CSR

December 12, 2013

Most Reputable Company

For those of you that have followed our blog, you have read up on how Disney gives back to the environment as well as their employees and guests. Giving back to community is also one of Disney’s founding principles and is a major reason for why Disney is on top. Disney has created memorable Heroes, Heroines, Princesses and Sidekicks that everyone loves. They create a magical experience for their guests and provide their employees with incredible benefits. As an organization, Disney has done a tremendous job of strengthening the community and supporting the well being of families, and especially children. They give back to communities is through sponsorship, volunteering, and charity.

Disney sponsors many organizations across the world. My personal favorite is the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) School Supply Drive. Their mission is to prepare children to succeed in school. One million kids fail to graduate high school every year and Disney is here to make a difference. This club provides school supplies, homework help, academic enrichment activities, as well as tutoring help. Did you know 15.1 million kids are left unsupervised after school everyday?! Thanks to BGCA, kids are provided with after-school programming to keep them on track to a successful future. Disney announced a $250,000 donation and Disney VoluntEARS helps support the cause and pushes kids towards a positive future. VoluntEARS is a charitable organization that provides opportunities for Disney cast members and employees to dedicate their time for giving back to local communities. The reason behind all of this giving and corporate citizenship parallels with Disney’s values.

Disney lives by three core values: compassion, conservation and creativity. Specializing in these areas really separates Disney apart from most companies. They donate, volunteer, and sponsor those in need in hope of creating happiness and encouraging imagination. So what happens when a company puts this much effort into corporate citizenship? Forbes ranked Disney the #1 company with the best CSR reputation in 2013.  Actually, they are tied with Google for the #1 spot, but still how incredible is that!

As our blog is coming to an end, I must say I have learned how important it is for a company to be a good corporate citizen that supports healthy causes. I hope someday to work for a company as reputable as Disney. As a company, Disney excels in the area of CSR and has set an admirable tone that all other corporations should follow.  Disney is without a doubt making a positive impact in the world and should be praised for their exceptional business model.

December 11, 2013

The Magic Unveiled: Teamwork

In the past few weeks we at the Disney’s Corporate Citizenship blog have tried to give you a glimpse into all the CSR and sustainability goals that the Walt Disney Company accomplishes; however, have you really thought about the magic that goes on behind all those numbers, facts, and accomplishments? What makes all those CSR and sustainability efforts come to fruition? I would suggest that it is the employment TEAM under the Walt Disney Company umbrella that make all the aspirations and dreams of Walt—specifically those CSR and ‘green’ related—come true!

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Throughout this blogging assignment I have often caught myself in awe of how much our blogging team has been able to accomplish, simply because we make a great team! While there are only four of us, just think about Disney’s 60,000+ member staff that accomplishes so much because those staff members are aligned as a team with similar focus and goals. Speaking of aligned team members, at Disney there is a focus called the “Green Standard.” The Green Standard helps motivate and facilitate employees to act in a green manner at work, while traveling, and at home!

I have come to realize that one of the most invaluable assets that the Walt Disney Company DOES NOT have on its balance sheet is its WORKFORCE. Through each of these blogs, each describing amazing CSR accomplishments, I see a great team/workforce behind those environmental and social endeavors making the magic possible!

I believe it is important to note that a great CSR program must be woven into the very fabric of an organization—touching every aspect of the business. The effectiveness of Disney’s CSR programs is a result of CSR not being isolated into a particular business silo; rather it is something that deeply penetrates each and every business segment of the Walt Disney Business.

It is hard to believe that the conclusion of this blog is quickly approaching, but I think that it is evident, through the dreams of Walt Disney, that CSR is at the heart of all people and it is PEOPLE, formed as a team, that make CSR a reality. I would like to take this time to give a “HATS OFF” to all the employees of the Walt Disney Company who make such a grand CSR program magical! Also, I would like to thank our blogging team for helping me re-realize the power of a great team!

