Founding

The Caux Round Table was founded in 1986 by Frederick Phillips, former President of Philips Electronics and Olivier Giscard d'Estaing, former Vice-Chairman of INSEAD, as a means of reducing escalating trade tensions. 

At the urging of Ryuzaburo Kaku, then Chairman of Canon, Inc., the CRT began focusing attention on the importance of global corporate responsibility in reducing social and economic threats to world peace and stability.

The CRT Principles for Business were formally launched in 1994, and presented at the United Nations World Summit on Social Development in 1995.  The CRT Principles for Business articulate a comprehensive set of ethical norms for businesses operating internationally or across multiple cultures.  The CRT Principles for Business emerged from a series of dialogues catalyzed by the Caux Round Table during the late 1980's and early 1990's.  They are the product of collaboration between executives from Europe, Japan, and the United States, and were fashioned in part from a document called "The Minnesota Principles."  The CRT Principles for Business have been published in twelve languages, reprinted in numerous textbooks and articles, and utilized in business school curricula worldwide.  The Principles are recognized by many as the most comprehensive statement of responsible business practice ever formulated by business leaders for business leaders.