Your business deserves to grow and be profitable, but you would also like to do some good in your community or find ways to benefit the environment we live in. Real-life corporate social responsibility (CSR) examples range from high-cost charitable giving to making changes that reduce costs, raise profits, and benefit society and the environment.
While the latter type of CSR example may be considered a matter of pragmatism, it still offers benefits. In an ideal world, each company gives, supports, or forms CSR partnerships according to its capacity. From the big and bold to the low-profile yet thoughtful, there are many inspiring examples of corporate social responsibility out there.
In a world where we are desperate for good news, these stories spanning a range of industries may inspire you, giving you aspirational or actionable tips for your responsible corporate future.
Unilever
London-based Unilever has received many accolades for its approach to CSR. The company begins its approach to sustainability at home, taking care of worker wellbeing and promoting diversity. As a powerful company with worldwide influence, it may yet change the world through its funding of important research, including sustainable agriculture and water stewardship.
One percent of the company’s pre-tax profits goes to community initiatives. Despite scaling back some of its ambitious sustainability goals, the company intends to have a worldwide positive impact through a focus on plastics reduction and recyclability, care for the environment, and community upliftment.
Companies House: Leading the Way Through Sustainable Practices and Volunteering
It’s good to know that government entities are contributing to sustainability rather than just calling for it. Companies House explains that it uses carefully vetted supply chains and strives to limit its own waste and emissions. The organisation also sets a great example by volunteering for community initiatives.
Expecting your employees to “volunteer” their own free time is a clear case of doing CSR the wrong way. Companies House sets the CSR example by allowing each employee five workdays a year for volunteer activities. These include litter picking, volunteering at food banks, and doing free work at an animal welfare charity.
Greggs: Doing Its Part To Make The World a Better Place
Greggs means business when it comes to baking, but also on the CSR front. Its Breakfast Clubs offer healthy breakfasts to children in need, and the company raises funds to support the BBC Children in Need program and other charitable initiatives. The company has committed to producing products that will be healthier choices for consumers and is absorbing the higher cost of free-range eggs for the sake of animal welfare.
Abel & Cole: Responsibility and Generosity
Abel & Cole is renowned for its organic fruit and veg subscription service. As such, CSR is entwined with the business’s central activities and core values, and Abel & Cole goes beyond that by giving back, too. This RSVP customer donates, volunteers, and even collects children’s books for needy kids to learn from and enjoy.
Apart from keeping its business activities as sustainable as it can, it collects plastics for recycling, uses less plastic, and offers customers the option of choosing refillable containers. Its voluntary sustainability report provides a great example of CSR and is recommended reading for companies seeking to develop a holistic approach to sustainability.
Audible: Fostering Access to Educational Content And More
We couldn’t resist featuring at least one more of our inspiring clients among our CSR examples, and we love this famous brand’s approach. Audible is helping the world by doing what it does best: offering audiobooks. Of course, not all students can afford educational resources like this, but the company has made a huge volume of content available to students for free.
This will be particularly helpful to students in disadvantaged communities as they work to better their future prospects. From volunteering to promoting the arts, Audible is setting a great example that we hope will inspire you.
Get Inspired with RSVP
Following Audible’s example, RSVP is giving back by using its core business strengths to serve the community. You can join us in building better futures, and the best part is that by supporting our initiative, you will get a professional business service for less.
Our Restart Program works with G4S and His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service to give people who have atoned for past errors a fresh start in life. At the same time, it may contribute to safer communities. People who have paid their debt to society and are released from prison often reoffend for the simple reason that they are unable to find jobs.
We make it easier for them to start a new life by providing an accredited training program at HMP Five Wells. Putting their newly learned skills into practice, soon-to-be-released prisoners get a chance to gain real work experience and earn a little money. We don’t stop there. Our trainees may even get offers of longer-term employment through our program.
Restart Your CSR with RSVP
You benefit by allowing our trainees to act as your customer service call centre reps, and you’ll pay a discounted rate for a premium customer support service. We believe that our Restart program offers you an opportunity to give back while getting back. It’s a high-road solution for those who wish to boost their CSR profile through beneficial partnerships.
We need your support to make Restart work for everyone, and we have turned this CSR opportunity into a profitable proposition for you. If you’re interested in learning more about our example of corporate social responsibility and what Restart can do for you and for others, simply get in touch.