A new study released today by Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS) revealed that, despite recent high profile abuses, U.S. companies still lag behind their European counterparts when it comes to doing business ethically. However, businesses have significantly improved corporate social responsibility (CSR) across the globe today than 25 years ago, the study says.

As report author Bob Gordon puts it:

“Corporate responsibility continues to evolve from what was a mainly philanthropic activity to a more mainstream approach where it is integrated into core business activities.”

The study compares businesses from different countries and ranks them in categories such as independence of directors, human rights issues and environmental responsibility.

Read the story from The Independent.

Commentary: A notable example of U.S. companies lagging behind their European counterparts is in environmental policy rankings (in terms of the percentage of businesses by country that have basic or advanced environmental policies in place). The United States ranks 17th overall. Japan and Canada are the only two non-European countries ahead of the U.S. on the list. Perhaps high-profile activists like Al Gore will help make improvements in this category, but documentaries about other subjects such as “Separation of Chairmen From CEOs” might not catch on quite as easily (a category where the United States ranks dead last).