Corporate Social Responsibility in theU.S. Consumer Electronics Industry

16th Annual World Electronics Forum8-10 January 2011 – Las Vegas

Outline of Presentation• Corporate social responsibility• Industry sustainability report• Conflict minerals issue

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Goal for company is to embrace responsibility for its actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment and the public.

Environmental Sustainability Reporting

• First report for consumer electronics industry in 2008

CEA 2010 Sustainability Report

2010 Report• Product design• Packaging design• Facilities• Transport and delivery• Energy efficiency• Recycling

2010 Report• Social contributions

VolunteerismContributionsEconomic development

2010 Report• Social contributions

– Value of cash and products donated by ten largest CE companies in 2009:USD 882 million

2010 Report• Corporate sustainability reporting

– Communicate information in a proactive and transparent way

– Reporting framework and guidance (for example, Global Reporting Initiative)

“Conflict Minerals”• Background• New financial reform law in U.S.• New regulations (due in spring 2010)

require companies to determine and disclose origin and use of “conflict minerals”

• Important to avoid burdening trade

“Conflict Minerals”• Private sector initiatives: Global e-

Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) announced a “Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS)” program in December 2010

Conclusion• Corporate social responsibility is important

for trade associations as well as companies

• Industry-level sustainability reports are positive and helpful

• New laws require industry engagement but also offer opportunity for industry initiatives

Douglas JOHNSONdjohnson@CE.org