The CRT was launched in 1986 by senior business leaders from Europe, North America and Japan to address global issues of common concern initially the tensions arising from tradeflow imbalances. The stature and influence of the CRT have grown progressively through the formulation of principles to guide ethical business practice, and consideration of the factors affecting employment and competitiveness. A range of world-wide trends emphasizes the growing importance of the CRT as the millennium approaches. Tensions arise through the continuing gulf between rich and poor, between the industrialized and the developing economies.
International institutions transcend the framework of national governments, laws and regulations.
Backed by increasingly sophisticated communication technologies, public scrutiny intensifies and expectations of business practice and performance become more rigorous and intrusive. In this setting the shared conviction of those participating in the CRT is that business in serving a global society has a crucial role in identifying and promoting sustainable and equitable solutions to the key global issues affecting the physical, social and economic environments. The mission of the CRT is to promote principled business leadership and responsible corporate practice in support of successful and sustainable business activity and the common good of the world-wide communities served. Corporations must be increasingly responsive to issues affecting the physical, social and economic environments not only because of their impact on business performance but also out of a pro-active sense of responsibility to all constituencies served. Meeting traditional objectives and performance criteria is not sufficient.