Society, Responsibility and Consumers
In 2009 we must concentrate primarily on explaining, clarifyingand promoting the social market economy and theethics of freedom it is based on. Enterprises make a crucialcontribution to a functioning community, first and foremostthrough their products and services but also by staffwelfare measures, formulating long-term corporate policies,conserving natural resources and supporting charity,culture and sport.
The BDI believes that freedom, competition and privateproperty rights serve as the best preconditions for an enterpriseto make a commitment to society. The FederalMinistry of Labour is drawing up a national strategy forcorporate responsibility. However, corporate responsibilityand legally enforced obligations are mutually exclusive.Consumers must be free to choose what they consume.
Thedecision to purchase one product over another stimulatescompetition, which encourages companies to continuallyimprove their products, services and management. Requirementssuch as labelling obligations for foodstuffs arenot helpful as they ultimately make information that is divorcedfrom reality serve as the foundation for a purchasingdecision.
The two umbrella organisations of German business, the BDA and the BDI, operate an internet portal at www.csrgermany.org where viewers can find examples of the broadsocial commitment of German companies. The BDI is alsoinvolved in the internet portal www.csr-weltweit.de that isproduced by the Foreign Office and the Bertelsmann Foundation.In addition, the business communities’ umbrella organisations,the BDI, the BDA, the ZDH (German Federationof Skilled Crafts), the DIHK (Germany Chambers of Industryand Commerce) and the business magazine Wirtschaftswochehold an annual competition called »Freedom and Responsibility«.
The patron of the initiative is Federal President Horst Köhler. More information and application documentsare available at www.freiheit-und-verantwortung.de
