Comments on: Main Corporate Sustainability Drivers

By: Elaine Cohen

Elaine Cohen — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:54:01 +0000

I usually cite 3 possible reasons for adopting a csr approach:

(1) reputation and risk management - the company has been attacked or risks being attacked for anti-social or environmental behaviour cf Nike, Gap, BP
(2) business opportunity - the company sees new sectors, efficiency opportunities or reputation enhancement opportunities cf GE, HP
(3) values - the business owner or leader is one who values ethics and social /environmental justice.cf Body Shop, Ben and Jerrys

Sooner or later , these three reasons converge, whatever the start point in any business.

Elaine, csr consultant and reporter
http://www.b-yond.biz

By: Glenn Keays

Glenn Keays — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:21:06 +0000

To me, it usually boils down to risk management, which might seem to be a cynical viewpoint, but I think it’s an honest one. Corporations are coming around to realizing that business risk can be in many forms. Lack of awareness of their ’stakeholders’ could mean losing market share, noncompliance with changing standards and laws, loss of reputation and reduced employee loyalty/retention. Environmental impacts cost money, could affect raw material supply and cause legal issues. Being more socially responsible means being able to maintain a viable customer / supplier base.

To temper this, I will admit that a small percentage of organizations are driven by strong principles and altruistic tendencies. But this is a small percentage and very few companies have even bothered to report on their activities. But really, what’s wrong with taking a business approach to sustainability if it achieves the required results?

Glenn Keays

By: Edison Reis

Edison Reis — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:36:45 +0000

Hello Guy

Thanks for you feedback.

You got a point there. The reasons are almost endless and it is very hard to really find out why some companies are doing it. (you may get the “official” answer instead the real one)

We do have our own interesting initiative and the reason is clear for me. (well …. I am the company owner so I should know why)

http://www.qualityassurancemanagement.com/charity-challenge.php

The objective is not for marketing or damage control but, just an understanding that corporations have an ethical obligation towards our society and that was all.

Since we started it, 2 other companies decided to introduce something like our “why not charity challenge” and that’s really rewarding.

Keep up the good work

All the best

Edison Reis

By: Pekka Rautala

Pekka Rautala — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:35:26 +0000

Many of the reasons you listed sum implicitly up to:

1) sustaining profits.

a) Clearly the Image power attracts customers and all interested parties,

b) the Source Reduction lowers material costs

c) and the Human Resource factors are powerful drivers of motivation and sense of belonging.

Therefore management should promote sustainability for long term economic reasons.

Pekka Rautala

By: Guy Williams

Guy Williams — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:33:25 +0000

Interestingly whilst I agree with the points above the main reason why I have found companies take up the baton is brand protection and brand value from both a proactive marketing perspective and a defensive position of avoiding negative publicity. What do you think?

Guy Williams