White Paper Responsible Ownership

The white paper argues that business owners, particularly those in family-owned firms with concentrated ownership, are uniquely positioned to shift corporate strategy from short-term profit maximization to a 'force for good' model. It distinguishes responsible ownership from corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy by advocating for a holistic approach where sustainability is embedded in the core business model. The report provides case studies of companies like Henkel, Lego, and Celsa Group to demonstrate that ethical and sustainable practices can enhance commercial performance. It also outlines a governance framework that integrates family, ownership, and business governance to sustain a purpose-driven strategy.

• Responsible ownership differs from CSR and philanthropy because it is a holistic approach where owners ensure the entire enterprise's impact is positive, rather than confining activities to a specific department or separate foundation.
• Family businesses are well-positioned for responsible ownership due to concentrated ownership, which allows owners to impose values and implement radical shifts toward social and environmental responsibility through patient capital and stewardship.
• Evidence suggests that sustainable and ethical business models are commercially successful; a MITSloan project found that approximately 90% of respondents reported increased profits when combining several sustainability initiatives.
• The German manufacturer Henkel demonstrated the commercial viability of sustainability through its 'Factor 3' goal, achieving a 43% improvement in efficiency between 2010 and 2018 and reducing CO2 emissions per tonne of product by 25%.
• Lego is transitioning its materials to reduce environmental impact, with a target that by 2030 all toy plastic bricks will be made from plant-based or recycled materials, and it has already balanced 100% of its energy use with renewables as of 2017.
• The Celsa Group in Spain utilizes circular economy principles to recycle 4 million tonnes of scrap metal annually in Spain and 8 million tonnes globally, reducing energy consumption by 75% compared to traditional steel making.
• A survey of family business leaders revealed a gap in commitment: while 65.4% of time and energy is dedicated to long-term responsibility toward the business and employees, only 46.55% is dedicated to social and environmental responsibilities.
• Effective responsible ownership requires a holistic governance system that separates and coordinates business governance, family governance, and ownership governance.

APA

World Economic Forum (2019). White Paper Responsible Ownership. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FBC_Responsible_Ownership_Report.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. White Paper Responsible Ownership. 2019. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FBC_Responsible_Ownership_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=White Paper Responsible Ownership |date=June 2019 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FBC_Responsible_Ownership_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2019white, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{White Paper Responsible Ownership}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FBC_Responsible_Ownership_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }