What is CSR?

There are many definitions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Government describes CSR as “the voluntary actions that business can take, over and above compliance with minimum legal requirements, to address both its own competitive interests and the interests of wider society”. For more information on the Government’s role in CSR, see their website.

CSR looks at the social, economic and environmental impact your company’s operations can have on society.

The diagram below outlines some key considerations.

 

What Corporate Social Responsibility means in practice

Corporate Social Responsibility in practice diagram

  
  • What is the social or environmental impact of your product/service?
  • How are you engaging with the community?
  • Are you promoting adequate work-life balance to your workforce?
  • How diverse are your staff and how robust is your equal opportunities policy?
  • How transparent are your corporate governance procedures?
  • How ethical are your suppliers?
  • How socially responsible are your investment and your procurement policies?
  • What impact do you make upon the environment, both through your internal activities as well as through your external?