4.5.4 Social matters

Companies that did not report on environmental matters, also did not report on social matters. Other companies provided information on initiatives, such as sponsoring activities and stakeholder management. Companies claim that cooperation with authorities and/or governments and involvement of NGOs and local residents in their activities creates goodwill. However, companies are not inclined to specify amounts used for social activities such as sponsoring. Only Numico and SBM Offshore gave an indication of amounts spent.1 Ahold, Buhrmann, Fortis and AEGON mentioned their participation in sponsoring activities, but did not point out which kind of projects they support. In general, companies mostly donate money to children's projects in developing countries or in the Netherlands.

Companies that co-operate with NGOs or governments choose these organisations because of a special competence. Heineken, for example, joined the International Centre for Alcohol Policies in connection with Heineken's promotion of responsible drinking.2

ABN AMRO, AKZO NOBEL, Arcelor, Fortis, Heineken, ING, Randstad, Philips and TNT are participants of the Global Compact.3

Other ways of showing the company's responsibility towards society is, for instance, stimulating work force diversity4 and stimulating children to eat healthily.5