LONDON, ON, March 3 /CNW/ - A report released today by Canadian undergraduate student leaders outlines practices they expect businesses to adopt in order to become responsible corporate citizens.

"As we emerge from the recession, competing for top talent will again become a priority for business," said Tom Ewart, Managing Director of the Network for Business Sustainability, which compiled the report. "Successfully attracting that top talent requires listening carefully to what they have to say."

Entitled "The New Normal: Sustainable Practices your Future Employees will Demand," the report captures dozens of recommendations from student participants of IMPACT! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership.

While the students developed specific recommendations for various sectors, six sustainable practices emerged across all sectors:

    -   Minimize waste through closed-loop business models.
    -   Establish and enforce clear sectoral standards of practice.
    -   Increase transparency.
    -   Encourage carbon emissions regulation.
    -   Increase student involvement in business.
    -   Increase community engagement.

"Young people entering the workforce are placing more and more emphasis on prospective employers' performance as responsible corporate citizens," said Bernie Mitchell, Vice-President of Human Resources at The Co-operators. "This report provides insight into what Canadian student leaders value and expect from businesses. This is useful information for any organization hoping to attract highly capable young staff members in the years ahead."

The full report is available on the Network website: www.nbs.net/new_normal and the IMPACT! website: www.impactyouthsustainability.ca/en.

IMPACT! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership was a partnership of The Co-operators, the Network for Business Sustainability of the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan's Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, Wilfred Laurier University, The Natural Step Canada, The David Suzuki Foundation and AIESEC.