Useful Links

Resources featured here cover a wide range of topics of interest to researchers addressing the broad areas of sustainable business practices and the social enterprise sector specifically. In addition, a range of general research resources are brought together to support group members.

Fair Trade
Sustainable Business
Social Capital
Corporate Social Responsibility
Globalisation
Corporate Citizenship
Corporate Governance
Social Economics
Ethical Consumerism
Development Studies
Social Enterprise Initiatives

Fair Trade

The Fair Trade Foundation (UK) - The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute. The Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), which unites 20 national initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand.

Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International - FLO is the worldwide Fairtrade Standard setting
and Certification organisation. It permits more than 800,000 producers, workers and their dependants in 50 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade.

The Fair Trade Federation (US) - FTF is the US certification organisation whose members are committed to the following principles and practices in their trading relationships: fair wages; cooperative workplaces; consumer education; environmental sustainability; financial and technical support; respect for cultural identity; public accountability

Global Exchange (Fair Trade section) - In today's world economy, where profits rule and small-scale producers are left out of the bargaining process, farmers, craft producers, and other workers are often left without resources or hope for their future. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this cycle and gives them a way to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity. Read more...

TransFair (Canada) - TransFair Canada is a national non-profit certification and public education organization promoting Fair Trade Certified to improve the livelihood of developing world farmers and workers.

European Fair Trade Association -

TransFair (USA) - TransFair USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Through regular visits to Fair Trade farmer cooperatives conducted by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), and partnerships with US companies, TransFair verifies that the farmers who produced Fair Trade Certified™ products were paid a fair price.

The Day Chocolate Company - produces a range of Fair Trade chocloate products. It is a unique partnership and an important step forward for fair trade because the farmers that grow the cocoa for Divine and Dubble, are also shareholders in the company. This means they have a say in how the chocolate is produced and sold as well as a share in the profits.

Cafe Direct - Cafédirect is the UK's largest Fairtrade hot drinks company. Brands Cafédirect, 5065, Teadirect and Cocodirect are sold through most of the major supermarkets. They buy from 33 producer organisations in 11 countries, ensuring that over a quarter of a million growers receive a decent income from this trade. Cafédirect was founded in 1991 by Oxfam, Traidcraft, Equal Exchange and Twin Trading in response to the collapse in coffee prices, to help strengthen the influence, income and security of coffee growers in the South and to link them directly to the consumer in the West.

International Fair Trade Association - IFAT is the International Fair Trade Association, the global network of Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs). Over 270 FTOs in 60countries form the basis of our network and membership

Sustainable Business

Business and Sustainable Development Global - This site explains the strategies and tools that companies can draw on to translate an aspiration of sustainability into practical, effective solutions. Case studies from around the world are provided as an example of each measure.

EnviroLink Network - The EnviroLink Network is a non-profit organization which has been providing access to thousands of online environmental resources since 1991. Good range of in-depth resources.

Sustainable Business Network - The Sustainable Business Network is a forum for businesses that are interested in sustainable development practice to get together and make it happen.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) - The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 175 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors.

Financial Times Business Report: Sustainable Business.

Social Capital

Social Capital and Civil Society - classic article by Francis Fukuyama, The Institute of Public Policy George Mason University October 1, 1999.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility Forum
The Resource Centre for Responsible Business Practice

CSR Europe A non profit organisation promoting corporate social responsibility at an organisational level, aligning profitability with social and environmental considerations. Founded by ex EU President Jacques Delors.

J Sainsbury An interesting example of an organisations discussion on corporate social responsibility, using case studies and other resources.

Good Business A European CSR consultant, providing organisational advice. Also has an on-line magazine, the 'Ethical Coroporation Magazine.'

Corporate Watch Reports on non-compliance of CSR practices, with an extensive back-catalogue and organisational profiles.

CSR Watch Monitors and reports on the anti-buisiness movement, with an interesting reading list and 10 worst moments of free trade in 2004.

Globalisation

Global Exchange

Corporate Citizenship

The Centre for Corporate Citizenship

Corporate Governance

European Corporate Governance Institute Essential hub for new research and current debate within the field. Obviously, the site provides a useful European slant on contemporary issues.

Corporate Governance Encyclopaedia Does what it says in the URL - very useful for those new to the area, or forgetful researchers.

Corporate Governance.net Useful website that explores the main issues surrounding corporate governance. A particularly good, detailed links section for further searching.

OECD Principles of Corporate Governance Useful source for a taste of the international persprective on corporate governance. The Principles act as a code for memebr countries to follow; an international benchmark.

Institute of Economic Affairs Useful site to search through for scholarly articles; particularly for the work of Sternberg in an anti-stakeholder / pro-Friedmanist perspective on corporate governance.

Social Economics

New Economics Foundation Organisation that produces research in many fields of economics, through a lens of social and environmental justice. Some excellent previous research, and there are links to their social accounting and accountability tools.

The Association for Social Economics Long established Association, a good place to find new research and serves as the website for the Review of Social Economy'

Ethical Consumerism

Ethical Consumer Research Association (UK) - ECRA was founded in June 1987 and is a not-for-profit, organisation owned and managed by its staff as a workers' co-operative. ECRA is funded almost entirely by subscriptions to its Ethical Consumer magazine and by adverts from ethically vetted companies. ECRA exists to promote: universal human rights; environmental sustainability; animal welfare.

Development Studies

World Development Movement

Social Enterprise Initiatives

Please click on the links below to discover more about social enterprise initiatives around the UK.

http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/Page.aspx?SP=2103
Social Enterprise Coalition

http://www.go-nw.gov.uk/
Government Office for the North West

http://www.lsc.gov.uk/
Learning & Skills Council for Greater Merseyside (LSC)

http://www.gme.org.uk/
Greater Merseyside Enterprises (GME)

http://www.euandmerseyside.org/
Merseyside Objective One Programme

http://www.sen.org.uk/
Social Enterprise Network

http://www.sel.org.uk/
Social Enterprise London

http://www.sbs.gov.uk/socialenterprise
DTI Social Enterprise Unit