Corporate Social Returns and why materiality is essential to brand success
Adam Garfunkel Owner & Managing Director
Mike Rowlands President & CEO
Today’s learning goals:‣ Identify and prioritize the social and environmental responsibility issues that are
most relevant to your business ‣ Decide on, and develop a plan to engage relevant stakeholders—both leading and
listening effectively in conversations on material issues ‣ Align sustainability and social responsibility with brand and communications to
accelerate both impact and market awareness in an approach we call Corporate Social Returns
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Corporate Social Returns
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Download our guide at http://junxion.com/csr-guide/
Pre-CSR / mainstream
Basic CSR
Proactive CSR
Integrated CSR
Transformational CSR
Non-financial issues or outcomes not considered in operational decisions / “one-dimensional” decisions
CSR priorities are determined by leaders’ personal preferences and/ or are an afterthought to normal operations
CSR is regularly considered in brand, strategy and operational decision-making
CSR is a strategic requirement for every part of the company’s brand, strategy and operations
The company is one component in a mission for social change that transcends the bounds of the corporation
Materiality
What is Materiality?Materiality analysis evaluates the costs, benefits and risks associated with your business activities from both your company’s and your stakeholders’ points of view. The purpose of materiality analysis is to help you decide which CSR activities, policies and investments you should prioritize.
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“”
What is Materiality?Material issues are.... ‣ Important to stakeholders ‣ Important to the success of the business (and this is understood in more broad
terms than simply financial success) ‣ Reasonably within the ability of the business to influence.
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How to identify material issues
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Long List Short List Validate‣ Resources might be:
• media mentions • existing industry guides • what peers do
(benchmarking) • legislation • enquiries • previous stakeholder
dialogue results
‣ Interviews better than questionnaires
‣ Ask stakeholders what matters ‣ Agree on a scoring process
(weighted?) ‣ Establish thresholds for
high/medium/low materiality
‣ Engage senior management ‣ Also consider external
stakeholders
You can start now Identify and prioritize issues
Example
LOW
HIGH
MATERIAL ISSUES
HIGH
HIGH
13How much business risk associated with social, environmental, and economic impacts of the issue
How much does this issue
influence stakeholder
assessments and decisions
Child Obesity
Carbon Footprint
Manufacturing Labour
Standards
based on a garment manufacturer
Example
LOW
HIGH
MATERIAL ISSUES
HIGH
HIGH
13How much business risk associated with social, environmental, and economic impacts of the issue
How much does this issue
influence stakeholder
assessments and decisions
Child Obesity
Carbon Footprint
Manufacturing Labour
Standardsbased on a garment manufacturer
Example
LOW
HIGH
MATERIAL ISSUES
HIGH
HIGH
13How much business risk associated with social, environmental, and economic impacts of the issue
How much does this issue
influence stakeholder
assessments and decisions
Child Obesity
Carbon Footprint
Manufacturing Labour
Standardsbased on a garment manufacturer
Business Risk Associated with Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts
LOWInfl
ue
nce
on
Sta
keh
old
er
Ass
ess
me
nts
an
d D
eci
sio
ns
HIGH
MATERIAL ISSUES
HIGH
HIGH
Sustainable Transportation in Supply Chain
Product Lifecycle and Waste
Carbon Footprint
Child Obesity
Workplace Health and Safety (licensed contractors)
Chemical Sourcing Material Inputs
Labour Rights
Workplace Health and Safety (direct contractors)
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Example
Low Medium High
Level of control this business
Level of control this business has on these issues/impacts
based on a garment manufacturer
Know your issuesKnowing what your material issues are helps you to: ‣ Ask stakeholders better, more specific questions about their needs and concerns ‣ Offer clearer, more concrete commitments in return ‣ Give others a clear sense of your priorities
Where are you committed to act, advocate, or support efforts to change things?
