October 2007: Business in the Community Ireland launches ‘landmark' report on corporate responsibility

• New report designed to inspire Irish businesses to make corporate responsibility practices a priority • Report features 51 case studies from almost 30 firms, both multinational & local, a major increase on 2006 • Launch of report takes place as key element of Ireland's first ever Corporate Responsibility Week DUBLIN, October 18th 2007: Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the country's leading corporate responsibility advisory group, has today announced the launch of a report aimed at highlighting best practices by businesses in Ireland in the areas of sustainable business development and corporate responsibility. The launch of the report, titled ‘Inspiring Excellence - Best Practice in Corporate Responsibility in Ireland 2007' takes place today as part of Corporate Responsibility Week, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the BITCI to promote responsible business practices in Ireland. The report contains 51 case studies from almost 30 companies - multinational and local - on good business practice across a range of areas, including new product development, staff engagement, corporate philanthropy, volunteering, customer communications, community relations and energy and waste management. Tina Roche, Chief Executive, Business in the Community Ireland, said: “Companies in all industry sectors are aware that creating a sustainable business model is imperative. As a movement of Irish companies, we are looking to encourage all firms to embrace the concept of corporate responsibility”. “The Inspiring Excellence report shows that ‘Ireland, Inc.' is not only fully aware of the benefits but they are also rolling out best practice in a variety of sectors including IT & Telecommunications, Food & Drink, Finance, Pharmaceutical, Energy and Forestry. Today's report is a landmark in the growth of corporate responsibility in Ireland, and we're already looking forward to seeing an increase in participation next year,” said Ms. Roche. Some of the most well known companies in Ireland, as well as several leading global brands, are represented in the study, including GlaxoSmithKline, Irish Life & Permanent, Wyeth, LM Ericsson, AIB, Diageo, Bord Gáis, National Irish Bank, Pfizer, Microsoft, IBM and Intel. The number of firms that agreed to participate in the study represents a notable increase from the previous year, when just 30 case studies from 20 companies were included in the report. The member companies of BITCI whose examples of best practice in corporate responsibility are featured in ‘Inspiring Excellence 2007' are as follows: • AIB • AOL • Bord Gáis • C & C Group • Clogrennane Lime • Coca Cola Bottlers Ireland • Coillte • CRH • Diageo • eircom • Elan • ESB • GlaxoSmithKline • IBM • Intel • Irish Life • Johnson & Johnson • LM Ericcson • Manpower • Microsoft • National Irish Bank • O2 • Oracle • permanent tsb • Pfizer • Ulster Bank • Wyeth Click Here to Download Inspiring Excellence Full Report 2007 For further information, contact Moira Horgan, Marketing Communications Manager at 01-8743812, 086-1722105 or mhorgan@bitc.ie