What is international CSR?

Companies that do business abroad are often confronted by CSR themes in different ways; cultural differences, different legislation, differences in access to infrastructure and of course differences in development level bring different challenges in every situation.

In many countries it is a reality, for example, that children work instead of going to school. Or there is poor access to clean water or energy, or a good chance that local legislation sets significantly lower consumer safety standards. As an entrepreneur you may be directly confronted by this and there is a good chance that issues of this kind will also come into play further down the line in your product chain.

Down to work

For every sector, in every country, in fact for every company the challenges that international business entails can vary greatly. CSR is not a checklist, but a way of doing business. Sustainability and social themes are recurrent in risk analyses, the development of a business plan, in purchasing, setting up or taking over a production facility and even in marketing or export activities.

Over the years general guidelines have increasingly been developed around the world, providing companies with guidance when it comes to implementing CSR in their commercial operations. Apart from guidelines there are also country analyses, thematic assessments, improvement programmes and other information meetings, both at sector level and by theme or country.

• The OECD guidelines are international basic principles for good entrepreneurship and the only CSR standard endorsed by the government. By setting up international business activities on the basis of the OECD guidelines, a business becomes more transparent and less risky, giving (potential) clients, financiers, shareholders and society confidence. Because companies with no child labour, corruption or pollution in their production: acquire financing more easily, may supply to the (Dutch) government and are demonstrably more efficient and more attractive for employees.
• The website internationaalondernemen.nl provides CSR information by country and business activity. (in Dutch)
• ISO 26000: is an international guideline for the implementation of CSR. It is a useful tool for companies wanting to implement CSR and is highly usable in an international context.
• Global Compact and IDH: are improvement programmes under which companies jointly commit themselves to embark upon particular sustainability challenges, such as the global improvement of cocoa cultivation and making it sustainable. The Global Compact self-assessment is an extensive but practical online tool on human rights, working conditions and corruption.
• ILO: The International Labour Organisation has drawn up guidelines on working conditions with governments, trade unions and companies around the world. The main ones cover abolition of child labour, discrimination, hard labour and the realisation of trade union freedom. These standards also appear in the OECD guidelines and in ISO 26000.
• GRI: is the most widely used and internationally recognised reporting guideline, which can be used as a basis for CSR reporting.

CSR navigator

Apart from these general guidelines there is also a proliferation of sector-specific or different types of guidelines. The huge quantity of programmes, quality marks and guidelines can make the choice very difficult, which is why the CSR navigator has been developed: an easy web tool that shows companies the way around the landscape of CSR guidelines.

Further information and support

The government supports CSR entrepreneurs. On this website there is information about international CSR, mainly under the themes below. Would you like to help us with the development of more knowledge or best practice? Or do you have any questions about our files? Then please do contact us.
•    Chain responsibility and international procurement
•    Working conditions
•    Bottom of the Pyramid
•    Child labour
•    Sustainable procurement
•    Product files

In the Agenda you will find all the activities that MVO Nederland and its partner network organise, for instance on CSR in an international context. (in Dutch)