Belgian CSR Platform

Participation and cooperation are keywords in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development. Business & Society Belgium has taken the initiative to unite eight leading Belgian CSR networks in one ‘Belgian CSR Platform'. The platform was launched on Thursday 28 October at the ‘Enterprise 2020' marketplace organised by CSR Europe.

To achieve sustainable development, all organisations have to consider the social responsibility of their decisions and actions. All efforts to achieve a more sustainable development are equally important and complementary. Individual initiatives are reinforced by partnerships and cooperation between different actors, public and private, profit and non profit. The creation of a Belgian CSR platform, with the support of Paul Magnette Minister for Climate and Energy, is an important milestone towards further cooperation. The eight partner organisations of the ‘Belgian CSR Platform' work towards a common goal, each in its own way and with its personal priorities. This common goal is to encourage all organisations to take on a broader social and environmental responsibility.

To download the brochure of the Belgian CSR Platform, click here.

To download the CSR Belgium Factsheet, click here.

We are the Belgian CSR Platform:

Business & Society Belgium

Business & Society Belgium is a business network that unites 70 large and medium-sized Belgian companies and federations from various sectors with a common interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The network provides companies with tools and information that enables them to develop their CSR policies and activities. Transparency and the exchange of experiences are our leverages for CSR. To promote CSR in Belgium, Business & Society communicates and cooperates on a regular basis with stakeholders such as the government, civil society, academia and consumers. www.businessandsociety.be

Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FRDO)

The Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FRDO) advises the Belgian federal government on sustainable development policy and organises forums to increase awareness and support for sustainable development. The members of the FRDO-CFDD are representatives of various social groups, including environmental organisations, organisations for development cooperation, consumer, employer and employee organisations, energy producers and the scientific community. The FRDO-CFDD serves as a social sounding board for the government and parliament and contributes to democratic decision making through advice and other activities. www.frdo.be

Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Belgium (CCI.be)

The CCI is the umbrella organisation for the Chambers of Commerce in Belgium and the Belgian Chambers of Commerce abroad. The Federation and the Chambers are CSR partners for public authorities wishing to mainstream CSR in the business community and for companies wishing to implement CSR in their organisation. They guide them through this process. The Federation and the Chambers signed a common CSR charter in December 2009. www.cci.be

Kauri

KAURI is the Belgian multi-actor learning network and knowledge centre for corporate responsibility & NGO accountability. KAURI sees civil society organisations (NGOs) as important corporate stakeholders. The organisation enables dialogue and promotes proactive stakeholder engagement between companies and civil society. KAURI currently has 240 members comprised of a mix of companies, NGOs, knowledge centers, governmental services and institutions. Their common goal is to use their specific knowledge and contacts to establish global sustainable trade relationships. www.kauri.be

MVO Vlaanderen

CSR Flanders bundles the initiatives of the Flemish government related to CSR into policy actions. They are aimed at the private-sector businesses and organisations in the profit, not-for-profit and social-profit sectors and at governments. The MVO Vlaanderen website (www.mvovlaanderen.be) contains a wide selection of instruments and information to help companies and organisations to implement CSR into their organisations. In collaboration and in consultation with stakeholders, business contact days, seminars and learning networks are organised. www.mvovlaanderen.be

Positive Belgian Entrepreneurs (POSECO)

The non-profit organisation POSECO launched the project "Positive Entrepreneurs" to develop and promote Social Entrepreneurship in Belgium. A selection of 100 positive entrepreneurs represents a new way of doing business. For them, CSR has to integrate human values and convictions into the products and services they stand for. Their philosophy is based on a business model that respects social values and respects nature. Their approach to entrepreneurship is revolutionary because they integrate a positive vision in the enterprise's core business. www.positive-entrepreneurs.be

Public Planning Service for Sustainable Development (PPS SD)

The Public Planning Service for Sustainable Development is a Belgian Federal Government organisation that is mandated to prepare and coordinate the federal policy for sustainable development. To this extent, the PPS SD collaborates with other federal and regional government departments. Further consultations and collaboration is taking place with the civil society through the Federal Council for Sustainable Development as well as with other stakeholder organisations. In the international context, the PPS SD is keeping track of the main sustainable development related activities and actively participates in various international forums. www.poddo.be

UN Global Compact Network Belgium

The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti corruption. The local Global Compact network in Belgium, with over 50 participants, exists to assist the private sector in the challenge to apply the Global Compact principles and establish a sustainability platform for both large and small-size companies, and the local stakeholders; and thus facilitating and building capacity to develop unique solutions to the major environmental, social and development issues. www.globalcompact.be

Quote by Sabine Denis, Director of Business & Society:

"Social Responsibility is a not limited to companies alone but is a joint responsability of all actors contributing to the sustainable development of our society. Cooperation is therefore a keyword. Cooperation, between all stakeholders involved, private and public, profit and non-profit. This platform is a perfect example of such a cooperation. We hope this new platform will help us to achieve more, together."

Quote by minister Magnette about the Belgian CSR Forum:

"The organisations gathered in the Belgian CSR Platform lead the way, by giving real substance to this sustainable society."