The Corporate Responsibility Index

... is a strategic management tool to enhance the capacity of businesses to develop, measure and communicate best practice in the field of corporate responsibility in Australia.

The product of a business-led initiative, and developed by UK charity Business in the Community, the Index is a proven business tool, ensuring a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting upon the various impacts that companies have upon society and their environment. It works as a management tool for companies, providing valuable information on how their approach to corporate responsibility is integrated into mainstream business operations. Participation in the Index is on a voluntary basis and involves companies undertaking a rigorous self assessment process of how they incorporate principles of corporate responsibility.

The Corporate Responsibility Index is the only voluntary, non-prescriptive framework for corporate responsibility in Australia and New Zealand, enabling companies to identify their non-financial risk, as well as to develop and improve corporate responsibility in line with their business strategy.

In 2006 flexible engagement options were introduced in addition to the Public Benchmark to accommodate a greater number of companies in their varying stages of developing and integrating corporate responsibility into their business. These new tools present a real opportunity for businesses developing their corporate responsibility strategies by allowing a company to complete the full Index on a private basis or complete Index modules in environment, community and/or workplace.

2007 Corporate Responsibility Index results out now!

20 May 2008: Results of the 2007 Corporate Responsibility Index published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers
19/20 May 2008: 9th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development to be held in Canberra - www.nblf.com.au

Upcoming – Sixth Corporate Responsibility Index (2008-9)

July to August 2008: Information Seminars – see events for more details
September 2008: Corporate Responsibility Index launched online – companies have a ten week period to complete submissions
October 2008: Corporate Responsibility Index 'getting started' workshops
November 2008: CR Index company submissions due
December 2008 to February 2009: Validation of Corporate Responsibility Index submissions
April 2009: Corporate Responsibility Index individual feedback reports issued to companies
May 2009: Results of 6th Corporate Responsibility Index published
May 2009: 10th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development (location tbc)

If you wish to participate in the upcoming Corporate Responsibility Index or would like further information please contact St James Ethics Centre on +61 (0)2 9299 9566.

2007 Corporate Responsibility Index results

Follow the links below to learn more about the 2007 Index.

2007 Index results ...
Executive summary (PDF) ...
Publication in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (PDF - 1.1mb) ...
Participant experiences ...

about the corporate
responsibility index

about corporate responsibility

frequently asked
questions

Position vacant:
Communications, Media & Events Co-ordinator

This role forms part of a small busy team working at St James Ethics Centre.

Working closely with the Manager of the Corporate Responsibility Index you will be responsible for marketing, events and media management to engage companies participating in the Index, support them throughout the process, and publish and present the results.

Interested? Read more ... (PDF).

Funding announcement

The Federal Government, through Treasury, has commissioned St James Ethics Centre to undertake a three year project to expand responsible business practice nationally.

The funding was announced at the 9th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Parliament House, Canberra by The Honourable Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a national address on sustainability, climate change and Australia's role in global solutions.