In the shifting sands of global business, reputation is a core value. Many companies grapple with the fragile balance between growth and responsibility, revenue and sustainability, achieving targets and sound governance. Today, more often than not, companies believe that being a good corporate citizen is paramount to achieving a successful business model and that corporate social responsibility is a critical business driver that cannot be ignored. The poll results on this page shed light on corporate social responsibility in the C-suites across America and the metamorphosis in thinking that has taken place by executives over the past decade.
Social Responsibility: Most People Have Good Intentions but Only a Small Minority Really Practice What They Preach
Only Eight Percent are Extremely Involved in Giving Time or Money
It is easy to point the finger and say corporations should be more socially responsible, but when it comes to individual social responsibility, according to a Harris Poll, two-thirds of U.S. adults report that they have "Good Intentions", that they believe social responsibility is a good idea and they do what they can in terms of volunteering, but they do not sacrifice huge amounts of time or money. At the top end of the spectrum, eight percent of U.S. adults "Practice What They Preach" and for this group, individual, as well as corporate social responsibility is extremely important. One-quarter of U.S. adults, however, follow a philosophy of "To Thine Own Self Be True" and, for this group, social responsibility has little consequence in their lives.
These are just some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,383 U.S. adults conducted online between May 8 and 14, 2007 by Harris Interactive. Read More>
Poll Findings: Corp. Communicators Would Increase CSR
Ragan Communications and Pollstream just released a poll that finds that corporate communicators want their companies to engage in more corporate social responsibility (CSR); they just can’t come up with a good business reason why or decide who should drive it.
This follows an earlier poll from IBM and covered in this space, that reported that corporate executives want to see more CSR, too, and were devoting resources to it. Read More>
Readers' poll: Sustainability is a poor third - CSR still rules the roost in terminology
While we all hate three letter acronyms, it seems corporate social responsibility is way ahead of the term “sustainability” in a recent extended EthicalCorp.com reader poll of over 1000 international readers
For some years this magazine has suggested two things around terminology. First, that CSR as a term is too throw away, not serious sounding enough for sceptics, (and is also the name of an Australian sugar company that’s probably had more attention from activists that its management deserved). Read More>
Reputation - May 6, 2009 World's Most Reputable Companies: The Rankings Reputation Institute's annual survey rated 600 companies. Here's who made the top 200
Global Pulse Score
Company
Country
Industry
Rank
Pulse
One-Year Change
Ferrero
Italy
Consumer Products
1
85.17
1.64
Ikea
Sweden
General Retail
2
83.98
-0.16
Johnson & Johnson
United States
Consumer Products
3
83.58
0.10
Petrobras
Brazil
Energy
4
82.37
2.40
Sadia
Brazil
Food Manufacturing
5
82.06
New
Nintendo
Japan
Computer
6
81.63
New
Christian Dior
France
Consumer Products
7
81.37
New
Kraft Foods
United States
Food Manufacturing
8
81.09
-1.70
Mercadona
Spain
Food Retail
9
80.99
2.09
Singapore Airlines
Singapore
Airlines & Aerospace
10
80.97
New
Tata
India
Conglomerate
11
80.89
-1.95
UPS
United States
