Standard Ethics Aei
Encyclopedia
Standard Ethics is a Sustainability Rating Agency based in Brussels. It is a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), a non profit organisation, which aims at promoting company ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR), Socially responsible investing
(SRI) and Corporate Governance
according to the principles and guidelines of the United Nations
, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union
.
Before Standard Ethics methodology was applied in 2001, sustainability assessments were designed according to the model of stakeholder theory
. Standard Ethics, for the first time, applied to Sustainability Ratings a system of non-subjective and well-defined values, therefore it does not participate in the creation of new inputs on Corporate Social Responsibility and only promotes the interpretations supplied by the UN, the OECD and the EU.
This entails a twofold commitment: supplying a frame of reference for studies on Corporate Social Responsibility
and disseminating and promoting a culture based on company ethics in relation to the UN, OECD and EU principles by highlighting the most virtuous cases. Under no circumstances, therefore, Standard Ethics, through publishing Ratings, intends to solicit the purchase or sale of securities by any issuer.
Those nations and companies that do not comply with the values expressed by the United Nations do not receive ratings and are included amongst the “suspended” issuers.
For the last ten years the main Italian listed companies have been under observation by Standard Ethics. It is the most important public monitoring on Ethical Ratings and CSR in Europe.
Standard Ethics methodology it is also adopted by several organizations to disseminate CSR
principles (for instance, the CEEP Guidelines on
CSR
, published in 2006, is based on the CEEP European project Discerno and the Standard Ethics methodology).
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
(CSR), Socially responsible investing
Socially responsible investing
Socially responsible investing , also known as sustainable, socially conscious, or ethical investing, describes an investment strategy which seeks to consider both financial return and social good....
(SRI) and Corporate Governance
Corporate governance
Corporate governance is a number of processes, customs, policies, laws, and institutions which have impact on the way a company is controlled...
according to the principles and guidelines of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Before Standard Ethics methodology was applied in 2001, sustainability assessments were designed according to the model of stakeholder theory
Stakeholder theory
The stakeholder theory is a theory of organizational management and business ethics that addresses morals and values in managing an organization. It was originally detailed by R...
. Standard Ethics, for the first time, applied to Sustainability Ratings a system of non-subjective and well-defined values, therefore it does not participate in the creation of new inputs on Corporate Social Responsibility and only promotes the interpretations supplied by the UN, the OECD and the EU.
Sustainability Ratings
The Sustainability Ratings issued by Standard Ethics are the result of statistical and scientific work carried out to take a snapshot of the economic world in relation to ethical principles promoted by the large international organisations.This entails a twofold commitment: supplying a frame of reference for studies on Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
and disseminating and promoting a culture based on company ethics in relation to the UN, OECD and EU principles by highlighting the most virtuous cases. Under no circumstances, therefore, Standard Ethics, through publishing Ratings, intends to solicit the purchase or sale of securities by any issuer.
Final Assessment
Since 2002, the final assessments by Standard Ethics on the level of conformity of companies and nations to the baseline ethical values are expressed with eight different Ratings: EEE; EEE-; EE+; EE; EE-; E+; E; E-.- “EEE” stands for ‘above average’;
- “EE” for ‘average’;
- “E” for ‘below average’.
Those nations and companies that do not comply with the values expressed by the United Nations do not receive ratings and are included amongst the “suspended” issuers.
For the last ten years the main Italian listed companies have been under observation by Standard Ethics. It is the most important public monitoring on Ethical Ratings and CSR in Europe.
Standard Ethics methodology it is also adopted by several organizations to disseminate CSR
CSR
CSR may refer to:In business:* CSR Limited, an Australian industrial company, formerly known as Colonial Sugar Refining Company* CSR plc, or Cambridge Silicon Radio, a British silicon chip designer and software company...
principles (for instance, the CEEP Guidelines on
CSR
CSR
CSR may refer to:In business:* CSR Limited, an Australian industrial company, formerly known as Colonial Sugar Refining Company* CSR plc, or Cambridge Silicon Radio, a British silicon chip designer and software company...
, published in 2006, is based on the CEEP European project Discerno and the Standard Ethics methodology).
Nations Rating
The following 43 listings make up the last Rating issuance on Nations (May 12, 2011):| Country | Rating | Outlook | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E+ | May 2011 | |||
| EE+ | May 2011 | |||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | May 2011 | |||
| EE+ | May 2011 | |||
| E+ | May 2011 | |||
| E- | May 2011 | |||
| EE | May 2011 | |||
 Denmark |
EEE | Negative | May 2011 | |
| E- | Positive | May 2011 | ||
| EE- | May 2011 | |||
| EEE | May 2011 | |||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
| EE | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | Negative | May 2011 | ||
| EEE | May 2011 | |||
| E | May 2011 | |||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
| E+ | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | Negative | May 2011 | ||
| EE | May 2011 | |||
| EE+ | May 2011 | |||
| EE | Negative | May 2011 | ||
| EEE- | May 2011 | |||
 New Zealand |
EEE- | May 2011 | ||
 Norway |
EEE | May 2011 | ||
| E+ | May 2011 | |||
| EE+ | May 2011 | |||
| EE- | May 2011 | |||
| E | May 2011 | |||
| EE+ | May 2011 | |||
 South Africa |
EE- | May 2011 | ||
| E+ | May 2011 | |||
 Spain |
EEE- | May 2011 | ||
 Sweden |
EEE | May 2011 | ||
 Switzerland |
EE+ | May 2011 | ||
 Turkey |
E+ | May 2011 | ||
 United States |
EE+ | Positive | May 2011 |