EDC gets global recognition for CSR and ESG practices

Published February 5, 2017, 10:00 PM

http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/02/05/edc-gets-global-recognition-for-csr-and-esg-practices/

Geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has recently been included in the FTSE4Good Emerging Index for its strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and was cited by CSR Asia Weekly as the top PH company admired by CSR professionals.

FTSE4Good is an equity index series created by global index provider FTSE Russell, part of London Stock Exchange Group, designed to help investors integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decisions.  The indexes identify companies that better manage ESG risks and meet globally recognized and stringent corporate responsibility standards.

The FTSE4Good Emerging Index was launched in December, 2016 and covers over 20 emerging countries.  Companies which manufacture or produce tobacco, weapons systems, and coal are excluded from the index series.

Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific Region publication CSR Asia Weekly ranked EDC first in the Philippines and sixth in Asia Pacific  among companies that Corporate Social Responsibility professionals admire.

The result was culled from a survey conducted among 500 CSR managers, consultants, and NGO professionals by CSR Asia, one of the leading providers of research, training and advisory services on sustainable business practices in Asia.

According to the published report, EDC, a new entry the list of outstanding companies doing sustainable CSR work, was given a thumbs up for programs they have implemented that seek to improve the lives of the people and protection of the environment.

Apart from being a global diversified renewable power company, EDC implements comprehensive environmental management and corporate social responsibility programs that ensure inclusive growth and enhance the ecosystem in areas where it operates.

“For over 40 years, we have strived to make a positive impact on the environment and our host communities as we generate clean, renewable energy to power our country.  Creating harmony for our business, the people around us, and our planet has always been at the heart of our sustainability strategy,” said Richard B. Tantoco, EDC president and COO.

EDC’s Health, Education, Livelihood, and Environment (HELEn) program has been consistently recognized for its success and sustainability.

EDC, the country’s leading producer of geothermal energy, likewise measures its own economic, environmental, and social impact and discloses it every year through its annual performance report following the Global Reporting Initiative’s most widely used reporting framework.