Laboratory
In March 2006, the European Alliance for CSR was launched by the European Commission and leading companies in Europe, in support to the Growth and Jobs Strategy. 260 companies and business organisations now support this initiative. One key way in which to bring the Alliance to life is through CSR Laboratories: action oriented working groups led by companies, with representation from stakeholders, including the European Commission.
Laboratories address key socio-economic challenges in Europe and beyond. On 29 November 2007, at the occasion of the European MarketPlace on CSR, a stakeholder panel awarded 4 Laboratories, including the Laboratory on Responsible Supply Chain Management. This Laboratory is led by HP, Volkswagen, Titan and L’Oréal, co-facilitated by CSR Europe and the Business Social Compliance Initiative. Participants of the Laboratory include large and small companies, NGOs, national and European policy makers and business networks. The Laboratory aims to raise awareness and build capabilities of suppliers, buyers and other practitioners with a stake in responsible supply chain management.
The Responsible Supply Chain Laboratory does not mean to develop a top down standard for suppliers to comply with, but instead aims provide practitioners from large and small companies with practical information and materials to enhance their ownership and capabilities in the area of Sustainable Development and CSR, both within their company and among their suppliers. In doing so, the Laboratory cooperates with local, national and international partners.
