Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is when a business takes into account its overall impact socially, economically, and environmentally, and launches initiatives to ensure its positive impact.
Businesses should strategize CSR practices that align with the organization’s overall mission and help support those goals. Companies and individuals alike can hold themselves responsible in their conduct to better the world around them.
Let’s learn more about corporate social responsibility and how organizations can practice it.
CSR initiatives
Very broadly, CSR involves individuals within a business or organization concluding that a problem or issue exists and then devising a solution to help tackle it. Any CSR initiative will start there. However, there are about as many directions to take with a CSR initiative as there are organizations that engage in such initiatives.
Examples of CSR initiatives
Many businesses throughout the U.S. provide support to their local communities through charitable giving or employee CSR volunteering with local groups. For example, a company could encourage employees to volunteer their time to help reduce the buildup of litter on the roadside. This volunteering effort would provide a service for the community while protecting the natural environment at the same time. Through the initiative, the company would promote its local community as a clean, healthy place to live and work.
Many clothing manufacturers, another great example, work hard to provide the best clothing on the market, and many consumers are willing to pay higher prices for clothing they know is the highest possible quality. But today’s consumer is often also willing to pay a premium for clothing from a company with a conscience. A clothing manufacturing company could implement a CSR initiative to donate climate-appropriate clothing to those in need around the world. The campaign could mean that the company donates one item to a person in need for every purchase made by a shopper. This would help the company make an impact as well as making the consumer feel they’ve made an impact. Consumers are glad to make purchases that help send clothing to someone in need.
These are just some of the many inspiring CSR examples to observe and learn from that you can apply to your own programs.
Why CSR matters
CSR’s importance rests in helping ensure that businesses and individuals are conscientious of the influence they have on the world around them. Without CSR, there would likely be less concern for protecting the environment, helping those in need, or supporting local communities. So it is a good practice for businesses and individuals to incorporate CSR initiatives into their plans to cultivate positive influences on society as a whole.
Any company should consider implementing CSR initiatives since it can transform your business. Not only will it provide benefits to the world, but when done correctly, it can revolutionize the way consumers view a business. If a company clearly demonstrates through impactful CSR initiatives that they are concerned with doing all they can to have a positive effect on the world, it will strengthen trust and loyalty from customers and employees.
CSR has reshaped how businesses conduct themselves and how consumers view them. Just producing quality products and services is no longer the deciding factor that drives customers. CSR initiatives help bring about positive change on many levels and allow a company or individual to pursue their passions and goals while still maintaining a healthy bottom line.
If you and your organization are ready to make CSR a priority, consider choosing a CSR software to help you collect, review, and select worthy causes.
Sarah Aswell is an editor and content strategist at Submittable. She’s also a writer and stand-up comedian who gets rejected via Submittable all the time. You can read her comedy criticism at Forbes, follow her on Twitter, or learn more about her creative work on her website.