“It is still often treated as additional type of the activities, detached from money making. Meanwhile, one could not be more wrong. What is of interest to the responsible investors, in particular at present times, is not quick and, in consequence, uncertain profit but a dynamic long-term growth of the business value,” emphasised Andrzej Jacaszek, Vice President of the Employers of Poland during the Monday Responsible Business Leaders Gala 2012.
 
The companies, winners, selected in seven categories and industries, were awarded at the ceremony. In the FMCG sector, second year in a row Coca-Cola HBC Polska received the title of the Responsible Business Leader. In the “average enterprise” category, the title was received by Diageo Polska. In construction industry Velux Polska became the Responsible Business Leader, and in the general category Volkswagen Poznań was the winner.
 
In addition to Polish companies belonging to international corporations, the title of leaders was received by three domestic companies. PKN Orlen became the Responsible Business Leader in the fuel and energy industry, in the financial sector the title was received by PKO Bank Polski and among small companies the best result was achieved by Jumarpol. The contest which was organised already for the second time as part of the “Coalition for Responsible Business” project is aimed at identifying companies which on day-to-day basis in their activities follow its principles. This is the initiative of the Employers of Poland and six business partners: Danone, GlaxoSmithKline, Hochtief Polska, Orange Polska, PGNiG and PZU.
 
PwC is the substantive partner of the project and the “Rzeczpospolita" journal is its media partner. Companies entering the contest had to answer questions regarding key business areas and sign a declaration of compliance with the principles of the Code of Corporate Responsibility (CR).
 
The candidates, 36 of them this year, were evaluated by the Council of Experts and the Contest Chapter. These two groups, consisting of experts in individual fields and authorities in the area of the CR, evaluated the applications which were sent, among others, in terms of how the candidates supported economic and social development, ensured decent labour conditions and demonstrate responsibility for the natural environment. Evaluation criteria were divided into basic (identical for each industry) and additional.
 
“Whether  responsible business is properly implemented to a large extent does not depend on financial outlays but on the ability of the managers to look with a vision into the future and predict long-term benefits,” emphasises Andrzej Jacaszek.