The Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development, HR PSOR, celebrated its tenth anniversary in the Zagreb City Hall on 11th July 2007. 

HRPSOR as a non-profit organization was founded by 18 leading Croatian companies in 1997. They joined forces in promoting the sustainable development concept in the Croatian economy, based on the collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, WBCSD.

Today HR PSOR includes 35 member companies, most of them leaders in the industry and service segment in Croatia, such as Agrokor, Atlantic Group, Coca Cola, Croatia Airlines, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Holcim, Pliva, Podravka, Zagrebačka banka etc. With joined expertise, experience, capability and influence the member companies promote a balanced development model that unites business performance, social welfare and environmental protection. By doing so they apply the best practices adopted through the collaboration with the national and international organizations and partners and by insight into best international practices. They also implement the strategic aspects of sustainable development in their own operations.

The welcome speeches were held by the Croatian President's envoy, by the representative of the Croatian Employers Association, Croatian Chamber of Commerce and by the Head of HRPSOR, Mirjana Matešić. Then Gordana Kovačević, current president of the HRPSOR Board and president of Ericsson Nikola Tesla gave a talk. Björn Stigson, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that now includes some 200 international companies and is the umbrella organization of HRPSOR and Darko Marinac, the first (former) president of the HRPSOR Board and president of the Managing Board of Podravka addressed the guests. Then activities and significant results were presented, among them the Environmental Indices Methodology project. Recognition awards were presented to individuals who had contributed in an exceptional manner to the activities and results of HRPSOR during the first decade of its work.

Gordana Kovačević, president of the HRPSOR Board pointed out in her speech the role business plays both as a leader and change initiator in the sustainable development. She also emphasized the huge and non-transferable responsibility we have to the future generations. "By promoting the principles of sustainable development and social responsibility in Croatia we create the prerequisites for better operations, higher productivity, efficient resource management, environmental protection, in short, for a better life of individuals and the community. We accepted that challenge and took the road to business excellence. There we build trust and confidence and encourage change; to be successful we need innovative and competent people and new technologies,"she said.

Björn Stigson, President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development presented 10 WBCSD's messages by which to operate. They state that the business world should accept and support the sustainable development because it is good for business. Access to market and fair competition are the prerequisites for sustainable development and good governance is needed to make business a part of the solution. Eco-efficiency, i.e. doing more with less, is at the core of sustainable development. Ecosystems in balance are a further prerequisite for business.

During the celebration ceremony some current projects were presented: HRPSOR has together with the Community for Socially Responsible Business at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), elaborated the methodology for lining up companies based on non-financial indicators. Soon the partners (HGK and HR PSOR) will carry out the selection and awarding procedure in order to promote good practices and to educate about the opportunities companies have to achieve sustainability.

At the end of anniversary celebration Gordana Kovačević and Björn Stigson presented the recognition awards to individuals who served HRPSOR in an exceptional manner, among them Dubravka Bačun, ETK Environmental Manager.

Communication Ericsson Nikola Tesla