Heathrow has been awarded the highest rating – the ‘Platinum Big Tick’ - in Business in the Community’s annual benchmark of responsible business management, the Corporate Responsibility Index. It is the only airport, and the only transport service business to be included in the top category, which was awarded to just 31 UK businesses this year.
The ‘Platinum Big Tick’ ranking was awarded in recognition of Heathrow’s commitment to its social and environmental performance, particularly its long-term planning, the contribution it makes to a sustainable economy and its commitment to embedding these values throughout its workforce. The award puts Heathrow alongside businesses such as Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op,
Matt Gorman, Heathrow’s Sustainability Director, says: ‘We’re delighted to receive independent recognition of our commitment to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible way. We’ve consistently improved our ranking in the Index over the past few years and we will continue to look for new ways to improve our performance.’
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: ‘Our Index is a key tool to help the public to understand what good business practice looks like while also providing examples to inspire many more companies to accelerate the pace of change within their businesses. I congratulate Heathrow for achieving Platinum Big Tick because it signifies they are part of a movement of responsible business in which all companies have their unique part to play.’
For more information about Business in the Community, or the CR Index contact Ochuko Adekoya, PR Manager Business in the Community on 0207 566 8758 or email ochuko.adekoya@bitc.org.uk
About the CR Index
The CR Index is the UK’s leading and most in-depth voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility. It has been run by Business in the Community for over a decade to help companies accurately measure and manage all aspects of their social and environmental performance; shape how they integrate and improve corporate responsibility throughout their business operations and benchmark themselves against competitors. The CR Index scores participating companies against the following areas of responsible business, Corporate Strategy, Community Management, Environmental Management, Marketplace Management, Workplace management. Environmental Impact and Social Impact. This year over 100 companies participated publicly.
A Platinum Big Tick company demonstrates that it has started thinking about how the global mega trends, such as population growth and resource scarcity, are affecting the future strategy of the business. Platinum Big Tick companies tend to make long-term investments to improve current or launch new environmentally and socially sound product and/or services, whose return on investment may not be immediate. Furthermore, these companies generally ensure that their vision and values are lived and embedded throughout the entire workforce and that senior managers and board members’ training is conversant with a sustainable growing economy.
