The Future of Corporate Responsibility Codes, Standards, and Frameworks

An array of codes, standards, guidelines and frameworks are available to guide companies in integrating corporate responsibility into their business strategies and management processes. Their purpose is to drive the performance of companies in line with the goals of sustainable development. Executives no longer wonder whether to use such tools; they wonder about which ones to use, and in what combination.

This April 2005 executive briefing, co-authored by the Global Reporting Initiative and AccountAbility, is designed to demystify the confusion surrounding the various tools on offer to companies wishing to systematically address corporate responsibility as part of their business strategy. It provides a map of the relationship between the diverse tools and offers a perspective on how they might evolve and converge in the future.