In more than a decade of applying responsible business practices, 350 organizations have demonstrated how implementing and managing a systematic approach can help companies accurately measure, manage and shape their social and environmental performance.

In the 10 years since the CR Index launched, there have been substantial shifts in how companies integrate responsible business into their operations, along with a growing recognition of the role of business in society and the potential to be a force for good:

• In 2002, only 61 percent of organisations integrated corporate responsibility (CR) into their overall strategy compared to 90 percent in 2002.
• There has been a 49 percent increase in companies linking remuneration and bonuses with targets (24 percent to 73 percent).
• In 2004, only 65 percent of companies regularly discussed all main corporate responsibility areas at board meetings. By 2012 this had risen to 92 percent.
• The quality of reporting CR has increased from 41 percent in 2004 to 73 percent in 2012.

The CRI helps companies integrate and improve corporate responsibility throughout their business operations.

Achieving a Gold level designation means that CSC is able to demonstrate openness and transparency through effective public reporting of its material environmental and social issues, programs and performance. Gold companies also tend to expand and adapt their risk management processes by incorporating relevant aspects of corporate responsibility risk and opportunity. Their corporate responsibility strategy is articulated in an effective manner and includes clear and measurable targets.

CSC's commitment to corporate responsibility focuses on five areas of activity: client engagement, community and philanthropy, employees, ethical governance and environmental sustainability. In the past year, CSC has strengthened its process to define key issues - those identified as important to CSC's business and stakeholders and consulted upon with external stakeholders in the UK.

CSC's Environmental Program was awarded the Carbon Saver Gold Standard for all of its UK operations, scoring 95 percent and implementing a wide range of carbon saver initiatives. As part of the "CSC Gives Back" community program, CSC set up a Mentoring in the Community Program for employees to provide business mentoring skills to charities and not-for-profit organizations.

"I am exceedingly proud of achieving Gold in the highly respected and valued BITC Corporate Responsibility Index," said CSC UK President Liz Benison. "It reflects how seriously we take CR, as a guiding light for the way we do business, not as a discrete business area."

"I congratulate CSC on achieving Gold in the 2012 BITC Corporate Responsibility Index," said Stephen Howard, chief executive, Business in the Community. "The CR Index has helped to highlight clearly those best practice examples that bring to life in a powerful way what integrated responsible practice really looks like. As we celebrate 10 years of our CR Index it has given me great pleasure to witness each company's responsible business journey and the transformations they are making both within their businesses and the impact they have in our communities."

The full results of the 2012 CRI, including commentary and analysis, are published in the Financial Times Responsible Business supplement.

About the CR Index
Business in the Community's is the UK's leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility (CR). It helps companies to integrate and improve CR throughout their operations by providing a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting on business impacts in society and on the environment. For the past 10 years the CR Index has inspired and challenged over 350 companies to continuously improve their impact on society and the environment. This year we expect to have more than 100 companies participate publicly and use our tool to both improve their management practices and communicate to stakeholders how seriously they take their CR agenda.

About Business in the Community stands for Responsible Business
Business in the Community is a business-led charity with a growing membership of over 850 companies. We work locally and nationally through 11 regional teams and internationally with 115 global partners. With a further 10,700 engaged in our campaigns and an employee reach of 16.8 million, we are one of the largest and most influential leadership networks focused on driving responsible business practice. We offer our members a range of practical information, tools, training and resources to help them transform their businesses and integrate responsible practices into their operations. And we ask our members to work in partnership with us to help transform communities and tackle serious social issues where business can make a real difference.

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• CSC's Profile

About CSC
CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 98,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.0 billion for the 12 months ended December 30, 2011.