TEAM

December 10, 2013

Isabel’s Choice: Enviroport

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 8.39.08 PMHello readers! My topic of choice for discussion today is Disney’s annual environmental report: Enviroport. This is a report communicating major topics within Disney’s citizenship performance. Enviroport is available for anyone to view at the website Disneysenviroport.com. I think this report is fantastic because of how much information it provides (124 pages in the 2012 report, to be exact) on some of the Walt Disney Comapany’s projects that would normally be difficult to find information on. Disney makes a point in the introduction of last year’s report that they believe acting responsibly is an integral part to its brand.

The report lists various goals the company wishes to reach each year or by a stated date, then it provides a status for the project followed by a short summary. By writing an easily coherent report, the Walt Disney Company has obviously made its projects accessible to anyone wishing to know more of Disney’s philanthropic and environmental endeavors. Being a business student myself, I know from past experience in writing essays and doing research that not every company shares a simple, yet detailed environmental report like Enviroport. It is especially rare for a company to dedicate an entire website to its corporate citizenship report. This is exactly why the Walt Disney Company has been named one of Fortune’s top ten “World’s Most Admired Companies” in 2013.

2012’s Enviroport, the most recent report to date, included information on five major categories: community engagement, responsible content, environmental stewardship, ethical conduct and responsible workplaces. This blog has covered some of the information in the report such as Disney’s cruise line environmental initiatives and emissions and electricity conservation. But this report goes into specific details on projects that Disney has initiated in terms of philanthropy and environmental consciousness.

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 8.40.44 PMOne project that struck me as interesting is Disney’s goal to support the creation of 50 play spaces for children by 2016. Under the status of the project lists “on track,” with a description stating that “in 2012, 22 spaces were completed.”  Disney’s overall goal for its community engagement is to build on their philanthropic legacy with programs that share resources to make lasting, positive change in communities and promote the happiness and well-being of kids and families. This specific program is a great example of how The Walt Disney Company aims to positively affect its community at such a magnified level.

Enviroport also discusses the details of a broad goal for Disney: to make a net positive impact on the ecosystem. This may seem like an extensive target to reach; yet the report coherently lists projects that will achieve Disney’s goal for positive environmental impact. One plan supporting Disney’s goal is to apply the company’s integrated approach to sustainable design, engineering, and habitat protection for a pilot construction project by 2013. This project is listed as “on track.” Currently this plan is being implemented at new building sites and is experimental, but the goal of the project is to set a future standard for new construction sites in designated ecosystems. Many companies claim to be working for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future, but this project actually supports Disney’s desire to be considered a socially conscious corporate brand.

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 8.42.06 PMI have only mentioned a few of Disney’s target goals and projects to being a socially sound corporation. Enviroport lists a total of 139 economic, environmental and ethical impacts of the Walt Disney Company’s performance. The projects range from small-scale plans to globally designated changes. Be sure to check out the latest Enviroport yourself! (click here to view 2012’s report)

All in all, the Walt Disney Company has truly created a business focused on delivering happiness. Happiness can mean many different things, but to some a healthy planet and conscious society means all the happiness in the world. I would like to personally thank the readers of this blog and my fellow authors for taking part in learning so much about the wonderful corporation that is the Walt Disney Company and what they aim to offer to the world.

December 5, 2013 Image

Euro Disney develops green destinations

Hello all, previously this week everyone has touched on how Disney parks use innovative thinking to maximize their environmental stewardship. Today, I will be sharing with you two resort locations that will blow your mind. Disney’s environmental sustainability parallels with their parks.

Disneyland has partnered with the public to develop a model town focused on energy innovation and ecosystem treatment; it is called Val d’Europe. Euro Disney started this   partnership in 1987 and has been extended to 2030, with an emphasis on improving the community of France as a whole in the present and for future generations. This town provides housing for Disneyland Paris employees, as well as increases the need for labor.  They continue to build the public facilities. They have a smaller university called Marne-la-Vallée, daycare centers, nurseries, five media libraries, and they recently opened a new hospital. Val d’Europe is focused on benefiting the community by developing this “new town” that demonstrates environmental goals. Disney is definitely going above and beyond with this idea. Euro Disney really helped develop this major urban center into something special that brings a community together while staying green.

