REEEP

"Corporate Responsibility is about ensuring that organisations manage their businesses to make a positive impact on society and the environment whilst maximising value for their shareholders."
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby organisations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organisations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

REEEP is working within the CSR field to explain the positive impact that renewable energy and energy efficiency systems could have to an organisation's impact on society, the environment and our climate.

REEEP is working with (www.cdproject.net), an independent not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to create a lasting relationship between shareholders and corporations regarding the implications for shareholder value and commercial operations presented by climate change. Its goal is to facilitate this dialogue, supported by quality information through its Carbon Disclosure Report , so that commercial organisations make a rational response to climate change will emerge.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) leverages its data and process by making its information requests and responses from corporations publicly available, helping catalyse the activities of policymakers, consultants, accountants and marketers. It acts as a secretariat for a collaboration of over 315 institutional investors with over $41 trillion in assets under management, and recently launched its Fifth annual report based on the responses from the FT500 largest global companies, in which was revealed that FT500 companies are beginning to take renewable energy and energy efficiency seriously.

The fifth annual report provides details on the actions that FT500 companies are taking to combat climate change.  REEEP worked with CDP and sponsored two additional questions in this years report regarding the use of renewable energy and the role that energy efficiency played in corporate carbon reduction strategies.

The two questions posed by CDP found that 34% of respondents reported purchasing a portion of their energy from renewable sources.  Companies using renewable energy were primarily in carbon intensive industries (utilities/mining) or consumer facing industries such as retail and banking.

“Companies are recognizing the role that sustainable energy and energy efficiency can play in lowering dependence on carbon-based fuels”
Paul Dickinson, CDP CEO.

In the CDP5 report Anheuser-Busch replied that they operate Bio-Energy Recovery systems at ten of their breweries, where industrial wastewater is used to produce biogas that in turn is providing up to 15% of their plant’s fuel costs.

Energy efficiency was stated as both an economical and environmental method to reduce carbon emissions.  Nike response stated "we see value in reducing energy use, both from the environmental and cost-savings perspective.  We take the savings and plug them back into our efficiency efforts". Nike's experiences were echoed by 3M who have reduced energy use indexed to net sales by 27% over the past five years.

Marianne Osterkorn, International Director of the REEEP stated:
“This year’s CDP5 report is showing that companies are beginning to take seriously the role that energy efficiency and renewables can play.  We hope that more sectors embrace clean energy and energy efficiency as part of their future carbon reduction strategies.”

For further information on REEEP’s work in this area, please contact:
REEEP International Secretariat, Vienna International Centre,
Room D1732,
Wagramerstrasse 5,
A – 1400 Vienna,
Austria

Phone: +43 1 26026-3425
Fax: +43 1 21346-3425

email: info@reeep.org