CSR News Stories
Netherlands: Trafigura guilty of exporting toxic waste
Trafigura illegally exported toxic waste from Amsterdam, according to the findings of a Dutch court. The company transported the waste to the Ivory Coast where it injured thousands of local people in 2006.
Kazakhstan: Philip Morris suppliers used child and forced labour
A new report by Human Rights Watch has said that tobacco bought by Philip Morris International from Kazakhstan included farms that used workers that had been coerced into labour, along with child labour.
US: Nestle to drop 'deceptive' health claims
Nestle have said they will drop adverts that were described by the Federal Trade Commission as deceptive. The company's drink Boost Kid Essentials was sold in some ads on its ability to stop children catching colds and missing school.
China: Hang Seng launches corporate sustainability index
Hang Seng Indexes has become the latest to launch a series of sustainability indices, covering Hong Kong and Chinese companies. The aims of the index series is to "further raise awareness about corporate sustainability" as well as to meet international demand for socially responsible investment in Chinese companies.
Monsanto GM seed ban is overturned by US Supreme Court
The bio-tech company Monsanto can sell genetically modified seeds before safety tests on them are completed, the US Supreme Court has ruled.
Bhopal trial: Eight convicted over India gas disaster
A court in the Indian city of Bhopal has sentenced eight people to two years each in jail over a gas plant leak that killed thousands of people in 1984. The convictions are the first since the disaster at the Union Carbide plant - the world's worst industrial accident.
Nestle announces NGO partnership to verify palm oil
Nestle has said that it will work with the Forest Trust to review its palm oil supply chain to ensure it is not associated with illegal rainforest and peatland clearance. The move follows a vigorous campaign against the company by NGO Greenpeace.
Macmillan faces World Bank ban over Sudan payments
A British publisher is facing a six-year ban from taking up any contracts financed by the World Bank. The move comes after Macmillan admitted making "bribery payments" to secure a deal to print textbooks in South Sudan, the World Bank said.
Mining giant BHP Billiton admits it may have bribed foreign officials
The world's biggest miner admitted yesterday that it had uncovered possible corruption involving the bribery of foreign government officials at some of its exploration projects.
Foreign firms pledge not to give bribes in Russia
Dozens of international firms doing business in Russia have pledged not to offer bribes, in a move aimed at fighting corruption collectively.
UK: 'Unlawful' tobacco pricing leads to 225m pound fine by OFT
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has fined two tobacco companies and nine retailers a total of 225m pounds for "unlawful" tobacco pricing practices.
Daimler agrees to pay $185m after admitting bribery
German carmaker Daimler has pleaded guilty to corruption in the US and will pay $185m to settle the case. The charges relate to US Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission investigations into the company's global sales practices.
US oil company donated millions to climate sceptic groups, says Greenpeace
A Greenpeace investigation has identified a little-known, privately owned US oil company as the paymaster of global warming sceptics in the US and Europe.
EU firms 'exporting torture equipment', Amnesty says
Euro MPs have heard claims that EU companies are exporting equipment used for torture despite legislation aimed at preventing such trade.
Rio Tinto workers get China trial date
China has set a trial date for four Rio Tinto employees charged with bribery and violating commercial secrets, the Australian government has said.
India Cites Violations at Vedanta Mine Project
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd.'s operations in Orissa state could suffer a setback after a government team said the company, a unit of mining giant Vedanta Resources PLC, violated environmental guidelines at its planned mining site in the Niyamgiri Hills.
UK unions and lawmakers criticize Kraft CEO
British union leaders and lawmakers lashed out at Kraft Inc. Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld for failing to appear before an inquiry on the U.S. company's takeover of British confectioner Cadbury on Tuesday. The Unite union also criticized Rosenfeld for failing to meet directly with workers at Cadbury sites across the country to reassure them about the company's plans after it backtracked on a promise to keep open a local factory.
China: End in sight for Google's Chinese portal as tensions escalate
Google has drawn up detailed plans for the closure of its China-based search engine service and is reportedly certain to follow them through, as negotiations with the Chinese government have reached an impasse.
China: Row over World Cup sweatshop accusations
Shanghai Fashion Plastic Products has protested after it had its contract withdrawn for work being carried out in relation to the 2010 football World Cup, to be held in South Africa. The company has denied accusations that it exploited workers making the mascot for the games.
US: GlaxoSmithKline could face $6bn risk over diabetes drug Avandia
Following biting criticism of its conduct by the Senate finance committee, GlaxoSmithKline is facing a possible flood of lawsuits - as many as 13,000 - with a potential combined liability of $6bn.
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Values carved in stone
While TV documentaries focus on children working in textiles, an altogether tougher, more difficult issue gets little attention. Watch this - and you'll never buy paving for your patio or driveway without asking a few questions first.
Interviews
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Leo Martin gives some plain speaking on a range of issues relating to responsible business, with some lessons that are both insightful and provocative.
Currently most popular articles
Daimler agrees to pay $185m after admitting bribery (5 Apr 2010)
In defence of Tony Hayward (12 Jul 2010)
Marks & Spencer - how do its new promises shape up? (12 Mar 2010)
Spotting responsible companies - blink and you might miss it (10 May 2010)
Netherlands: Trafigura guilty of exporting toxic waste (23 Jul 2010)