Here is a bird's eye view of Villages Nature. So much green!

Here is a bird’s eye view of Villages Nature. So much green!

It seems to be a trend developing overseas, but Euro Disney and Pierre & Vacances joined forced to develop a new concept of a vacation destination that harmonizes humans and nature. This destination will be called Villages Nature and will be located just South of the Disney Paris Park. They developed a Sustainable Action Plan that relies on ten measurable targets aimed at reducing the destination’s ecological footprint, ensuring social responsibility, and developing synergies with the local communities. They are targeting European consumers and will offer a unique experience where they can connect with nature. 90% of the resort is retained as green space giving guests plenty of space and ultimate relaxation.

The resort is going to offer numerous recreational and learning activities hoping to inspire future generations to be environmental friendly. I think it is great that Disney is reaching out to our generation in hope for a better future for all. Across this resort will be nothing better energy efficient sources. It will be heated by a deep geothermal source that will produce no greenhouse gas emissions! Their corporate social responsibility isn’t just saving our planning, but it is creating 4,500 job opportunities once this resort is fully operational.

Seems like America’s environmental stewardship is behind France’s. I’m not complaining though, Disney has contributed so much to our planet and encourages everyone to as well.

 

December 3, 2013

Sustainable Tourism

UnknownHello all! Isabel here again, and today we will be discussing a few aspects of Disnyland in Anaheim, California, as being a major location for sustainable tourism.

Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, is a leader amongst many in a new category of travel: sustainable tourism. Walt Disney himself was a proponent to environmental respect and sound environmental practices with his ever-growing tourism business sector. Just small adjustments to some of Disney’s operations created a sound business model, which does not disturb the environment. UnknownFor example, the many trains chugging through Disneyland Park are fueled with a soy-based biodiesel as an effort to decrease fuel emission. On a train track that spans 1.5 miles long in a loop, chugging through the park from 9 am to 8 pm, imagine how much of an affect it would have on the ecosystem if it were run by standard gasoline! Even the Mark Twain Riverboat is run on cooking oil biodiesel, maintaining friendly emissions from the Rivers of America in the park.

Disneyland has replaced old lighting and fixtures with more energy-efficient alternatives, and increased efficiency of chillers, heat exchanges, air handlers and pumps through technology enhancements and controls in an effort to conserve energy in terms of Disneyland’s climate and energy operations. Every time I have visited Disneyland, I have always been curious to see the electricity bills of such a huge establishment, just imagine! UnknownAt night when all the lights on trees, rides, resorts light up, it is a spectacle to the eye, however I am sure it is not kind to Disney’s budget. It is reassuring to know that Disneyland has been proactive in minimizing not only their costs, but minimizing the energy that the park requires. The surrounding residential land in Anaheim is not affected by Disneyland’s expenses only because of their consistent efforts to minimize energy usage. This goes hand in hand with Walt Disney’s wishes to leave the environment undisturbed around his parks.

Sustainable tourism is especially noticeable with the consistent construction occurring in tourist areas. I have recently visited Las Vegas, Nevada, and am one of many tourists who frequently visit yet am always taking detours on the sidewalks due to construction. The fumes and ruble visible to a regular bystander in Las Vegas make me wonder how unfriendly construction efforts are. This is not the case in Disneyland. Disneyland Park has very high standards for its construction and refurbishing of attractions. Responsible wood is located for its buildings and attractions, literally framing Disneyland with consciously attained material. Existing recycling programs at the park have diminished construction-related waste with the recycling of steel and wood. To me, these efforts in the construction of new buildings and attractions maintain sustainable tourism for generations to come. Those who will visit Disneyland in the future should be comforted to know that the bridges they walk on in the park did not come from endangered rain forests.images

Water conservation efforts have enabled Disneyland’s aquifer withdrawals to remain level over the past 20 years of Disneyland’s operation. 6 million gallons of water is reclaimed every day to recharge the park’s aquifer. With 14 water attractions alone in Disneyland, this water recycling effort allows for the park to eliminate over consumption of water from its surrounding area. Take a look at Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise, which has been decorated for the upcoming holidays! The Jungle Cruise is a famous attraction that used to operate on an open waterway and now floats visitors through an authentic jungle ecosystem.

