Green CSR

Environmental protection and energy conservation have also inevitably become some of the most popular buzz words for CEOs of many international and also domestic enterprises, especially in their press conferences and interviews.

They emphasize eco-friendly approaches as a business philosophy: not only focusing on improving energy efficiency of their products, but also reducing the impacts on the environment during manufacturing.

For example, Hisense and Haier, two Chinese electrical household appliance giants, have constantly promoted their "green" televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators. In recent years, over 50 international giants, including Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Avon and GE, have added corporate social responsibility (CSR) as one of most important clauses in their corporate cultures, requiring their cooperative enterprises to go through an examination of CSR performance before signing contracts with them.

Since 1997, more than 8,000 enterprises have been examined, and many incompetent enterprises have been disqualified as suppliers.

The action has the impact of urging local enterprises to fulfill their CSR at an international level and they are willing to cooperate with government departments in environmental efforts.

Wal-Mart China has said it will cooperate with Environmental Certification Center under Ministry of Environmental Protection on drafting green store standards.

The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing, in December 2008. The system of green certifications for supermarkets would be established through spot surveys, demonstration practices and validation.

Many Chinese enterprises have realized that energy efficiency and environmental protection are not burden but profitable business. However, it is still difficult for some of them to get rid of their obsolete development mode.

As a core force for China's "green campaign" to reduce energy consumption there is still a long and tough road ahead for every Chinese enterprise.