CSR – the basis of responsible business. Why to get involved?

In the era of growing consumer awareness and new challenges in the modern world, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an indispensable element in the functioning of enterprises. The final product alone is not enough to build a network of loyal consumers around it. They need something more – a feeling that the values of the company they support with their consumer choices are consistent with their own; that their capital will be used to make the world a better place (or at least not to make it worse). These needs are satisfied precisely by CSR activities. Why else is it worth getting involved? What tools will help implement a company’s CSR strategy? Take a minute to find out!

CSR – table of contents:

1. What is CSR?
2. Why is CSR important?
3. Corporate social responsibility – examples of tools
4. FAQ. Questions and answers

What is CSR?

Answering the question, what is Corporate Social Responsibility, it should be stated that it is an area of activity of a company that focuses on the rational management of the enterprise. Because CSR activities have a considerable impact on the company’s image, their shaping is often the responsibility of the company’s public relations (PR) departments or specialists. If you’re interested in PR and how to approach it in your business, you can read an article we recently wrote about it here.

Why is CSR important?

Apart from the aspect of the importance of enterprises’ responsibility for the close business environment, i.e its society and surroundings, that plays a significant role from the business point of view. Customers expect the social involvement of enterprises to be an inherent part of their operations. What is more, they are willing to contribute to these changes – less and less frequently the affordable price is the determinant of interest in the product, and clients are willing to pay more for products manufactured in ethical conditions and without negative impact on the environment.

Moreover, the awareness that a given company is implementing CSR activities allows forming whole groups of loyal consumers, who will be convinced that everything offered by a given company is potentially the right choice for them. In turn, the attachment to a given brand forms a great basis for building a system of recommendations, in which customers are the intermediaries in the transfer of information about the company via the so-called whisper marketing. And this, in turn, is way more reliable than any traditional form of advertising.

However, loyalty is built not only by the external environment. Employees convinced of the consistency of their values with the company’s mission, vision and objectives will become devoted, motivated and efficient companions on the way to achieving common goals. Especially when the area of CSR activities is precisely ensuring a friendly atmosphere at work and respect for employee rights.

Finally, corporate social responsibility is an opportunity to stand out from the competition, build a positive image, and attract investors. Although the financial sphere does not directly belong to CSR, it remains inextricably linked with it. Being transparent and responsible has become a trend that brings measurable profits, a fact rather hidden from the public eye. And since it is a win-win situation, it is difficult to see any reasons against taking this direction.

Corporate social responsibility – examples of tools

As it has been mentioned, often PR departments or specialists in this field are responsible for implementing Corporate Social Responsibility in the company. There are many tools with the use of which it is possible. Examples of CSR in this dimension are as follows:

• setting up foundations,
• implementation of training,
• allocating a certain percentage of sales to designated CSR areas,
• social campaigns,
• organization of charity events,
• responsible manufacturing embodied in the form of dedicated labeling,
• employment ethics,
• scholarship funding,
• organizing collections,
• organization of media campaigns,
• social reporting,
• volunteering,
• pro-environmental actions.

To exploit the potential inherent in Corporate Social Responsibility, they all need to be properly presented. For it is the awareness of this kind of activities that allows to build interest around them, and consequently translates into benefits obtained from their implementation.

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