Environmental Care as Part of CSR Sonja Sibila Lebe, PhD Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Maribor, Slovenia Multidisciplinary Research Institute Maribor, Slovenia

WIKIPEDIA ON CSR Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate conscience, corporate citizenship, social performance, or sustainable responsible business) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. Source: Wikipedia UNWTO: responsible tourism development (destination, state)

THREE FIELDS OF INTERFERING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Economy Development? Yes – yet how not to become destroying? Ecology Is there a universal, global „right“ and „wrong“? Who is setting the limits? Who / what helps? Social Local culture, religion, customs & traditions – can all they survive the impacts of tourism flows? Could there be common guidelines how to approach all these dilemmas? Image: Giese, Carmen & Frank Weber (ITB 10.03.2011): Nachhaltiger Geschäftstourismus. CSC Center of CSR, Sustainability & Compliance, TÜV Rheinland

Growth is no longer a “given” CSR is handling with voluntary limitations & restrictions of economy Is our development-paradigm still what the world today really needs? Growth is no longer a “given” Are we still employing the same philosophy that has driven us into problems in order to find their solution? Picture: http://www.piperreport.com/archives/Images/Medicare%20PFFS%20Plans.jpg

WHAT IS CSR ABOUT TODAY? CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, that is the core business of the company or firm, and the honouring of a triple P bottom line: people, planet, profit. Source: Wikipedia

Reducements and restrictions are necessary on several levels (e. g Reducements and restrictions are necessary on several levels (e.g. CO2 emissions: 2008 & 2030 Environmental consciousness (CO2-Emissions 2008 and 2030); (ITB 2011, Christian Böllhoff; Berlin, 9.3.2011)

CR -DIMENSIONS

Who should look after Slovenia‘s responsible tourism? Ministry of Economy / Directorate for tourism: Programme for raising eco-consciousness of accommodation businesses in 2006 Subsidies for EU Eco-Flower certification in 2009-2011 http://www.sro.hse.gov.uk//article_images/working%20with%20future(2).jpg:

What would be most suitable for a small, „rather new“ country? Over 500 eco-labels in the world: Who can recognise them? Who can distinguish between them? What do they stand for? Image: Destors, Jérôme & Rohit Talwar (ITB Hospitality Day, March 10th 2011): Hotels 2020: Beyond Segmentation

GREEN-WASHING?! Image: http://www.ecolabelindex.com/ecolabels/?st=category=tourism

EU Eco-Label (EU Eco-Flower ) Many different products: High penetration Good recognition Tourism as the only certified service – extra for a) accommodations and b) camping sites) Clear message: Certificated businesses are considerably better than average in the fields of: energy & water saving, waiste production, general management

Wider than the EU: ISO 26000 ISO 26000 is the first internationally recognized standard for CSR. Public sector organizations (the United Nations for example) adhere to the triple bottom line (TBL: people, planet, profit). It is widely accepted that CSR adheres to similar principles but with no formal act of legislation. Source: Wikipedia Several organisations, including the UNWTO, have developed their own agendas on responsible (sustainable) development (of tourism).

CSR OF A COUNTRY From eco-ignorance to eco-managenent I feel sLOVEnia – I feel green I feel culutre I feel EDEN From eco-ignorance to eco-managenent From 2 certificates in 2009 to at least 8 in 2011 From visitor‘s car-depending programmes to sustainable and responsible tourism offer.

GREEN IS „IN“! Image: Lechner, Herbert (ITB Berlin – 11th March 2011): Insights on Customer requirements and Purchase intentions in Germany / UK / NL

Thank you for your attention! Sonja-Sibila.Lebe@uni-mb.si