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BRASS Business Guide - BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

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Tips for Using a Company Website to Research CSR

The investor relations page of a public company website provides access to company reports, including annual (10-K) and quarterly (10-Q) filings. A company's most recent 10-K can provide insight and information into a company's current perspecitve on corporate social responsibility.

Company websites and 10-Ks can highlight efforts towards climate change, board diversity, sustainability, social fundraising, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Companies may also report on specific campaigns and efforts in periodic ESG reports that address their progress and commitment, in relation to their business strategy and goals.

  • A simple Google search for the company name + "investor relations" can help you locate these resources on a company website.

Tips for Searching the 10-K (use ctrl+f to locate specific phrases within the report):

  • Company statements related to social and environmental efforts often appear under "Part 1, Item 1: Business," section of the 10-K, which addresses the company's operations.
  • Social and governance efforts may appear under headings such as "Human Capital Management," "Cuture," 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion," or "Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion."
  • Statements and updates related to the company's environmental consciousness may appear under headings such as "Sustainability" or "Environmental Matters."
  • Words and phrases for searching environmental efforts and issues withi an 10-K include: "environmental," "polution", "emissions," "energy," "sustainability," "recycling."
  • Words and phrases for searching social efforts and issues include: "equity," "equality," "diversity," "inclusion," "social justice," "gender," "race" "DE&I," EED&I".

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