Transport & Logistics
12
80.84
-0.21
General Mills
United States
Food Manufacturing
13
80.80
-0.54
El Corte Inglés
Spain
General Retail
14
80.80
0.80
Matsushita Electric Industrial
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
15
80.31
1.43
FedEx
United States
Transport & Logistics
16
80.30
4.01
Grupo Bimbo
Mexico
Food Manufacturing
17
80.22
-1.53
Honda Motor
Japan
Automotive
18
79.86
2.07
Whirlpool
United States
Consumer Products
19
79.86
5.45
Votorantim
Brazil
Conglomerate
20
79.59
3.49
Walt Disney Company
United States
Information & Media
21
79.44
-1.78
China Faw
China
Automotive
22
79.35
1.74
Google
United States
Information & Media
23
78.80
-6.44
China Merchants Bank
China
Banking
24
78.72
New
Caterpillar
United States
Industrial Products
25
78.69
3.91
Costco Wholesale
United States
General Retail
26
78.53
4.20
Sberbank
Russia
Banking
27
78.26
2.70
Vale
Brazil
Raw Materials
28
78.18
0.80
State Bank of India
India
Banking
29
78.11
5.71
Microsoft
United States
Computer
30
78.05
7.53
A.P. Møller-Maersk
Denmark
Transport & Logistics
31
78.04
0.69
3M
United States
Industrial Products
32
77.88
-1.90
Philips
the Netherlands
Electrical & Electronics
33
77.85
-0.87
Haier
China
Electrical & Electronics
34
77.80
-3.39
Siam Cement
Thailand
Industrial Products
35
77.78
New
Colgate-Palmolive
United States
Consumer Products
36
77.65
-0.38
Will-Bill-Dann Foods
Russia
Food Manufacturing
37
77.51
New
Kimberly-Clark
United States
Consumer Products
38
77.47
New
Infosys Technologies
India
Computer
39
77.45
-3.73
Raiffeisen Group
Switzerland
Banking
40
77.37
New
Sharp
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
41
77.29
-3.15
William Morrison Supermarkets
United Kingdom
Food Retail
42
77.16
2.84
POSCO
South Korea
Raw Materials
43
77.11
New
Procter & Gamble
United States
Consumer Products
44
77.08
4.23
Nokia
Finland
Electrical & Electronics
45
76.75
7.72
PepsiCo
United States
Beverage
46
76.69
3.94
Larsen & Toubro
India
Construction/Engineering
47
76.58
New
Sainsbury
United Kingdom
Food Retail
48
76.43
2.36
Maruti Udyog
India
Automotive
49
76.26
1.88
General Electric
United States
Conglomerate
50
76.20
-0.63
LG Electronics
South Korea
Electrical & Electronics
51
76.19
6.67
Apple
United States
Computer
52
76.15
0.73
Deutsche Lufthansa
Germany
Airlines & Aerospace
53
75.96
0.77
Kroger
United States
Food Retail
54
75.89
5.93
Amazon.com
United States
General Retail
55
75.74
New
LVMH Group
France
Consumer Products
56
75.67
New
Delhaize
Belgium
Food Retail
57
75.64
New
FEMSA
Mexico
Beverage
58
75.62
7.93
Toyota
Japan
Automotive
59
75.60
-10.93
Inditex
Spain
General Retail
60
75.36
-0.19
Lowe's
United States
General Retail
61
75.33
3.57
L'Oreal
France
Consumer Products
62
75.26
-0.43
Gerdau
Brazil
Raw Materials
63
75.14
-4.11
Bridgestone
Japan
Automotive
64
75.09
-3.00
Berkshire Hathaway
United States
Diversified Financials
65
75.03
1.44
Volkswagen
Germany
Automotive
66
75.03
5.38
Publix Super Markets
United States
Food Retail
67
75.02
0.11
Lukoil
Russia
Energy
68
75.01
-2.48
Hindustan Unilever
India
Consumer Products
69
74.99
3.86
Michelin
France
Automotive
70
74.98
-0.36
Kamaz
Russia
Automotive
71
74.86
New
EDF
France
Utilities
72
74.83
5.32
Texas Instruments
United States
Computer
73
74.70
-2.52
Samsung Electronics
South Korea
Electrical & Electronics
74
74.63
6.29
Haci Omer Sabanci Holding
Turkey
Diversified Financials
75
74.62
New
Hewlett-Packard
United States
Computer
76
74.59
-0.51
John Deere
United States
Industrial Products
77
74.47
-1.66
Kohl's
United States
General Retail
78
74.37
5.06
Coca-Cola Company
United States
Beverage
79
74.33
0.09
Seven & I Holdings
