The adjustment to the Advertising Standards Code includes changes to the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages and those targetting minors.
"All of the documents from responsible sources that give us indications, that tell us of existing trends or what's happening in the world, with the research that is being carried out, are important tools for dealing with the reforms and allowing the Code of Ethics to always be up to date" , said Sherman Calvo , president of the Salvadoran Association of Advertising Agencies (ASAP) and Senior Vice President of National Advertising Council (CNP) to Laprensagrafica.com .
In order to succeed with investment projects involving public works concessions, it is essential to gain the confidence of affected communities.
Companies that invest in the country, not only have to worry about their commitment to environmental responsibility, compliance with environmental laws and restrictions, but they also have to establish a close rapport with communities, listen to their needs and commit to negotiating proposals which promote economic development.
Corporate reputation is the perception that stakeholders have of how a company meets their respective expectations.
At its core, reputation is an emotional impulse that emerges as feelings of admiration, respect, trust and a good impression of the company. It is not to be confused with corporate responsibility, as it sometimes is.
Fernando Prado Abuín, in his article in Martesfinanciero.com states that "corporate reputation and corporate social responsibility are different, but complementary, things. Understand correctly what they are, how they relate to and feed into each other, to what extent they depend on each other and how the way corporate communication builds a bridge between the two concepts is not just a purely academic matter. It is also and above all, a basic requirement for understanding the full complexity of the change of paradigm in business management that we call "Economy of Reputation ".
Consumer recognition and preference for brands which display humane behavior, including not hiding their own mistakes, will keep rising.
There is growing consumer dissatisfaction with the brands which forget to align themselves with consumer culture, because they are only concerned with new techniques and technologies.
In 2012, we will see a rise in positive consumer responses to brands that are aware that sticking to principles and values and showing humanity, is not unprofitable, and, on the contrary, brands that demonstrate behaviour bordering on the immoral, get rejected.
The next stage for recycling will see companies recovering their own used products and recycling them in a responsible and innovative manner.
Even though in times of recession economic interests tend to mean environmental issues get ignored, the search for sustainable lifestyles will remain a pressing issue in the coming years.
Consumers are increasingly aware not only of the financial value of their purchases, but the ecological and material value of things, and of their responsibility to care for the environment. This whole-view awareness is known as "eco-psychology."
Capitalism deserves most of the credit for the environmental advances of the past century, and represents our best hope for a greener future.
Jerry Taylor, director of natural resource studies at the Cato Institute, wrote: “Earth Day (April 22) is traditionally a day for the Left -- a celebration of government's ability to deliver the environmental goods and for threats about the parade of horribles that will descend upon us lest we rededicate ourselves to federal regulators and public land managers. This is unfortunate because it's businessmen -- not bureaucrats or environmental activists -- who deserve most of the credit for the environmental gains over the past century and who represent the best hope for a Greener tomorrow”.
What will become an international requirement in the future, is today an opportunity to stand out.
Consumers are starting to prefer companies and products that implement policies measuring their carbon fingerprint and adopt policies compensating such emissions. This tendency grows at the same speed as the growing concern for global warming.
Aside from primary business motivations like corporate social responsibility, brand awareness, marketing, access to new markets, anticipation to possible regulations, etc, reduction of greenhouse gases, together with compensation measures, has become a profitable venture in itself.
Ligia Olvera, strategic consultant, makes an extensive analysis of the subject from a Costa Rican perspective, with conclusions that are useful for all Central America.
In her analysis in the "Strategic Reflections" Blog in Elfinancierocr.com, Ligia concludes that: "Businesses commitment can not be just expressed as a PR slogan. In order to work and have a real and financial impact, Corporate Social Responsibility programs must be endorsed by the will and commitment of the CEO and the Board. In fact, many of the most successful cases were born exactly there, and then flow to lower corporate levels. These programs must come from the top, in the same way as strategies".
Changes in the world are happening more and more quickly, and business schools should adapt their programs at the same speed.
Among other issues, there exists the generalized opinion that ethics should be integrated across all disciplines. In an article in Americaeconomia com, it is noted that "it is not about a specialist talking about ethics, but rather that a professor of finance provides a vision for ethics in finance."
Interview with Dionisio Gutierrez, president of Multi-Inversiones, a six-division holding and one of whose flagship companies is Pollo Campero.
"We urgently need to get the Central American community to be a single economic bloc, with the same currency and passport, so that the world will see us as a region of unified countries, which will open doors for us to investment and economic growth." This is, according to Dionisio Gutierrez, one of three key strategies that Central America should address to reach the level of development it deserves.
Industrias La Constancia, ICL, was awarded first place in the central america in clean processes.
The Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), the environmental body of the Central American Integration System (SICA), rewarded the company for its clean production processes in brewing.
The website Elsalvador.com published: "The recognition is given to the company for its efforts in improving their environmental performance through efficiency in their processes and use of raw materials."