The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a leader in animal care, conservation and recreation, has formed a new Commercial Member Engagement Council.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has announced the formation of a new Commercial Member Engagement Council (CMEC). The aim of this council is to look at how the economic, environmental and social aspects of business interact, and to set the standard for the association’s members when it comes to conserving wildlife. The first members include SSA and Event Network.
Good Corporate Citizenship
The council will examine how AZA’s commercial members, who total almost 325, can best achieve a unified strategy for Good Corporate Citizenship. The business practice of Good Corporate Citizenship is a way for members to ensure that sustainable development is a key part of their business models. It also includes a new platform that enables companies to reach a wider or more specific audience for cause marketing campaigns.
“Corporate citizenship extends across a broad field that includes good governance, sound, transparent financial reporting, and ethical decision making,” says Dan Ashe, AZA’s President and CEO. “AZA’s commercial members are already exhibiting such initiatives, large and small.”
These campaigns and initiatives include key global issues. For example, the need for sustainable palm oil options, ways of tackling climate change and carbon emissions, and the introduction of more sustainable products.
More information about AZA Commercial Membership is available on the association’s website.
At the end of last year, AZA announced that its 215 accredited zoos and aquariums in the US make a key contribution to the country’s economy. A report conducted by Dr Stephen Fuller, a prominent economist, shows that these AZA members generate local, regional and national economic benefits.
These institutions serve over 183 million visitors annually and sustain over 212,000 jobs, helping to generate $24 billion through the value of goods and services.