How to better implement SR into SMEs
* How ISO 26000 could serve as a catalysis of such implementation
* Development of a practical guidance and trainings for SMEs to implement ISO 26000
* Partnership: several partners of the PREPARE Network

Regarding dissemination of interesting news and materials, please send your contents (links, reports etc.) to daniel@prepare.dk. These will following be disseminated through news-blog and newsletter.

Structure and methodology

# To improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of VET in Europe, improving global competitiveness of European corporate sector. The web based platform and trainings will enable the corporate management to continually assess and improve their performance towards sustainable development.
# To encourage and improve contribution to society. Services offered to society, including various sectors and policy makers’ strategic needs are to be improved with the trainings.
# To foster the creation of European corporate area by means of increased communication and mutual understanding. The networks developed during the project will build links between various institution and sectors (higher education, consultancy, corporate, etc.), working towards a common European area
# To stimulate better corporate performance and improve the visibility of their activities focused on services to society and environment. The networks, materials and conference arranged by the project will serve to promote sustainable development.

Work planning and timetable

See calendar for coming and previuos meetings.

Minutes from partnership meetings are available under each specific calendar point.

Outputs

WP 1 – Project management
Project management is here intended as planning, monitoring and control of all aspects of a project and the motivation of all those involved in it to achieve the project objectives on time and to the specified cost, quality and
Lead partner: Slovenia

WP 2 – Dissemination
The aim of the WP 2 is to ensure that at “the end of the day” the SR toolbox is widely applied by in Europe, especially by SME’s. This ambition requires clever planning and communication. This WP will identify all potential stakeholders that might have an interest in using the outcome of the project, both from a top-down (originations, institutions etc) and from-bottom up perspective (local communities, business and learning institutions).
Lead partner: Denmark

WP 3 – Situation analysis
The situation analysis will be used to inform the development of the project training materials, ensuring high quality, relevance and appropriateness, as well as a source of information of the state of the art development of social responsibility that will be made available to a wide spectrum of stakeholders through dissemination activities.
Lead partner: Spain (Prospektiker)

WP 4 – Development of a Web based learning platform on SR tools: ISO 26000
The goal of WP4 is to develop an easy to maintain and easy to adjust internet platform for trainers and training participants to support the attendance training by providing additional materials for self study, exercises and case studies (fostering the use of modern communication and training opportunities).

The Learning Platform is online and fully operational.
Lead partner: Austria

WP 5 – Piloting and adaptation
The main objective of this work package is to provide successful training to the stakeholders, so they will be able to implement ISO 26000. Success means that not only the demo project within CSI EU is completed, but also internal competences are built for future, contributing to the ISO standards realization in the companies.
Lead partner: Bulgaria

WP 6 – Quality and Evaluation Plan
The Quality and Evaluation Plan within the project has the objective of establishing an internal operational framework, which will allow maximum flexibility while maintaining a clear distinction of roles and responsibilities of all partners involved. These two requirements, flexibility and clear distinction of roles, constitute in effect the Quality Function of the project, linked within the Project Management activities.
Lead partner: Slovenia

Lead partner

Slovenia – University of Maribor

Other partners

Austria – STENUM
Bulgaria – SERC
Denmark – AAU

Lithuania – Apini, Kaunas University of Technology

Poland – ATMOTERM S.A.

Spain – PROSPEKTIKER

Spain – CIRCE

Click here for access to internal project website. Please note: For partners only

Financing

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The post CSI EU appeared first on Prepare Net - A network of experts in sustainable consumption and production.

The European Commission’s decision to ditch the Circular Economy package of waste, recycling and incineration laws, was confirmed, despite the objections of the EU Parliament and national environment ministers. Legal procedures to officially dump the legislation should be completed in the next couple of months, the Commission told EurActiv.

The final decision has been taken and nothing could be foreseen that would change the executive’s mind at this stage, EU sources said.

The confirmation came after Karl Falkenberg, the Commission’s Director-General for the environment, told MEPs at a Parliament committee meeting that the formal decision would take place in February.

The Circular Economy package was intended to increase recycling levels and tighten rules on incineration and landfill. It consists of six bills on waste, packaging, landfill, end of life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, and electronic equipment waste.

Full article

The post Circular Economy package will be ditched and re-tabled, despite protests appeared first on Prepare Net - A network of experts in sustainable consumption and production.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launches the Reporting 2025 project aimed at promoting an international discussion about the future of sustainability reporting and disclosures.

Over the course of the next year GRI will interview thought leaders, from various fields, to identify the main issues that will be – or should be – at the center of companies’ agendas and their public reports. Throughout 2015, GRI will generate articles, videos, analysis papers and publish them on the GRI website.

“As the practice of reporting continues to mature, it’s crucial that we make sure our activities are leading to a sustainable global economy”, said GRI’s Chief Executive Michael Meehan, “This means that organizations must do more than merely produce a sustainability report. The data collected needs to empower informed decision-making, not just for management but also for other stakeholders. Reporting 2025 will examine how best to bring this about.”

GRI’s Chief Advisor on Innovation in Reporting, Nelmara Arbex, is leading the Reporting 2025 project. Nelmara has worked in corporate sustainability for 14 years and in her previous role as GRI’s Deputy Chief Executive, she supervised the development of the G4 Guidelines, which involved thousands of stakeholders in more than 30 countries. Speaking about her new role Nelmara said: “The GRI Guidelines have evolved over the past two decades as societal expectations of business transparency and good stewardship have developed. During the Reporting 2025 project, I will be speaking with top executives and thought leaders to map out what the sustainability reporting landscape will look like ten years from now.”

In sign of their commitment to helping bring about a more sustainable future, Boston College – Center for Corporate Citizenship, Enel and SAP are global sponsors, working with GRI to facilitate this international discussion.

Additionally, other businesses, that are ready to take the lead in defining the future of sustainability reporting and disclosures, can also take part in the project as part of the GRI Corporate Leadership Group on Reporting 2025. “The Corporate Leadership Group will allow top companies to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of reporting.” said GRI Director Corporate and Stakeholder Relations, Nikki McKean-Wood. “Members of this group will be able to profile their organizations at the center of the global discussion about how to create a more sustainable future.”

Reporting 2025 project website

Original article

The post GRI convenes international discussion on the future of sustainability reporting appeared first on Prepare Net - A network of experts in sustainable consumption and production.