The interests in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasing rapidly in Western countries along with the rapid progress of globalization or information technology, civil society including NGOs and NPO's, the changing of consumer behavior, and intensified competition between companies. There have also been successive motions to enact the international standard on CSR at international organizations, such as the OECD, the United Nations, and the ISO. Moreover, Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) is also spreading and investors are assessing companies based on CSR.
CBCC is following up these backgrounds and the trends of various standards and also participates in foundation processes of international standards.
To promote deeper understanding of international standards and the latest development of CSR, CBCC invites CSR experts from Japan and abroad to give lectures and participate in meetings.
CBCC dispatches dialogue missions on CSR to overseas and sponsors symposiums in order to bolster understanding of the current status of the trend on CSR activities, ascertain the needs of local communities, and learn more about new, locally, emerging issues about CSR.
CBCC works to develop networks with NGOs or international organizations which operate actively to promote CSR activities and standardization. CBCC also participates in the foundation processes of international standards.
For Japanese-affiliated companies to run their operations smoothly overseas, it is essential that these companies work in harmony with local communities by engaging in community relations programs. In the United States, community relation activities by Japanese companies are established. But it is vital for companies to promote such activities on an ongoing basis.
In Asia, where the advancement of a Japanese company is remarkable, it has a history with particular to each country, culture, and religion. As political organization as well as the stage of economic development varies from country to country, Japanese companies are needed to reconsider how to act in Asia as "good corporate citizens". Moreover, not only in the West but also in Asia, NGO's actively participate in social problem solutions of an area as a member of the community.
While remaining cognizant of the diversity of West and Asia, CBCC will support companies as they strive to deepen their understanding of the communities in which they operate and actively implement their community relations programs.
CBCC invites community-relations experts, scholars, staffs of foundations and NGOs, and others from Japan and abroad to give lectures and participate in panel discussions.
The CBCC works to develop networks with opinion leaders, companies, foundations, and NGOs, with the aim of establishing links to address various local concerns.
CBCC works to disseminate information about the role Japanese-affiliated companies should play as "good corporate citizens." It also engages in a number of activities designed to encourage companies to solve the problems they confront when establishing themselves overseas, and to help those companies better understand the goals and activities of CBCC.
CBCC issues a publication, Stakeholders, which spotlights the latest status about CSR, companies' community relation activities, and examples of the overseas contribution projects. It also contains articles describing social conditions in different countries.
"CSR NEWS" is the Japanese translation of selected articles from the "BSR Insight" issued by Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), and the "ReportAlert" provided by CorporateRegister.com Ltd.
To disseminate information on its activities in Japan and abroad, CBCC has established a web site (http://www.keidanren.or.jp/CBCC/) which provides text in both Japanese and English.
CBCC was authorized as a "public interest incorporates association" and a "designated public-benefit organization". Any prospective project first needs approval by our Project Selection Committee, a panel of well-informed individuals, and the money involved must be sent from the Japanese donor through CBCC to the project for international contribution. The donor may then seek tax deduction for the funds.
As the committee meets for a screening session whenever a sufficient number of applications have been received, we welcome proposals for new project at any time. Interested parties should contact our Secretariat for details.
As of April 2012, the CBCC has approved 137 projects and contributed a total of 21 billion yen for their implementation.