Nexen Inc. is a dynamic, high growth, international oil, gas and chemicals company with roots in Canada and operations that branch worldwide. Globalization, social justice concerns, environmental issues, competitive labour markets and advances in technology have forever altered the playing field for companies like Nexen. In response to these emerging issues, Nexen has implemented its Integrity Program which takes a triple bottom line approach aimed at integrating economic, environmental and social considerations into strategic direction and planning. Eventually, Nexen will subject its approach to external, independent verification to assure completeness, accuracy and rigor of systems. Nexen is actively preparing for verification. It has been an evolutionary process dating back to the early 1990s.
Over the years, organization and responsibilities, formal reporting and the performance of audits, assessments and inspection have all evolved in response to societal changes. Currently, Nexen is in the process of revitalizing its management system. In addition, by engaging in global initiatives, Nexen has progressively adopted procedures and practices to ensure continuous improvement. This paper will describe the evolution of Nexen's reporting and portray the global networking milieu in which Nexen is expanding its understanding of corporate social responsibility. The paper will also illustrate how Nexen has enhanced its reporting system and participated in global initiatives which have led to the implementation of Responsible Care® at its sour gas production and processing operations in Calgary, Canada.
Nexen's core oil and gas activities include exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It is also a global producer of bleaching products which are sold primarily to the pulp and paper industry.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is defined by the World Business Council on Sustainable Development as the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large. In the last few years, Nexen's approach to CSR has become more comprehensive and operationally integrated. Nexen's five pillars of CSR are: business practices, community investment, employee relations, safety and environment, and customer and supplier relations.
Nexen's Integrity Program is the vehicle by which it implements CSR. It focuses on ensuring that Nexen's commitment to CSR is more than simply words. Nexen has successfully translated its definition of CSR into comprehensive and innovative practices which benefit the company and its stakeholders.
Nexen sees CSR as an area of emerging global importance. Besides being the right thing to do, fostering