Japan
Food Retail
80
74.32
-0.24
SAB Miller
United Kingdom
Beverage
81
74.25
7.13
Hitachi
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
82
74.24
1.86
Air France-KLM
France
Airlines & Aerospace
83
74.23
9.34
Usiminas
Brazil
Raw Materials
84
74.10
-3.65
Meijer
United States
General Retail
85
74.05
6.67
Wuliangye Group
China
Beverage
86
73.96
New
Kirin Holdings Company
Japan
Beverage
87
73.90
New
Xerox
United States
Industrial Products
88
73.82
-4.62
VTB Bank
Russia
Banking
89
73.75
New
Pirelli
Italy
Automotive
90
73.71
-0.18
BHP Billiton
United Kingdom
Raw Materials
91
73.69
New
JC Penney
United States
General Retail
92
73.68
3.77
Unilever
United Kingdom
Consumer Products
93
73.60
2.32
LALA
Mexico
Food Manufacturing
94
73.52
New
ITC Limited
India
Conglomerate
95
73.50
10.13
Gazprom
Russia
Energy
96
73.45
-2.54
Goodyear
United States
Automotive
97
73.45
-2.55
Cisco
United States
Computer
98
73.44
5.69
Grupo Modelo
Mexico
Beverage
99
73.36
1.15
Bombardier
Canada
Airlines & Aerospace
100
73.36
1.78
Legend Holdings
China
Conglomerate
101
73.35
New
Canara Bank
India
Banking
102
73.34
New
MTS
Russia
Telecommunications
103
73.31
New
IBM
United States
Computer
104
73.25
0.86
Peugeot
France
Automotive
105
73.23
0.91
Dell
United States
Computer
106
73.22
-1.04
Cemex
Mexico
Industrial Products
107
73.17
1.42
GlaxoSmithKline
United Kingdom
Pharmaceuticals
108
73.16
8.02
Voestalpine
Austria
Raw Materials
109
73.14
New
Robert Bosch
Germany
Electrical & Electronics
110
73.11
-6.11
Hindustan Petroleum
India
Energy
111
73.08
New
Indian Oil
India
Energy
112
73.01
5.01
Pão de Açúcar
Brazil
Food Retail
113
72.94
1.85
Formosa Petrochemi
Taiwan
Energy
114
72.91
New
ALDI
Germany
Food Retail
115
72.84
-2.88
Wipro
India
Computer
116
72.77
6.56
Eni
Italy
Energy
117
72.75
9.84
Shanghai Automobile Industry Group
China
Automotive
118
72.72
8.96
Best Buy
United States
General Retail
119
72.44
0.37
Coop
Italy
Food Retail
120
72.39
-0.83
Severstal
Russia
Raw Materials
121
72.29
5.25
Tesco
United Kingdom
Food Retail
122
72.29
2.26
Toys 'R' Us
United States
General Retail
123
72.27
-0.59
Banco do Brasil
Brazil
Banking
124
72.26
2.84
Volvo bilar
Sweden
Automotive
125
72.24
-6.33
Sony
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
126
72.21
-5.78
Walgreen
United States
General Retail
127
72.21
-0.80
Weyhaeuser
United States
Raw Materials
128
72.19
New
Bank of Communications
China
Banking
129
72.17
5.16
Medtronic
United States
Services
130
72.17
New
Vimpel Communications
Russia
Telecommunications
131
72.05
New
Reliance Group
India
Conglomerate
132
72.03
10.74
Denso
Japan
Automotive
133
71.78
0.74
StatoilHydro
Norway
Energy
134
71.75
New
Target
United States
General Retail
135
71.74
4.36
Rosneft
Russia
Energy
136
71.72
0.68
Mahindra & Mahindra
India
Automotive
137
71.61
3.16
Baltika
Russia
Beverage
138
71.52
New
Union Pacific Railroad
United States
Transport & Logistics
139
71.40
4.10
Fujifilm
Japan
Consumer Products
140
71.39
-4.12
AstraZeneca
United Kingdom
Pharmaceuticals
141
71.39
5.63
Charoen Pokphand Group
Thailand
Conglomerate
142
71.37
New
Unilever
the Netherlands
Consumer Products
143
71.34
0.97
Wilmar International
China
Food Manufacturing
144
71.33
New
CRH
Ireland
Industrial Products
145
71.28
New
Ahold
the Netherlands
Food Retail
146
71.27
1.34
ICBC
China
Banking
147
71.26
16.38
Norilsk Nickel
Russia
Raw Materials
148
71.24
-1.83
Home Depot
United States
General Retail
149
71.06
-0.43
Galanz
China
Electrical & Electronics
150
71.05
New
China Construction Bank
China
Banking
151
71.04
2.46
Grupo Maseca
Mexico
Food Manufacturing
152
70.89
New
Uni-President Enterprise Co.
