Corporate responsibility index results announced

EnergyAustralia, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the ABC are among the top Australian companies recognised for corporate responsibility in the seventh corporate responsibility index (CRI).

The 2009 results were announced in Canberra and awards presented at Parliament House. Winners included EnergyAustralia for best overall performance (platinum), PricewaterhouseCoopers for best progress (gold), New Zealand Post Group for best progress (silver) and Western Power for best progress (bronze).

EnergyAustralia was the top performer on the night, with the ABC and Diageo Australia also being recognised.

More than 350 companies worldwide have entered the awards which aim to “measure, manage, report and improve the impacts that companies have on society and the environment”.

Some 70 Australian and New Zealand businesses have entered since the awards began in the country seven years ago.

Participation in the CRI is voluntary; organisations complete a web-based survey using guidance notes. Each submission must include supporting documentary evidence and formal signoff by a company executive or board member. The entries undergo a review process to ensure the appropriate evidence is provided and the questions are interpreted consistently. An online benchmarking system scores the entries according to weightings:

• Corporate strategy — 10%
• Integration — 22%
• Management practice — 26%
• Performance and impact — 36%

The good news for business is that in 2009, Australian and New Zealand average scores increased in each section of the survey compared to the previous year and now equal the global index average for corporate strategy and integration. They also achieved higher than the global average for social impact.

The CRI is licensed by the St James Ethics Centre — a not-for-profit organisation for the promotion and exploration of ethics. Full results are available at www.corporate-responsibility.com.au.