GLOBE Marketing V.P. Nancy Wright talks about the Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) Conference she attended in San Francisco and why she's excited about GLOBE 2010.

GLOBE-Net (October 28, 2009) - "Retail companies are stepping into the light," says GLOBE Marketing V.P. Nancy Wright, recounting  her experience at the Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) Conference held in San Francisco last week.  "And it's a good time for GLOBE 2010 to offer them sessions that are relevant to them."  

Business executives, many from the IT and retail sector, attended the BSR Conference held October 20-23 in San Francisco. The conference revolved around the theme, "Reset Economy. Reset World", referring to the trio of global crises that have "reset" the world's businesses: 

(1) The sharp worldwide recession

(2) Accelerating climate change

(3) A collapse of trust in business

Yet, the atmosphere of the conference was upbeat. "The overall attitude of the participants was very positive", says Nancy Wright, who notes that green business practices are "taking a solid foothold in companies now."   

One sign of this, remarks Wright, is the increasing number of senior-level staff dedicated solely toward a company's green communication activities. For example, Wright sat next to the Green Communications Officer of a major Fortune 500 communications company.  "Sustainability communications would normally fall under the portfolio of general communications," explains Wright, "but this was a dedicated staff member."

 In a world that's been "reset" by a trio of global crises-the sharp worldwide recession, accelerating climate change, and a collapse of trust in business-the implication and opportunities for business are enormous.

The Green Role for Retail  

Wright also noticed that leaders in the retail sector are developing a much sharper vision for their role in combating climate change and business sustainability.  

"In general," says Wright (careful to cite the notable frontrunners of green retail in attendance), "retail-oriented companies have often excelled at the charity and donation side of corporate responsibility, but they haven't really seen what their role is [for sustainability]."  

Wright explains that retail firms are realizing the huge impact they have on consumer choice and consumer behavior, and more and more of them are seeing there is a crucial role to play in sustainability efforts that can forever change consumer habits and retailing as we know it.  

Get Ready for GLOBE 2010  

The Corporate Sustainability Toolkit at GLOBE 2010 has been expanded and offers newer sessions designed specifically for retail companies.  

The Corporate Sustainability Toolkit at GLOBE 2010 responds boldly to the needs of the retail industry - an industry just awaking to its sustainability role in society, and just beginning to seize the opportunities inherent in that.  

"The Corporate Sustainability Toolkit", explains Wright, "includes 'softer side' themes like human resources and how to use digital media to communicate your corporate environmental and social reports," and explores how retail firms can profit from addressing sustainability not only in their supply chain but also in other areas of management.  

Wright sees this retail-oriented segment as a great complement to the in-depth, specialized streams at GLOBE 2010 that apply directly to the details of sustainability in the energy and manufacturing industries.  

BSR Session Summaries and Video Highlights are available here. 

For more information on GLOBE 2010 (taking place on March 24-26, 2010), go to this website: http://www.globe2010.com/

Source: GLOBE-Net GLOBE Foundation of Canada

Contact Info: Frank Came, Editor
editor@globe-net.com

Website : GLOBE-Net