The Responsible Business Summit is one of Europe’s leading corporate social responsibility (CSR) events. The conference provides a forum to explore key topics in corporate responsibility and sustainability, as well as ethics and the environment. Organised by the Ethical Corporation, the Responsible Business Summit showcases case studies and best practices that demonstrate why and how sustainability is good for business. Attracting hundreds of high-level delegates and leading companies, NGOs and academics from around the world, the summit was first held in 2002. It is organised annually in London, England.
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The Ethical Corporation
The Ethical Corporation was founded in 2001 by Toby Webb and serves approximately 3,000 customers each year. The firm provides business intelligence related to sustainability to big business, as well as NGOs, think-tanks, governments, academia and service providers in the corporate sustainability industry. The Ethical Corporation is part of FC Business Intelligence Ltd., a London-based company dedicated to ethical business and the sustainable business agenda. In addition to organising the annual Responsible Business Summit and other related events, the Ethical Corporation publishes a leading responsible business magazine and sells independent research.
The Ethical Corporations’ print magazine is published ten times a year. Each edition features independent analysis of global corporate responsibility issues. Articles are also published on the firm’s website (www.ethicalcorp.com). Articles include features on complex sustainability and industry issues, good and best practices and leadership in the sector. Each year the Ethical Corporation also produces independent research reports focused on corporate responsibility strategies are being introduced and implemented by leading companies. Recent reports have examined water use reduction strategies, the socio-economic side of impact assessments, and ways to embed corporate responsibility into business operations.
Conference Overview
The Responsible Business Summit attracts over 450 corporate Chief Executive Officers, directors and managers working in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, corporate affairs, community investment and environmental affairs. It is held during the first week of May in London. The Ethical Corporation has recently expanded and organised similar conferences in New York and Asia. The summit is also an opportunity to hear from emerging markets and showcase a global perspective on CSR issues.
In addition to presentations and keynote addresses, the conference provides participants with face-to-face networking time with stakeholders and potential clients. The Responsible Business Summit also features breakout sessions and workshops that delve into CSR solutions, which are supported by research. Topics ranging from corporate strategy, human rights management, corporate responsibility communication and measurement, supply chain performance and ethical procurement, employee engagement, climate change and environmental sustainability, NGO engagement and business-NGO partnerships, anti-corruption, embedding corporate responsibility and other issues are all explored during the conference. Exhibitors have an opportunity to display and promote products, services and initiatives with senior corporate decision makers from some of Europe’s leading brands. Sustainable brands also have the opportunity to engage with stakeholders and share information about their initiatives. The event also attracts representation from mainstream and sustainability media and press.
The 2013 Responsible Business Summit
In 2013, the two-day event attracted over 500 delegates, as well as more than 65 speakers. Attendees shared best practices and discussed current and future sustainability challenges. Speakers included keynote address by the Rt. Hon. Gregory Barker, Minister of State for Climate Change. The summit was held at the Novotel London West Hotel in West London, which also served as the venue for the 2012 edition of the Responsible Business Summit.
Other featured speakers at the conference included Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive Office of SKY, John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, and Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor of the Economist. Microsoft, HP, Unilever, Janssen, Dow, Dupont, Rio Tinto, M&S;, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, UBS, Molson Coors, BBC, BAFTA, BASF and Hyundai were some of the firms represented at the summit, which was held at the Novotel London West Hotel in West London. NGOs and academia from around the world also participated, including speakers from the European Commission, Oxfam, the Institute of Human Rights and Business, the Ethical Trading Initiative, London Business School, Cranfield University School of Management and EABIS (The Academy of Business in Society).
Contact Information
For more information about the Responsible Business Summit, contact the Ethical Corporation at 7-9 Fashion Street, London, E1 6PX, United Kingdom. Additional information about the Responsible Business Summit is also available from the conference website at www.ethicalcorp.com/rbs.
