On 29 July, the Ethos Institute, Akatu and Ibope published a research report entitled ‘Practices and Prospects for Corporate Social Responsibility in Brazil 2008’. The research highlights the rising number of companies involved in CSR in recent years: 50 per cent have implemented at least 22 CSR efforts and 20 per cent 34 or more.

Despite increased involvement by companies in recent years, however, CSR practices are still underdeveloped. The most highly developed practices are those that directly affect the survival of companies or are the subject of regulation, such as customer and labour relations. Although CSR practices are growing, some practices need greater formalization and institutionalization at strategic and political levels.