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58 Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2012Report of the Directors overnance
REPORT OF THE ORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY OMMITTEE
OMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ATTENDANE
ATTENDANE
Sr Malcolm Rfknd 4 / 4
hairman of the Corporate
Responsibility Committee
Louse Fresco 4 / 4
Hxona Nyasulu 4 / 4
This table shows the attendance of Directors at Committee meetings
for the year ended 31 December 2012. If Directors are unable to attend
a meeting, they have the opportunity beforehand to discuss any agenda
items with the Committee Chairman. Attendance is expressed as the
number of meetings attended out of the number eligible to attend.
HIHLIHTS OF 2012
• Scrutiny of Unilever’s Code of Business Principles
• Monitoring of Unilever’s anti-bribery framework
• Review of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan:
Progress Report 2011
• Analysis of Unilever’s safe travel standard
PRIORITIES FOR 2013
• Compliance with Code of Business Principles by
third parties
• Progress on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan
• Product quality
Terms of reference
The Corporate Responsibility Committee (previously the
Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee) oversees
Unilever’s conduct as a responsible multinational business.
The Committee is also charged with ensuring that Unilever’s
reputation is protected and enhanced. A key element of the role
is the need to identify any external developments which are likely
to have an influence upon Unilever’s standing in society and to
bring these to the attention of the Boards.
The Committee comprises three independent Non-Executive
Directors: Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Hixonia Nyasulu and Louise Fresco.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind chairs the Committee. The Chief Marketing &
Communication Officer attends the Committee’s meetings.
The Committee’s discussions are informed by the perspectives
of the Group’s two sustainability leadership groups, both of which
are chaired by the Chief Marketing & Communication Officer.
The first is the Unilever Sustainable Development Group (USDG)
– a group of experts from outside the Group who advise Unilever’s
senior leadership on its sustainability strategy. The second is
the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan Steering Team – the group
of Unilever’s senior executives who are accountable for driving
sustainable growth. The insights from these groups help to keep
the Boards informed of current and emerging trends and any
potential risks arising from sustainability issues.
During 2012 the Boards reviewed the names and terms of
reference of the Committees. It was agreed that the name of the
Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee should be
shortened to the Corporate Responsibility Committee from 2013.
Minor changes were incorporated into its terms of reference.
The Committee’s terms of reference and details of the Unilever
Sustainable Development Group are available on our website
at www.unilever.com/investorrelations/corp_governance and
www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/ourapproach/Governance
respectively.
Meetngs
Meetings are held quarterly and ad hoc as required. The Committee
Chairman reports the conclusions to the Boards. Four meetings
were held in 2012.
The Committee’s agenda comprises a number of standing
items. These include the Code of Business Principles (the Code),
litigation and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP),
as well as occupational safety and product safety and quality.
In addition, the Committee reviews further items, such as the
corporate risks which fall within its remit and a range of strategic
issues. These issues are grouped into a number of themes and
reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the Committee stays
abreast of current trends.
ode of Busness Prncples
The Committee is responsible for the oversight of the Code and
associated Code Policies which set out the standards of conduct
we expect of our employees.
The Committee ensures that the Code and Code Policies remain
fit for purpose and are appropriately applied. In this regard it
complements the role of the Audit Committee which considers
the Code as part of its remit to review risk management.