When people discuss corporate social responsibility, the first thing that comes to mind is charitable giving. However, this is just one of 4 types of corporate social responsibility, and some companies add categories of each of these as focus points.
This article examines the practical implications of different types of corporate social responsibility, illustrating how responsible businesses benefit their employees, owners, investors, society, and the environment in which we live.
Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility
From wasteful resource use to pollution and urban sprawl, human activity has harmed the environment to the point where many people are at risk. A responsible business considers its negative environmental impacts and works to reduce or offset them. Examples of this include:
Limiting Waste
Inefficient use of scarce resources is bad for everyone. By working more efficiently and minimising waste, companies can mitigate the negative impacts of their activities. This also improves profitability. After all, wasted resources equate to wasted costs.
Recycling
From packaging to office paper, a business can produce large volumes of waste that may end up in overburdened landfills. Many responsible businesses recycle waste, sending it to companies that recover useful materials.
Limiting Energy Use
Although the UK is generating more clean energy these days, not all energy comes from clean sources. Some companies generate their own electricity and work from energy-efficient buildings that require less energy for heating, lighting, and cooling.
Reducing Emissions
Factories are working hard to reduce emissions, and fleets are increasingly consisting of electric cars and trucks. Local sourcing is another strategy that helps to reduce transportation emissions. With reduced air pollution, we enjoy cleaner air, improved health, and a brighter future for our planet.
Conserving Water
Surprisingly large amounts of water are needed to produce everyday products. Nowadays, responsible businesses are looking for ways to reduce water usage, and some even recycle their wastewater. Since drinking water is an increasingly rare resource, every bit helps.
Ethical and Human Rights Corporate Social Responsibility
There are several significant topics to explore, with both local and global implications. Naturally, a responsible business works to maintain legal compliance and a high standard of ethics in its dealings with employees and the public. However, they can look beyond their own businesses, too.
Monitoring supply chains for human rights abuses, such as child labour and modern slavery, are among the things businesses can do for the betterment of global society. A business is only as ethical as its supply chain, and with ever-improving traceability, it is becoming possible to vet suppliers more carefully than ever before.
Economic Corporate Social Responsibility
Businesses are responsible to their customers, employees, investors, and governments for compliance with economic best practices. Apart from complying with laws and regulations, they must work to remain profitable, since only a profitable business can reliably serve its community.
Another approach is to provide economic benefits to communities. For example, a company can choose to provide work opportunities in disadvantaged communities or help to revitalise neighbourhoods.
Philanthropic Corporate Social Responsibility
When businesses are strong, are generating profits, and are confident that they are doing all they can to be responsible in their operations, they can look further afield to see how they can help people and the environment.
They may donate some of their goods or profits to charitable organisations or community initiatives, hoping to better society and contribute to a better world. Other businesses may not have plentiful funds, but they can help by volunteering or collecting money for charities.
Focus Areas That Some Businesses Highlight as Important Types of Corporate Social Responsibility
Some businesses highlight specific areas that fit into the 4 types of corporate social responsibility because they believe they can make the most difference there. For example, British Petroleum places special emphasis on the environment and its quest for net-zero operations.
For many service-oriented companies, on the other hand, the people-oriented aspects are the top focus areas. They may strive to be equitable employers through diversity and inclusion programs, or they may focus on employee well-being and engagement.
Financial service providers may place a particular emphasis on governance, demonstrating their economic and financial responsibility. Each company’s strategists should therefore think about the areas where they can make the most positive difference to the greatest number of people.
Save Money, Offer Better Customer Service, and Benefit Society With RSVP
As we have pointed out, responsible businesses can enhance their profits while benefitting others at the same time. You can partner with RSVP and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services to do just that. Here’s how you can save money, offer your customers better service, and help others all at the same time.
RSVP, in partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services, has launched the Restart initiative. We provide accredited customer service training for people who have shown their commitment to rehabilitation and are nearing the end of their sentences.
They get an opportunity to test their newfound skills and earn a little money by working through our call centre at Five Wells Prison. By the time they are released, they have valuable work experience and a qualification. We will even search for employment opportunities so that they step out of prison and into paid employment.
According to the Ministry of Justice’s statistics, this may reduce the chance of re-offending by as much as 50 percent. Rehabilitated prisoners benefit from a fresh start, and society benefits too. Meanwhile, you can help our best trainees gain valuable work experience. We will ensure that they understand how to represent your business effectively, and you can gain their services at a lower cost than our premium offering. It’s the ultimate win-win situation.
Boost Your Business’s CSR Profile With RSVP
RSVP, a premium customer service company based in London, is proud of its trainees at HMP Five Wells. They will do you proud, too. To participate in this CSR initiative, simply talk to us about our Restart program.
Our regular customer service and business process outsourcing activities continue as before. However, we believe that with Restart, we are offering a competitively priced service that will benefit you, your customers, and our successful trainees alike. Enquire today for a better tomorrow.