About the Good Business Register
The Good Business Register has been designed to allow a small to medium sized business the ability to log into a secure website to build and communicate their Responsible Business profile to customers, investors, suppliers and staff. Larger businesses might also find the process of registering a valuable exercise.
By entering information into the Register businesses will then have the opportunity to create a Statement of Commitment and a full business profile or mini sustainability report.
Statement of Commitment Responsible Business Profile
Statement of Commitment Full Responsible Business Profile
(Click to view an example) (Click to view an example)
You can send your Statement of Commitment to key stakeholders to indicate you have registered on the Good Business Register and have committed to the journey of becoming a more responsible and sustainable business. You might also like to place a copy in your shop window for customers to see or include it on your website for people to view.
You can send your full profile to a range of stakeholders including suppliers who might be interested in finding out about your sustainability credentials, as well as customers, investors, staff or your local community.
The Good Business Register is an online platform developed by St James Ethics Centre and a range of project collaborators.
Responsible business practices include a company's positive impact on society and the environment through its operations, products or services and through its interaction with key stakeholders such as employees, customers, investors, communities and suppliers.
The profile can be used in the procurement (supply chain) process – particularly with large corporations – or as a way to start building a sustainability profile which can be communicated to customers, investors or other key stakeholders.
The 5 Principles of Responsible Business Practice behind the Good Business Register have been distilled from an analysis of the supply chain requirements of the Corporate Responsibility Index Leaders Network including Westpac, Toyota, ANZ and EnergyAustralia.
What are the five Principles of Responsible Business Practice?
1. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY - Operate our business in an economically sustainable manner
2. WORKPLACE - Provide a workplace that supports worker and employee wellbeing and inclusiveness
3. SUPPLY CHAIN - Promote responsible business practices throughout our supply chain
4. STAKEHOLDERS & COMMUNITY - Actively engage with our community and other stakeholders
5. ENVIRONMENT - Minimise the impact of our business activities on the environment
These principles have been developed to introduce small to medium businesses to the basic concepts of responsible business practice and provide a framework within which they can understand their existing position and identify areas for further action and improvement.
They have been created by drawing upon existing international, national and local leading practice frameworks from corporate; federal, state and local government; and non-government organisations, and tailored to align with the unique qualities and needs of the SME market (a full list of references can be found here).