New survey from the EC over “How Companies Influence Our Society: Citizens’ View » – http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_363_sum_en.pdf

Exec summary

Key points :

1. Just over half of European citizens believe that companies have a positiveinfluence on society, while more than 4 out of 10 believe companies have a negative influence. Europeans are more sceptical about the influence of companies than citizens from other major economies.
2. Food production and agriculture companies (70%), and retail companies and supermarkets (67%), are the most likely to be seen as making efforts to behave in a responsible way towards society by Europeans. Finance and banking, and mining, oil and gas companies are the least likely to be seen as making these efforts (both 34%).
3. Europeans are more likely to think small and medium sized companies make efforts to behave responsibly compared to large companies.
4. There is an information gap in Europe: Although 79% say they are interested in what companies do to behave in a responsible way, only 36% say they feel informed in this area.
5. European citizens think that citizens themselves should take the lead role ininfluencing the actions of companies, through the purchasing decisions they make.