I am glad to say that Disneyland Park in Anaheim has made multiple efforts to maximize sustainability for its tourists. Hopefully you too will be floating along the Jungle Cruise soon!

November 19, 2013

Ahoy From the Crew!

Ahoy, readers! This is Isabel back with some more insight on one of the Walt Disney Company’s biggest business sectors, the Disney Cruise Line. As Carly beautifully summarized, the Cruise Line is complete with three ships that strive for environmental friendliness. However, what really sets Disney Cruise ships apart from other cruises in terms of fostering corporate citizenship is the Disney community on board each Disney Cruise Ship.

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Disney Cruises emphasize creating a memorable experience for their guests, adults and children. But what really strikes me as the best way the cruise gives back to the community is what the Disney Cruise Line Ports of Call program engages in. While each ship is docked at a location and cruise guests engage in excursions, the Disney cast visits local schools, hospitals and care facilities to bring smiles to the faces of children least expecting it! The areas the cast frequently visits are cruise destination within Central Florida, The Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. While visiting these children, the Disney Cast usually organizes an activity, such as reading hour, to spark an educational enthusiasm of children in need. The program stands out to me because of how simple it is, yet a sick child in a hospital who is being visited by Goofy and Donald Duck could gain all the uplifting they need to becoming healthy. It is refreshing to hear that the Cruise Industry at Disney engages in the community it visits, making direct contact with children who need a little bit of happiness.

Additionally, each year the cast and crew members of Disney Cruise Ships engage in a 5K walk on Disney’s Island Castaway Cay to raise money for conservation programs supported by the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. This event is an extra activity that the cast and crew choose to take part in, usually during their time-off from working. The fact that the island is being used for philanthropy rather than for the sole purpose being for cruise guests makes the creation of the island well worth it.

In terms of how the cruise ships maintain environmental friendliness, when the Island was created, island engineers and the cast and crew of the ships received over 500,000 hours of training to learn how to maintain the health and stability of the ecosystem. That way, the area around the island is not negatively affected or disturbed. The island engages in fuel conservation by converting trans fat-free cooking oil from the kitchens into biodiesel fuel for small vehicles on the island. Even this seemingly small gesture has conserved Disney approximately 8,000 gallons of fuel in 2008! This has also helped maintain a stable ecosystem in the ocean because of how harmful fuel emissions can be to ocean wildlife.

All in all, Disney Cruise Lines are a strong category in the corporate citizenship of the Walt Disney Company. The focus that the cast has on helping children they visit and support with the run really changes the entire focus of Disney Cruises. The Cruises are not solely for the purpose of vacation for its guests, but this business sector makes an effort to give back to the community and to the environment.

November 14, 2013

Giving Back the Magic

disneyHello all, my name is Alyssa and today I will be informing you on the wonderful way Disney incorporates CSR in all of their subsidiaries. I am currently a junior here at CU Boulder and am majoring in Finance.  Ever since I was a kid, I have always been in love with Disney, from watching movies on the Disney Channel to screaming my head off on Space Mountain. Not only do they create magical experiences and provide entertainment for their customers, but also they focus on giving back to society. I am all about giving back to those around me and did not realize how Disney is well known for the corporate social responsibility until recently.

For those of you who don’t know, The Walt Disney Company has five different business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. These segments combined make Disney a leading diversified international family entertainment company. They strive to create and market responsible, high-quality products and entertainment experiences. Within their media network segments, Disney pushes the importance of a healthy diet. They take a leadership role on this and have strict standards on food advertising on their Disney-owned television channels and radio stations.

Not only are they concerned about our well being, but Disney takes pride in their environmental goals. Disney’s environmental stewardship and nature conservations began at an early stage due to Walt Disney’s love for nature. Today they make eco-friendly television commercials to help redefine CSR within their company. Their parks and resorts contribute so much to the environment, and that is why it is my favorite subsidiary of Disney. One-third of Disney resort property is dedicated to wildlife conservation!

