Ford Motor Company is proud to be the first automaker to join the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition - a nonprofit group of leading electronics companies dedicated to improving the social, environmental and ethical conditions of their global supply chains.

Analyst Insight: Companies competing in the chemical and energy industries continue to place a high priority on sustainability and environmental responsibility. The high visibility of these factors in today's society certainly helps make the case for sustainability and environmental responsibility in terms of maintaining a positive brand image. However, leading firms are also recognizing that efforts to drive sustainability and protect the environment are also helping to deliver additional value beyond brand image. - John Santagate, Research Manager, IDC

Operating ethically and operating profitably are no longer mutually exclusive concepts. Leading companies are "walking the walk," balancing the goal of achieving profitability with gaining social and environmental advantages.

Eighty-six percent of American females would not join a company with a bad reputation compared to only 67 percent of American males, according to poll findings provided by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.

All global companies will tell you that they're committed to guaranteeing human rights throughout their supply chains. But how do we tell they're sincere?