29-30 October 2007 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lithuania in cooperation with Association “Investors’ Forum” have organized CSR forums in Kaunas and Klaipėda.
More in-depth discussions tackled such questions as what is CSR, why and how it is important for the overall country’s development and welfare, for region, for city and for individual companies; it was discussed how CSR sparkles innovations and helps to create competitive advantages, how it helps to attract and retain the best employees, to manage company’s resources in the most rational way by sustaining materials, improves reputation and helps business to advance by finding innovative solutions for current challenges.
Good practice examples in the areas of environment, energy saving, product quality, supply chain management, implementation of environmental and CSR management systems were presented by such companies as express carrier and package delivery company UPS in Lithuania UAB „Skubios siuntos“, textile company AB „Utenos trikotažas“, confectionary producer UAB „Rūta“ , electronic machines recycling company EMP Recycling and so on. Forums were also attended by representatives from business associations, non-governmental organizations, municipalities and academia, who also actively expressed their views on CSR in Lithuania.
The forums were organized in an innovative way, because Lithuanian children theatre society conducted interactive survey asking delegates various CSR related questions and have presented the results in a theatrical way. Participants also had the opportunity to taste certified organic products such as tea, coffee, chocolate and wine in order to get familiar with responsible consumption ideas.
CSR forums were organized under the framework of regional UNDP CSR project “Accelerating CSR practices in the new EU member states and candidate countries as a vehicle for harmonization, competitiveness, and social cohesion in the EU” and cooperation agreement with Ministry of social security and labor of the Republic of Lithuania. Regional CSR project is partially funded by the European Commission.