Mixed Results: Voluntary Corporate Environment Programs

THE ISSUE: Whether voluntary corporate environmental protection programs are effective in relation to externally-monitored programs, or other internal initiatives.

THE TAKE-AWAY: Recent research from the U.S. argues that so-called "Voluntary Environmental Programs (VEPs)" may actually be less effective at protecting the environment than companies who aren't engaged in a formal program.

Corporate Voluntary Environmental Programs Backfire, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (2008-03-10) -- Companies which participate in voluntary environmental programs actually do worse in their attempts to help the environment than those that do not take on these programs. Companies that are self-monitored — as opposed certified by an external third party — appear to do even worse in their overall environmental goals. Nonparticipating companies outperformed companies participating in self-monitored voluntary environmental programs by 24 percent. ... > read full article