Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility can be defined as a responsible business achieving commercial success in ways that honour ethical values and respect people, communities and the natural environment. These businesses minimise any negative environmental and social impacts and maximise the positive ones.

Corporate Social Responsibility (or more recently corporate social investment) has increased in importance around the world. Much of the content of the reports focus on large companies but small lean businesses need a different approach to enhance their social responsibilities.

This article explores Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the practical stance of the smaller business.  For CSR to be adopted as a principle, it needs not only to be understood, but practical steps must be provided to make this valuable concept accessible and sustainable. Thus as a manager, one needs to know what and how this can be attained easily today.

In 2002 a survey of Small-Medium sized Enterprises (SME) attitudes to CSR identified a number of issues:

• A large number of SME’s were already engaged in social responsibility where defined as a contribution to the community, relations with employees and protection of the environment.
• Training, employment and education were the top priorities for SME investment.
• SME’s were not yet defining social responsibility as an issue that could be integrated into all core business activities.

                                                                                                                             
Simple ways to apply CSR principles to your business

   1. Recycle printer and toner cartridges – or use continuous ink systems
2. Buy and use fair trade products – tea, coffee, etc
3. Buy materials and from suppliers that use sustainable sources
4. Look at how your staff travel to work – walk, drive, bus, cycle etc
5. Ensure Lights, computers and other equipment are switched off when not in use
6. Pay staff, suppliers and creditors on time
7. Turn the heating or air conditioning down a degree
8. Replace lighting with low energy bulbs – and turn off at night
9. Print and photocopy only when necessary and double-sided – only print the first page of emails
10. Encourage support for local not-for-profit and community based organisations.
11. Set up flexible working