Instituto Ethos, Brazil

Environmental sustainability and social responsibility in Brazil

For years, Brazil has been establishing itself as a major player in the global economy. But people in the booming country have come to feel that standards of corporate responsibility have not kept up with the country's economic leap forward.

In order to help the Brazilian economy move towards new paradigms, Roland Berger Brazil and Instituto Ethos teamed up for a pro bono project in 2010. Instituto Ethos is a non-governmental organization with over 1,300 member companies, whose mission is to mobilize, encourage and help companies manage their business in a socially responsible way, making them partners in building a sustainable and fair society.

The pro bono project is split into three phases. The main deliverable of the project's first phase was creating a platform  for a "new Brazilian economy" that will be inclusive, green and responsible. The platform is actually an action-oriented document, an agenda. It describes the strategies, challenges and critical themes involved in this transition. Roland Berger acted as strategic partner for the institute's institutional committee, composed of Ethos and six large companies: Alcoa, CPFL, Natura, Suzano Papel e Celulose, Vale and Wal Mart. At the end of February 2011, the new platform was presented to CEOs and representatives of almost 200 of the biggest Brazilian companies – as well as to a host of media representatives.

The project's second phase (designing management structures to support the strategic plan) and third phase (an analysis of the Institute's project portfolio management) will follow in the months to come.
For more information about Instituto Ethos please visit the website.