ABSTRACT

The 'business case', or financial rationale, for companies to be more responsible to our planet and its inhabitants has been essential for any proponent of corporate responsibility, be they consultant, activist, academic or manager. The business case is comprised of factors such as corporate reputation, consumer confidence and government relations, among others. In the Northern summer of 2002 the business case became a little frayed around the edges. In an article for the Public Affairs Newsletter, Alexander Evans of the Institute for Public Policy Research questioned why, if consumers are so green, sport utility vehicles have been the top-selling product line in the US. In July 2002 The Copenhagen Centre produced a report focusing on issue of diversity and ethnic minority integration in the European workplace. The report, 'Ethnic Minority Employment through Partnership', looked at some European countries and identified how new public–private partnerships are helping employ greater numbers of ethnic minorities.