Taiwan
Food Manufacturing
153
70.87
New
Nestlé
Switzerland
Food Manufacturing
154
70.84
-4.94
Wolseley
United Kingdom
Industrial Products
155
70.72
New
Dongfeng Motor
China
Automotive
156
70.66
2.55
Intel
United States
Computer
157
70.53
-4.40
Tukiye Is Bankasi
Turkey
Diversified Financials
158
70.51
New
Bosideng
China
Consumer Products
159
70.50
New
DuPont
United States
Chemicals
160
70.46
New
Staples
United States
General Retail
161
70.40
-1.61
KDDI
Japan
Telecommunications
162
70.35
0.21
Bharti Airtel .
India
Telecommunications
163
70.32
2.86
Office Depot
United States
General Retail
164
70.29
-2.30
Royal Bank of Canada
Canada
Banking
165
70.26
6.00
George Weston Limited
Canada
Food Manufacturing
166
70.25
5.27
Aflac
United States
Insurance
167
70.15
-1.44
Motorola
United States
Electrical & Electronics
168
70.01
0.81
Acer
Taiwan
Computer
169
70.00
New
Mapfre
Spain
Insurance
170
69.97
1.18
COFCO
China
Food Manufacturing
171
69.88
4.66
Rite Aid
United States
General Retail
172
69.85
3.93
Boeing
United States
Airlines & Aerospace
173
69.84
-4.54
Bank of Baroda
India
Banking
174
69.81
New
Bharat Petroleum
India
Energy
175
69.79
New
Nike
United States
Consumer Products
176
69.69
-1.78
Punjab National Bank
India
Banking
177
69.67
New
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
China
Banking
178
69.65
New
Youngor
China
General Retail
179
69.60
New
CSN
Brazil
Raw Materials
180
69.56
-5.08
Midea Group
China
Electrical & Electronics
181
69.54
0.94
Kookmin Bank
South Korea
Banking
182
69.54
New
CITIC
China
Conglomerate
183
69.47
New
Garanti Bank
Turkey
Banking
184
69.47
New
Sears
United States
General Retail
185
69.45
7.66
Vodafone-Panafon
United Kingdom
Telecommunications
186
69.45
3.76
Abbott Laboratories
United States
Pharmaceuticals
187
69.40
7.14
PTT
Thailand
Energy
188
69.38
New
China Southern Airline
China
Airlines & Aerospace
189
69.36
4.00
Toshiba
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
190
69.28
3.41
State Farm Insurance
United States
Insurance
191
69.21
2.34
Woolworths
Australia
General Retail
192
69.05
5.27
Canon
Japan
Electrical & Electronics
193
69.08
-8.99
Bank of China
China
Banking
194
69.07
6.45
Ford Otomotiv Sanayi
Turkey
Automotive
195
69.05
New
Toronto-Dominion Bank
Canada
Banking
196
68.99
4.76
Embraer
Brazil
Airlines & Aerospace
197
68.96
New
New Hope Group
China
Raw Materials
198
68.94
New
Koch USA
United States
Conglomerate
199
68.90
8.41
Surgutneftegas
Russia
Energy
200
68.89
-1.46
Pulse scores are standardized at both the country and global levels.
