Pernod Ricard pilots CSR credibility guidelines

Pernod Ricard has been chosen as the first company to pilot new guidelines which will be used to assess the credibility of a company’s approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

A group of independent experts was put together to assess Pernod Ricard and entrusted with drafting this standard in coordination with AFNOR (the French national organisation for standardisation).

More than 90 interviews were carried out, both internally and externally with the Group’s external stakeholders in France, Asia, the UK and Italy.

An independent credibility report about Pernod Ricard was then put together by the group of experts who compared the CSR strategy and initiatives deployed by Pernod Ricard with the industry’s current position and stakeholder expectations.

The data was scrutinised using the criteria of ISO 26000, which was launched in 2010 and provides guidance to help businesses and organisations clarify what social responsibility is and turn those principles into effective actions.

Pierre Pringuet, CEO of Pernod Ricard, said: “For almost 40 years, with our “commitment to responsibility”, we have followed in the footsteps of the founders, Paul Ricard and Jean Hemard.  Our aspirations remain the same: there are no leaders without exemplary social behaviour. The CSR must be seen as central to these aspirations.  We need to be at the forefront of this process.”

The report showed the consistency between the company’s discourse and commitments to responsible consumption, respect for the environment and respect for employees, shareholders, partners and local communities.

Additionally, the group of experts highlighted the relevance and importance of Pernod Ricard’s initiative, Respnsib’all Day, which brings together all 18,800 group employees to focus on the relationship between young people and alcohol.

However, the report also concluded that efforts needed to be strengthened within Pernod Ricard to establish a dialogue with stakeholders and coordinate better practices with its affiliates.

In 2010, Pernod Ricard revised its CSR strategy to focus on four priorities: the promotion of responsible consumption, respect of the environment, promotion of an entrepreneurial spirit and sharing cultures.

At the end of 2012, Pernod Ricard, along with other leading beer wine and spirit companies such as Diageo, Beam, Brown-Forman, Bacardi and UB Group, backed an initiative to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, led by the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP).