Social & Community
Community Contributions
IntentCorporations are important members of society, whose actions and activities are tremendously influential on the communities and regions in which they reside. Socially responsible companies assume an active and integral role in the welfare and sustainability of local communities, often contributing through community development, employee and consumer education, sponsorship of local events, providing emergency relief and even development and maintenance of key infrastructure. However, many companies are either unable or unwilling to take responsibility for the affects of their actions, or in the extreme, intentionally site operations to exploit under-represented or impoverished communities to make a profit. This category evaluates and rewards the positive actions and affects of a corporation’s operational and social activities in affected communities throughout the product life-cycle.
IdealA product and its source materials are harvested, extracted, or manufactured exclusively by socially responsible companies that actively contribute to the overall welfare and sustainability of affected communities.
Key MetricsParticipation in community organizations (e.g. BBB, Lions Club), Donations to local community efforts (e.g. preservation society), development and support of local infrastructure (hospitals, roads, libraries), sponsorship of local environmental, human health, or social-based organizations, participation in educational and training programs, etc. Sponsorship of local educational events (e.g. earthfest); Community reinvestment fund; siting criteria that accounts of fenceline community impacts; adoption of environmental justice principles; participation in social service programs; company’s contribution to the local tax pool; compensation to the local community for use of local resources. |
