ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the proceeding chapters of this book. The book explores the 'space between' the various sectors, the fertile ground in which convergence can germinate. The corporate responsibility (CR) movement faces a struggle between the need for convergence among standards and the need to promote innovation. If the 1990s were the age of codes of conduct, the first decade of the 21st century has become the age of convergence. The convergence debate can open up items that have already been debated and decided, causing a need to revisit politically sensitive issues. Procedural convergence refers to the convergence of processes such as reporting, external verification and accreditation. Procedural convergence is a key goal in order to increase the transparency of CR initiatives. There are several initiatives working towards procedural convergence. The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance is working on a common methodology for social and environmental accreditation procedures.
