Activity

CSR Activity promoting animal protection

Incorporate CSR into business strategies

Include a reference to animal protection as part of the company’s social responsibility commitments.

Example: Lush Cosmetics has a firm 'Against Animal Testing' policy.[i] This policy underpins Lush's practice of encouraging ingredient suppliers to stop animal testing and refusing to purchase any ingredient that has been tested or retested on animals for cosmetic purposes.

Incorporate the concept of animal protection into the company’s business practice.

Example: The Rabobank Group lists cruelty against animals as one of the 10 major issues which are the guidelines for the drafting of policy documents and the evaluation of clients and loans.[ii]  This affects its operations as a financial provider. For example, in 2004, the company made a decision to cease funding fois gras producers. [iii]

Avoiding misleading marketing and advertising

If the company sells factory-farmed products, ensure that it does not represent that the animal has come from a free-range/traditional farm environment.[iv]

Consider what your advertising/labelling strategy says about the nature and origin of your product. For example ‘Farm Fresh’ eggs are not necessarily ‘Free-Range’.  

Listening and responding to customer feedback and complaints

If the company sells factory-farmed products, cease selling these product lines in recognition of the fact that most consumers do not want to support cruel production processes.

Example: Waitrose is one of a number of other UK supermarket chains that has sought to phase out or reduce their stock of factory-farmed produce.[v]

If the company has a history of engaging in animal experimentation or stocking products tested on animals, consider giving effect to the Three R’s (Replacement Reduction & Refinement) by ceasing experimentation or finding cruelty-free suppliers and promoting the development of alternatives to animal testing.

Example: Kao Corporation is a cosmetic and chemical products company which has worked on its own, with the government and with other companies to develop alternatives to animal testing in a number of areas.[vi] In 2000 and 2003 Kao received the ‘Golden Presentation Award’ from the Japanese Society of Alternatives to Animals Experiments.[vii] 

Expand the company’s product ranges

Consider including free-range organic, vegetarian and vegan product lines.

Example: Marks & Spencer is the only major UK food retailer to use only free-range ingredients in its food.[viii] It was also rated as the best performing food retailer in a number of areas by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) 2004 Consumer Conscientious Guide.[ix]

A number of other UK supermarkets are providing an expanding range of vegetarian and vegan alternatives to animal products.[x]

Foster policies that reduce animal suffering

Work with suppliers that have a strong commitment to animal protection.

Activity

CSR Activity promoting animal protection

Engage in Stakeholder consultation

Create a social audit process for the company involving employees, customers, suppliers and community organisations. Be sure to include questions that promote feedback on the company’s approach to animal protection issues.

Example: The Adidem Group’s 2004 Social Audit Report indicated that 97.9% of its employees supported the Body Shop’s Policy of not testing or commissioning tests on animals.[xi]

Facilitate customer feedback

Provide mechanisms for the company’s customers to discuss their concerns and take these on board when making supply decisions.

Conduct stakeholder surveys

Arrange for the company to conduct independent consumer surveys of public attitudes towards the use of factory farmed animals in food production or other areas relevant to the company’s activities that utilise animals.

Give charitable donations or engage in ethical investments

Arrange for the company to donate funds to animal protection groups for general or specific projects.

Example: Hunter Hall International Limited donates 5% of its pre-tax profits to charitable purposes and activities that support social or environmental causes. It has supported animal protection organisations ranging from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Wild Camel Protection Foundation to Voiceless.[xii]  

The Charter of Australian Ethical® Investments indicates that it will provide for and support investments which promote the dignity and well being of non-human animals but will not support those which seek to extract, create, produce, manufacture, or market materials, products, goods or services which have a harmful effect non-human animals.[xiii]

Sponsor Events

Arrange for the company to sponsor any of a wide range of events run by animal protection charities.

Provide loans at lower than commercial rates for community initiatives

If the company is a financial institution, consider offering special rates for business loans to animal protection groups.

Motivate and educate your staff

Example: Representatives of Voiceless have visited a number of law firms and banks to speak about the importance of animal protection work.

Promote employee volunteering, project-specific or full-time secondments

Arrange for the company to allow staff to work on an ad hoc or routine basis for animal protection groups. This may include providing skills and training or project specific advice.

Provide facilities or assets

Arrange for the company to provide office space, donate products to a raffle or auction for an animal protection group.