Disney’s parks and resorts also keep a constant sustainability focus in terms of water usage, air, land, animals, forests, minerals, fossil fuels, and other natural resources. Their goals are to reduce their impact on those listed and encourage environmental stewardship companies. Their waste management program reduces solid waste sent to landfill and continues to build recycling programs at every park. They also continue increase the recycled content used in their products, from PhotoPass plastic cards to merchandise bags in their stores.

Consumer products consist of organic t-shirts and post-consumer recycled accessories and stationary. Interactive media and studio entertainment both contribute to the well being of children by creating content that is educational, entertaining, and inspirational. They also take in safety measures and create a safe environment for all ages online and in the studios.

What if all companies followed in Disney’s footsteps and cared about the environment as much as them! Could you imagine what the environment would be like today?!

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Tune in next week to see how Disney’s Cruise Line Industry innovates a sustainable environment on and off the ship. Did you know that each ship has an environmental officer onboard to monitor ships and teach environmental education lessons? Learn more in next week’s blog posts!

November 13, 2013

Work Happy!

Hello readers, I am Isabel and todays topic will be labor benefits in Disney’s workplace! I am a junior at CU Boulder currently studying marketing and I have so far had five jobs in my life, and I can say that none have been with such a lovable company like the Walt Disney Company. The company is all about creativity and innovation and creating strong leaders amongst their employees so they can grow throughout their careers at Disney. I believe that a strong work environment leads to the success of a company, and the time and effort Disney puts into making their employees happy sets a solid foundation for the company and its vision. Disney is synonymous with the word happiness, so why not spread it around to those who are responsible for all that Disney has to offer?

The Walt Disney Company has three major focuses when it comes to their employee benefits: health and wellness, family friendly benefits, and retirement and savings.  Health and wellness includes the obvious medical benefits that full-time employees receive while working with Disney. An additional benefit employees receive is through the program Disney calls “Disney Health Pursuits.” This is an incentive program in which employees partake in a Personal Health Assessment to qualify for receiving financial rewards in return for making healthy choices. This program not only benefits the employee in the long run by inspiring them to live healthfully, but also affects how the family of the employee eats and manages their lifestyles. To me, this program is a great example of corporate social responsibility for Disney’s employees because the incentives inspire employees to treat their bodies well and be healthier, which will benefit them and their families in the long run beyond any financial rewards.

Disney also rewards their employees with family friendly benefits, allowing employees to participate with the company’s end-result products. Families of employees receive park passes and tickets to screening of new Disney films. What fun! If my parents worked for Disney and I would have the chance to go to these fun events, I would have to say that Disney is the coolest company ever! It is fantastic that the Walt Disney Company wants its employees to share fun and happy experiences with the company, solidifying a strong foundation not only with the company and its employees but also within the families of its employees.

Disney also strives to inspire prosperity with is its retirement and savings program. This program provides aid to employees so they may plan for a strong financial future. Employees are offered to participate in a pension program once eligible, are offered to participate in 401K plans, and can even purchase stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Program. This may seem like an ordinary plan that an employer provides, but the success with the program is summarized with the 11,500 employees that participate in this program in the United States.

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The Walt Disney Company is shown to strive for company well-being and . That is why this year the company has instigated its first Global Survey Program. A bi-yearly survey is administrated to all of Disney’s employees all around the world to make the voices of each and every individual involved in Disney’s endeavors to voice their opinion on the company and its operations. 82,000 individuals from 40 countries participated in 2013! The survey results spoke of the strengths Disney employees believe the company holds such as the employee pride, feelings of creativity and enjoyment during work while still being challenged, feeling respected and having strong company culture. The survey results more importantly allowed for executives to pinpoint some opportunities for improvement in the work place. This survey proved to be vastly successful with its two-thirds participation score. The Walt Disney Company is clearly a company that focuses on its employees and their well-being, realizing that they would not be the dominant company they are without each and every individual working with the Disney family all around the globe.