Corporate Responsibility 2009
CEO Survey results - Sustainability
Which of these sustainability or “green” principles has your company adopted in recent years? | |||
2008 | 2007 | Change from 2007 (% pts.) |
|
Energy efficiency | 77% | 62% | +15.2 |
Waste reduction | 65 | 47 | +18.3 |
Water conservation | 50 | 24 | +26.4 |
Green building | 35 | 22 | +12.6 |
Living wages | 23 | 14 | +9.1 |
Green fleet management | 16 | 12 | +4.5 |
Other | 8 | 7 | +1.3 |
None of these | 10 | 21 | -10.6 |
Don’t know | 2 | 5 | -2.8 |
Brian Keenan
Fifth Third Bank
Affiliate President
Tampa Bay
Being green saves money for the company, employees and customers. We don’t have many backroom jobs, so there’s not much opportunity for telecommuting. But we’ve definitely become more conscious of hiring people to work near where they live. We’re building a LEED-certified bank in Sarasota, and our financial centers are on efficiency timers for AC and lighting. We’re conserving paper and encouraging customers to choose electronic banking and e-mail for their statements. Community outreach is part of our brand, too. In our three years in Tampa, we’ve given out $850,000 in cash to 178 organizations in just the four-county area. Several drivers help determine which organizations we support. Employees make recommendations. Or it may be a customer relationship. Or we may simply see an organization doing good things. Being involved in the community at the leadership level is part of the deal when you join our bank. It’s good to give back; it’s also good for business. People want to build relationships and network within organizations that support their community.
CEO Survey results - Philanthropy
How much does your organization plan to donate to charity or philanthropic endeavors in 2009 compared with 2008? | |||
2008 | 2007 | Change from 2007 (% pts.) |
|
More | 20% | 23% | -2.5 |
Less | 19 | 8 | +11.3 |
About the same | 61 | 67 | -6.4 |
Don’t know/not sure | 0 | 2 | -2.4 |
Steven Sonberg
Holland & Knight
Managing Partner
Miami
Being green is extremely important to us in terms of our internal workings as well as the kind of work we do for our clients. We have a focus on sustainability in all offices. For example, 383 tons of paper are recycled each year. We recycle printer cartridges and buy recycled cartridges, use 30% post-consumer paper and sell or donate old furniture instead of discarding it. We also use paperless court and agency filing procedures. In addition, we approach social responsibility in four areas: diversity in our workforce, community service, helping people gain access to the justice system and contributions to the community. [The firm supports two internal initiatives; Opening Doors for Children, which calls for teaching and mentoring students in the community, and its Holocaust Remembrance Project.] Community service is not a mandate, but it’s tracked and lawyers report it. It’s evaluated for compensation and advancement.