Alcan Tops for Corporate Social Responsibility

2003-10-14

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) isn't just a P.R. buzzword at Alcan Inc., it's an ethos that is imbued throughout the company's business plan.

"Sustainability is a priority and it made sense to incorporate economic and social objectives into our business framework as well," said Daniel Gagnier, Senior Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs, Alcan Inc., Canada.  "When you really think about it, it all boils down to the fact that CSR is the right thing to do.  It benefits the company, and most importantly it benefits your employees, the environment and the communities you work in."

Alcan's commitment to CSR has won the company kudos from many different sources, including a nod this year from Corporate Knights as the top corporate citizen out of 50 Canadian companies.  Corporate Knights is an organization that promotes business ethics, concentrating specifically on socially responsible investing and corporate social responsibility.  Alcan also consistently ranks high on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.

But though Gagnier appreciates the accolades, he says Alcan doesn't implement CSR for positive publicity.  "We don't practice CSR for the purpose of winning awards or gaining goodwill, we do it because it's a holistic business approach that is a win-win situation for everybody."  Gagnier believes so strongly in the concept that he is the volunteer chair of ISO's Strategic Advisory Group looking into the feasibility of a CSR standard.

Alcan sponsors numerous projects that aid communities around the globe.  They range from an arts program for Vancouver kids to watershed management consulting in third world countries.  In Brazil, the company has built eight clinics for Project Smile, a free dental program that has treated more than 3,500 children in the community of Ouro Preto.  In Bangladesh and other underdeveloped countries, Alcan works with aid organizations to remove arsenic from water.  An educational program, Micro-Business Network, helps schools around the world teach students the importance of sustainability and how to run a business through the recycling of aluminum cans and shopping bags.  More than 32,000 students have participated since the program's inception 12 years ago and the profits fund school and community activities.

Alcan's commitment to CSR isn't just for outside projects.  The company also fosters this spirit in its workplace and in its relationships with suppliers.  Its Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct sets out a path toward responsible workplace and business practices that the company expects its employees and its contractors to follow.

"Our long term plan for CSR is simply to get better at it," said Gagnier.  "Someone once said to me that the road to sustainability is still under construction.  It's certainly a journey of improvement, constant learning and the use of economic success for the benefit of both shareholders and stakeholders."

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