Aligning corporate social responsibility efforts

Corporate social responsibility is an issue that Maltese companies have been addressing since a long time.

However, there is still a pressing need for transformative and innovative economic and societal changes in order to include those too many who remained for too long excluded, to face climate issues, resources depletion, financial budgets’ pressure and the demographic changes.

These all require a more collaborative and innovative approach – grounded within a sense of citizenship of people and institutions. This requires the real involvement of companies, governments, civil society, investors and other stakeholders to step up their individual and collective efforts.

As the driving force behind economic growth, businesses – from small enterprises to multinationals – are uniquely positioned to help establish a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable society. Many business champ-ions have already developed circular business models leading to new opportunities and market leadership. However, a transformative change requires all companies to further integrate environmental, social, ethical and good governance approaches into their strategies and to focus on creating shared value. This is the true contribution of corporate responsibility to a sustainable world.

With these concerns in mind, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has stimulated and supported the creation of a collaborative mechanism to involve associations, enterprises and civil society, as well as any parties interested in CSR and sustainable development.

In this context, a task force involving employers’ institutions, civil society organisations and individual companies – with the support of the Presidency – has brought to life the Core Platform (corporate citizenship of responsible enterprises) to be launched on Thursday.

This will comprise an international conference and two workshops addressed to companies and other interested institutions.

The platform has the form of an association administered by an executive committee (chaired by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the secretary from the GRTU) with no political or union affiliation. It is non-profit making, voluntary and open.

The task force has been in close contact with CSR Europe, the European organisation that represents 42 country CSR organisations and more than 10,000 companies. The affiliation to CSR Europe was submitted and representatives of the organisation will be participating at the launch.

This initiative had the support of the European Commission, represented by a director general and the team leader of the CSR task force. Moreover, GRACE, the Portuguese association member of CSR Europe, will also take part.

The main purposes of the Core Platform are: to promote the concept of corporate citizenship and CSR by supporting debate, awareness, dissemination and activities developed by members and other parties; to promote exchange and mutual learning among members and associates, promoting a forum of discussion and exchange of good practices; to provide services to members and associates in the areas related to the objectives of the association; and to develop and organise CSR awards and promote events for their distribution.