ABSTRACT
Sectoral and regional agreements are able to forge partnerships and networks that can build trust and awareness. Such agreements can serve to deepen the under standing of how particular issues in corporate responsibility affect a specific group of companies. Sectoral agreements can spawn organisations, such as the Marine Stewardship Council in the fisheries sector and the Forest Stewardship Council in the timber industry. As a multi-stakeholder organisation, the Forest Stewardship Council includes a wide range of views, from the timber trade to non-governmental organisations representing environmental and social concerns, indigenous peoples and certifiers. Sectoral and regional agreements can be forged in any industry and within any region. Global principles and guidelines will require more specific guidelines along sectoral lines. The Global Reporting Initiative and Social Accountability 8000 are among the many global and multisectoral initiatives that are developing sectoral supplements. Sectoral agreements may be less transparent than tools developed by non-governmental organisations or multilateral organisations.
