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What is corporate
responsibility?
Let's start from the top.
Corporate responsibility,
also called corporate
sustainability,
sustainable business,
corporate conscience,
corporate social responsibility,
corporate citizenship or
responsible business.
It's a term that we use to
describe a company's effort
to give back to society,
make people's lives better
and the real world a much
better place to live in.
The United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation
defines corporate social
responsibility as,
"...a management concept
whereby companies integrate
social and environmental
concerns in their business,
while at the same time addressing the
expectations of shareholders and stakeholders."
Some key CSR issues are:
environmental management,
eco-efficiency,
responsible sourcing,
fair labour policies and working
conditions come with that,
employee and community
relations, social equity,
which a lot has been talked
about in the recent past,
diversity and inclusion,
human rights,
good governance and
anti-corruption measures.
As you can see, a lot
goes on under CSR issues.
A properly implemented
CSR concept can bring
along a variety of competitive
advantages for brands including:
Improved brand image
and reputation,
enhanced customer loyalty,
enhanced access to
capital and markets,
and finally, increased
sales and profits.
A common approach to CSR
is corporate philanthropy,
which is monetary
donations and aid given to
non-profit organisations
and communities,
barring political contributions
and commercial events sponsorship,
donations are made in areas
such as arts, education,
housing, health, social welfare
and environment, among others.
Philanthropy, on the other hand,
is different from charity,
though there are some other
areas that may overlap.
Charity aims to ameliorate a
particular social problem.
Philanthropy, on the other hand,
addresses the core or the
root cause of the problem.