Two thirds of UK companies have CSR programmes

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are in place with 66% of British companies, according to new research.

The latest survey by the Institute of Travel management’s panel of 90 buyers with an annual combined travel spend in excess of £800 million shows that of those, a further 60% feature their travel programme in public CSR reporting.

CSR in travel management usually encompasses responsibility for the environment, ethical trading with suppliers, sustainability and duty of care to staff travelling on business, the ITM says. 

The main element in any CSR programme relating to travel is the environmental ‘footprint’ created by organisations through their travel programmes. 

But Colin Goldney, of Argate Consulting – ITM’s research partner – said: “There’s still some cynicism about CSR. Thirty one per cent of those surveyed believe that CSR is either a short-term tactical tool or a fad that will eventually go away.

“Right now, CSR is dominated by larger organisations because they are required to report on their activities in this area to satisfy shareholders’ demands. Until CSR becomes an absolute necessity because every consumer requires suppliers to disclose their responsible actions it will remain the passion of the financial elite.” 

The ITM survey found that most corporations are encouraging a reduction in emissions rather than offset. Forty five per cent of companies encourage reduction in CO² emissions through reduced travel, for example using video/tele-conference specifically with emission reduction in mind, and not just to cut costs.

Twenty eight per cent attempt to limit CO² emissions through switching from road or air travel to rail; 13% participate in programmes to offset the CO² emissions caused by their travellers and 3% award contracts to travel suppliers on the basis of their environmental record.                 

ITM executive director Paul Tilstone said: “Many organisations have been practising the principles of CSR for some time but without incorporating them into a formal programme.

“By creating formal CSR programmes, corporations can set goals, monitor performance, and report publicly on what has fast become a key concern for the discerning consumer in the 21st century. This reduces the risk to a corporation’s brand in a world where public perception can quickly change through disclosure of poor ethics.”

But he added: “The size of an organisation’s profits has a massive influence on the amount of time and money available for CSR activity.

“How long it takes before CSR becomes a key issue for every company remains to be seen, and whilst aspects such as duty of care to travellers and ethical trading by suppliers are being widely embraced, it could be the slow realisation that action is needed to counter environmental damage that brings CSR onto the agenda of every travel manager across the globe.”

Report by Phil Davies