy IP In spite the existent hurdles in reaching an effective global consensus in fighting climate change, it is the anticipated participation and commitment of the US that feeds the biggest hope.

There is a high level of hope from the world at large, that the new U.S. government administration, circa 2009, will propel the potential of the UNFCCC to the next necessary levels and inspire all countries worldwide to proactively participate with fewer conditions and objections for the sake of humanity and all inhabitant of our only collective home.

The materialization of this hope - US Congress passing the climate bill - is threatened by the recession and other competing domestic issues, such as the health care reform. That's why it's important to raise awareness among both the politicians and public at large. The distance between hope and gloom is very short - merely 2 degrees Celsius.

Why is water pollution worsening?

We in America take clean water for granted. We have heard of the water quality and access problems in remote developing countries, and are grateful we don't have to worry about such problems. It turns out, we have to. The New York Times initiated an investigation into pollution of American waters and revealed worrisome trends, such as that

in the last five years alone, chemical factories, manufacturing plants and other workplaces have violated water pollution laws more than half a million times.

The violations range from failing to report emissions to dumping toxins at concentrations regulators say might contribute to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses.

It appears that the reason for the increased number of violations is poor enforcement of Clean Water Act. For some reason, in the last decade, the Environmental Protection Agency has failed to punish the companies which violated the law. Likewise, the municipal water systems have violated the Safe Drinking Water Act.

What is going on? Is this another case of government failure? The EPA has historically done a pretty good job at reducing all types of pollution in the US. "Stretched resources", political interests and bureaucratization are perceived causes of this situation but so is the fact that "powerful industries have often successfully lobbied to undermine effective regulation." A coal company responsible for violations - but not held responsible - is in denial and claims that its actions reflects best industry practices.

This is all very sad. One would hope and expect companies to learn new lessons of corporate responsibility rather than forget the old ones.

Edelman: blogging and other opportunities in CSR communications

I've been doing some research on a rhyming pair of abbreviations - CSR and PR - and came across a number of interesting reports produced by Edelman, an international PR firm that is known for its excellence in promoting CSR and sustainability. A 2006 report talks about CSR in the blogosphere and contains some interesting facts, which the bloggers in this field are keenly aware about. For instance, that NGOs and companies have shown little interest in engaging bloggers on CSR issues. Or, that bloggers are commenting on CSR and sustainability issues and not reporting new information. That's probably why CSR blogging tends to be rather boring.

Another, more recent report, explores the issue of CSR communication and finds that employees and socially responsible investors have emerged as key CSR communications audiences. Also, transparency appears to be the key indicator of a socially responsible company. These findings bring a more informed perspective to the debate about the effectiveness of currently used CSR communication tools, such as reports, videos, blogs, CEO leadership and public engagement, etc. As this report shows, despite the technological advances in all types of communications, stakeholders still find it hard to communicate with companies.

These two reports hit right home. Personally, I'd like to see more companies engage more effectively with bloggers in communicating their CSR efforts. I'd prefer the CSR blogosphere be enlivened by stories on companies' journeys towards sustainability and social responsibility in different parts of the world. The slogal "Think globally, act locally and communicate widely" could be more effective in addressing the existing challenges of CSR communications.

Let's have fun with less trash!

As I was walking to the 54th Pier on the Hudson River for a Big Band Swing event, I had to stop myself from collecting lemonade plastic cups from the Target High Line Street Festival. After all, those corn-made compostable cups were the focus of my attention during three-hour volunteering with the CENYC Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (OROE) earlier that day.

The idea was to make this public event as trash-free as possible. The event producers, The Usual Suspects used biodesel generators to power the event. With OROE's assistance, they agreed with the vendors to offer/sell their goodies - including the delicious lemonade - in compostable plastic- or paperware. At the event, OROE encouraged people to dispose of it in specially designated bins, which were then taken to the composting sites by a private hauler, Action Carting. According to Rebekah Sale, OROE's Public & Special Events Recycling Coordinator,

The event was huge success from a waste management point of view. A few bags of trash and dozens of bags of recyclables and compostables were collected from all the recycling stations for the entire day. This was the first large scale low-waste street event in the City.

Overall, I was overwhelmed by the total amount of garbage created by a public event in New York. This particular one was much more environmentally-conscious due to the organizers' special efforts. I rarely see recycling bins at public events or street fairs, although the law requires it. In addition, people, including myself, are still pretty confused regarding recycleble garbage. To learn more on what is recycled in New York, check this site regularly.

Photocredit: laverrue@ CC

American kids and their right to healthy food

I grew up in a country where over half the the population was farming. As a city kid, I tolled along with my parents – university professor and pharmacist – on a patch of land 30 km outside the city plowing potatoes, watering tomatoes, picking strawberries and hauling home bags of cucumbers on public buses. We ate fresh fruit and vegetable in the season and home-canned preserves off-season. We only ate mom's home-made cooking. There were no supermarkets, just basic grocery stores for milk, bread and, occasionally, meat. Whatever we did not grow in our garden we would get either from our rural relatives (e.g. live chickens, honey, wine) or from greenmarkets scattered around the city.

Eventually I stopped farming and started interpreting for Americans who volunteered to teach Moldovan farmers how to make money. I remember a Monsanto employee who came to advise an entrepreneurial farmer on ways to grow and make money out of his unsophisticated greenhouse business. But mostly he ate deliciously natural water melons and drank home-made wine during candle-lit dinners (candles were often used when electricity was frequently cut off). It was then when I first learned that in America only 2% of the working population was farming. And the few farmers were happy and rich from owning many hectars of corn fields. They invested they profits in stocks and had their own tractors and combines.

While living in Romania and Moldova, I continued to buy my food exclusively at farmers’ markets, which I then cooked myself. Fast food (e.g. McDonald’s) and junk food was becoming increasingly available but still too expensive – and culturally inappropriate – to substitute for traditional food made of potatoes, corn meal, rice and pasta. Finally, when I got to the US and was about to hit a local supermarket for my weekly grocery shopping, I happened to read the Fast Food Nation. After that, I kept mostly in the vegetable and fruit section.

That’s how I grew to appreciate fresh and healthy food. I guess I was lucky. Most American youth aren't so lucky and, as a result, suffer increasingly from obesity and associated health problems. Two out of five major causes of obesity – none of which kids have any control over – have to do with food, specifically with access to healthy and nutritious food.

There are organizations working to address this problem. In New York City, it’s the Council on the Environment (CENYC) that has helped make fresh natural produce and food more accessible to New Yorkers. What began with twelve farmers in an empty lot in 1976 has grown into the largest network of its kind in the country, with rigorous "grow-your-own" standards. There are greenmarkets all over the city and they are very popular.

“CENYC works to bring healthy fresh produce to New Yorkers, to support local family-owned farms and to teach people how to grow their own food. We want to change the food system from ground up in New York , and deliver a product that can’t be found but at the green market,” says Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of CENYC.

Of course, it still takes the parents to be willing and able to afford to buy and prepare food for their kids. For this purpose, the City offers financial incentive for food stamp users through the Health Bucks Program. In addition, there are Youthmarkets where City youth work together with farmers to make fresh food available in their communities. Beside increasing accessibility to farm fresh food, greenmarkets generate a range of other benefits.

Although appreciation for healthy eating is steadily growing, it hasn’t tipped yet. It might take many more greenmarkets or the First Lady planting a garden at the White House , or a movie, or stricter food safety regulations and enforcement, or all of these together to improve the way Americans kids eat.

Photo credit: tacomamama @ CC