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Top Tips‣ Use a standards-based approach. Clear metrics and measurement help! ‣ Leading resources include:
• Global Reporting Initiative (for medium and large corporations) • Demonstrating Value (for small business and social enterprise) • B Corporation (a good comprehensive assessment)
‣ Use existing information sources: industry associations, allies in your industry, etc. ‣ You don’t have to do it all yourself! Others are interested in the same challenges,
and are happy to provide help.
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Brand
What is a Brand?Brand is the public face of strategy.
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What is a Brand?The AVID™ Model: ‣ Authenticity ‣ Value ‣ Inspiration ‣ Distinctiveness
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‣ How well does your brand demonstrate its stated values through time?
‣ Ben & Jerry’s uses business to drive impact: • 1% for Peace, Rock the Vote campaigns • Direct grants to grassroots organizations • Strict adherence to fair trade ingredients • Using the iconic pint packages to advocate
for marriage equality • AmeriCone Dream flavour with Colbert
What is a Brand?The AVID™ Model: ‣ Authenticity ‣ Value ‣ Inspiration ‣ Distinctiveness
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‣ Is your brand clear in its expression of value, and does it deliver, as promised, to key customer segments?
‣ More than financial: a complex mix of actual and perceived value
‣ Consider the value of sourcing locally from Greyston Bakery
What is a Brand?The AVID™ Model: ‣ Authenticity ‣ Value ‣ Inspiration ‣ Distinctiveness
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‣ Does your brand resonate at an emotional level?
‣ Easiest when brand is connected to purpose beyond profit: “We don’t hire people to bake brownies; we bake brownies to hire people”
‣ What impact is Ben & Jerry’s having inside Unilever?
‣ An inspiring vision attracts allies, staff, and customers
What is a Brand?The AVID™ Model: ‣ Authenticity ‣ Value ‣ Inspiration ‣ Distinctiveness
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‣ Does your brand stand apart, delivering a unique and relevant opportunity for customers?
‣ ‘Differentiation’ vs. ‘Distinction’ ‣ Ben & Jerry’s is social impact ice cream:
“Tastes great. On purpose.”
It’s about Purpose and you can act on it now!
Building your CSR brand
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Pre-CSR / mainstream
Basic CSR
Proactive CSR
Integrated CSR
Transformational CSR
Philanthropic partner Corporate and staff giving Matching funds
Offer time and expertise Second staff Joint campaigns Talk publicly
Embed sustainability and social responsibility Identify shared concerns Engage your value chain Engage competitors, join or lead coalitions Develop sector standards
Social innovation Systems thinking Incremental or disruptive change?
MeasurementTie measurement to storytelling ‣ Measure to learn and improve ‣ Share insights along the way
• Share stories of success as well as failure ‣ Begin with the reader in mind:
• What can you help them learn from your experiences? • How can you help move us all toward ‘the change you seek?’
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Materiality and Brand: foundations for success in CSR
Materiality and Brand‣ Materiality and Brand are the glue that bonds:
• Vision for change • Business strategy • Accountability for performance
‣ Both are rooted in awareness of, and respect for, context. ‣ Strategic management of materiality and brand lives in the “space between”
traditional approaches to business and non-profit management.
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TrustBrands™‣ The TrustBrand™ approach unites:
• Values-driven leadership • Inspired communications • A rigourous CSR model • A holistic approach to strategy
‣ When you’re confident in your impact you can be bold and audacious
‣ Underselling your impact is a more common problem than companies “green washing”
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Top Tips‣ Build a foundation: Don’t rush past brand and materiality ‣ Get buy-in: Ensure team leaders are engaged before proceeding ‣ Cultivate empathy: Build a resilient team and organization for the hard work ahead ‣ Learn what you can control: Know where to focus, and what to leave for others ‣ Seek collaborations: Work with other organizations to develop promising ideas ‣ Don’t go alone: Look for targeted support where and when you need it
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Download our guide at http://junxion.com/csr-guide/
#ShiftYourThinking Let’s make responsible business mainstream
Adam Garfunkel [email protected] @adamgarfunkel1
Mike Rowlands [email protected] @mrowlands
www.junxion.com @junxion