ECCR reports

Water Sustainability: Meeting the Challenge - a comparative analysis of water consumption in the food processing and beverage industries

ECCR's most recent report analyses and compares the water consumption policies and performance of 15 leading British and Irish food and drinks companies.

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Rio Tinto – Revisiting the Principles: A Decade of Corporate Responsibility Reviewed

This ECCR report analyses the social and environmental impacts of mining multinational Rio Tinto. Key issues include:

Rio Tinto's environmental and social policies and approach to transparency
the company’s joint venture Grasberg mine in West Papua, Indonesia, associated with problems of human rights, environmental impact and community relations
Rio Tinto's response to the impact of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa
human rights questions in relation to governments with which the company does business
controls to ensure uranium mined in Namibia does not add to military capabilities

Case studies:

Capper Pass smelter, UK
Diavik diamond mine, Canada
Eagle copper and nickel project, USA
Jabiluka uranium mine, Australia
Kelian gold mine, Indonesia
ilmenite sand mining project, Madagascar
Ranger uranium mine, Australia.

The company's interim written response to ECCR's findings is included. The report's analysis is based on the Bench Marks.

ECCR hopes the report will assist faith-based and other responsible investors, business commentators, campaigners and others in assessing the impacts of Rio Tinto's operations and of mining more broadly.

The report was cited in BBC News 24's interview with Rio Tinto chairman Paul Skinner in June 2007, when interviewer Stephen Sackur referred to ECCR's concerns about the frequent 'stark differences between the image portrayed by Rio Tinto's corporate literature and the views of community and environmental groups on the ground where they operate'.

Published 2006. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. [Order form].

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BHP Billiton: The End of the Pipe - Policies into Practice?

ECCR's report on the policies and practices of BHP Billiton, one of the world’s largest mining and resource companies. Key findings and issues:

relatively advanced corporate responsibility policies
the need for greater transparency regarding lobbying and royalty payments to governments
concerns raised regarding company responses in South Africa to implementation of transformation legislation and to the HIV/AIDS pandemic
the need for better community consultation around the closure of mine sites
health and safety implications of redundancies for remaining workers
analysis based on the Bench Marks
a written response from the company to issues raised is included.

Published 2005. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. Order form.

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GSK: Getting Better?

A report on GlaxoSmithKline’s policy and performance in such areas as environmental management, community relations, lobbying, advertising and the pricing of drugs in developing countries. Key findings and issues:

GSK is relatively transparent on many issues
questions raised about company reporting and other practices of interest to investors
the need for increased site-level information
greater transparency desirable in relation to corporate lobbying, particularly over international regulation of intellectual property
clarification requested on the company’s preferential pricing schemes for developing countries
analysis based on the Bench Marks
GSK’s full written response to the report and questions posed is included.

Published 2004. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. [Order form].

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AstraZeneca: Making 'Inspiring Ideas' a Reality?

ECCR's report on pharmaceuticals multinational AstraZeneca. Key findings and issues:

significant progress in developing corporate responsibility policies and mechanisms
improvements in reporting
significant room to improve transparency, especially regarding lobbying
apparent gaps in policy on human and indigenous peoples’ rights and on joint ventures
lack of policy clarity regarding access to medicines in developing countries, drugs testing for paediatric use, communication with local communities, employment, and relationships with suppliers
concerns about advertising standards
analysis based on the Bench Marks
the company’s written response to issues raised in the report is included.

Published 2003. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. [Order form].

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Beyond Innovations? A Three-Part Report on UK Oil Company BP

Part 1:

describes how ECCR submitted, and subsequently had rejected, a shareholder resolution for BP’ 2001 AGM
highlights ethical concerns about BP’s investments in companies such as PetroChina
contains practical advice for organisations and individuals seeking to submit a shareholder resolution to a UK company.

Parts 2 and 3:

comprehensive analysis of the company's corporate responsibility policies and procedures
raises questions about environmental impact, community relationships - particularly with indigenous peoples - and relationships with business partners
analysis based on the Bench Marks
includes BP's response to issues raised by ECCR in the report.

Published 2002. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. [Order form].

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Telling Shell: When the Pressure Drops and Measuring Up to the Bench Marks

A two-part report, comprising:

an account of ECCR's field visit to the Niger Delta in 2001
an assessment of Shell’s progress in the Delta, based on the ECCR delegation’s findings
an assessment of the company’s policies and procedures and the extent to which it can be considered a responsible corporate citizen
the text of ECCR's groundbreaking Shell shareholder resolution of 1997
analysis based on the Bench Marks
the company’s written response to issues raised in the report.

Published 2002. Hard copy: ECCR members - £5 / €6 / $10. Non-members - £12 / €15 / $23. [Order form].

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