CSR Online Awards Towards an international model of CSR communications Zurich 23 February 2009

Why communicate CSR? The objectives of the research are to monitor how the internet is being used to communicate CSR activities to stimulate debate about the importance of digital media as a key channel for CSR initiatives Importance of the corporate website as a “democratic” medium for disclosure of social, environmental and governance information for all stakeholders, including the financial markets Key channel for transparency and dialogue Challenge of honesty: how to communicate the results of CSR programmes without adopting the language of “greenwash”

The objectives of the research are

to monitor how the internet is being used to communicate CSR activities

to stimulate debate about the importance of digital media as a key channel for CSR initiatives

Importance of the corporate website as a “democratic” medium for disclosure of social, environmental and governance information for all stakeholders, including the financial markets

Key channel for transparency and dialogue

Challenge of honesty: how to communicate the results of CSR programmes without adopting the language of “greenwash”

CSR Online Awards 2009 Italian project extended into an international benchmarking study Protocol of criteria revised and expanded after company feedback and second survey of CSR experts and website users Study based on 76 criteria, allocating a total of 100 points About 60% of points given for website contents About 40% of points given for online presentation and navigability Timeline: January 2009 - questionnaire launched mid-February 2009 - start of evaluation of Italian websites March 2009 - start of evaluation of international websites May 2009 - publication of Italian ranking June 2009 - publication of global ranking of online CSR leaders To be announced - conference and awards ceremony

Italian project extended into an international benchmarking study

Protocol of criteria revised and expanded after company feedback and second survey of CSR experts and website users

Study based on 76 criteria, allocating a total of 100 points

About 60% of points given for website contents

About 40% of points given for online presentation and navigability

Timeline:

January 2009 - questionnaire launched

mid-February 2009 - start of evaluation of Italian websites

March 2009 - start of evaluation of international websites

May 2009 - publication of Italian ranking

June 2009 - publication of global ranking of online CSR leaders

To be announced - conference and awards ceremony

Study of global sustainability leaders Survey includes members of Dow Jones Sustainability Global 80 Index plus super-sector leaders (total 91 companies) Study dominated by companies from UK (24%) and the US (21%) but also includes corporations from Brazil, China, South Korea and from seven countries in continental Europe Swiss companies account for 8% of companies: Holcim Nestlé Novartis Roche Swiss Re UBS Zurich Financial

Survey includes members of Dow Jones Sustainability Global 80 Index plus super-sector leaders (total 91 companies)

Study dominated by companies from UK (24%) and the US (21%) but also includes corporations from Brazil, China, South Korea and from seven countries in continental Europe

Swiss companies account for 8% of companies:

Holcim

Nestlé

Novartis

Roche

Swiss Re

UBS

Zurich Financial

Distribution of criteria

Preliminary questionnaire results

Preliminary survey results (cont’d)

Preliminary survey results (cont’d)

Thank you. Please don’t print this document unless you really need to. Contact: James Osborne [email_address]