The Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility entails a variety of self-imposed measures to improve a company’s or corporation’s social and environmental impact, not only with the public and the consumers but also with their own staff. And it seems to be a successful concept, as about 70 percent of American companies are engaged in a form of corporate social responsibility, as of 2011. But companies do not just adopt CSR measures out of sheer goodwill and philanthropy; the heart of any business is to make profit and, fortunately, corporate social responsibility is not just beneficial to those who are affected by it. It also provides ideal opportunities to increase a company’s profits. Especially when it comes to sustainability and eco-friendliness, there are plenty of opportunities to improve a business, not only in terms of reducing its carbon footprint, but also with regard to profitability and overall efficiency.

Sustainable SMEs

Although big businesses are the main implementers of corporate social responsibility measures, the concept is certainly not restricted to large enterprises. To the contrary, if startups and SMEs employ corporate social responsibility strategies right from the start, it will provide them with ideal circumstances for continued growth. As mentioned above, sustainability and eco-friendliness are ideal concepts not only to contribute to the maintenance of the planet and its resources but also to improve a business on several levels. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of a company, for instance it is necessary to analyze internal processes and methods so as to determine what exactly contributes the most to energy consumption and waste. This enables any business to eliminate these cost factors and thus to save money, while simultaneously helping to reduce its carbon footprint.

A Lucrative Investment

Slimming the processes of a business in order to conform to sustainability requirements is not the only way to save money and carbon. In order to increase the effect, it is possible to take active steps and to make investments that will immediately and sustainably benefit a business and the environment. Having solarpanels installed, for instance, is a future-oriented solution that will help you cut utility costs of offices and decrease the building’s carbon footprint. Moreover, solar panels are also a visible sign of your commitment to sustainability. However, the key of CSR and sustainability measures is not to simply enforce them but to live and to represent them, as this will reflect the character of a company and will create a respectively positive consumer response that will benefit your company. Thus sustainability is a win-win for companies and consumers alike and its profitability is a powerful incentive.