Definitions of CSR
Review the different CSR and Sustainability definitions and approaches are listed below
Organization / Type of organization / Definition of CSR / Source /ILO / International Organization / “Corporate social responsibility is a way in which enterprises give consideration to the impact of their operations on society and affirm their principles and values both in their own internal methods and processes and in their interaction with other actors. CSR is a voluntary, enterprise-driven initiative and refers to activities that are considered to exceed compliance with the law.” / ILO Governing Body 2006
UK / Governmental organization / “The voluntary actions that business can take, over and above compliance with minimum legal requirements, to address both its own competitive interest and the interest of wider society” / www.csr.gov.uk
European Commission / Governmental Organizations / ““the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society.”
“To fully meet their corporate social responsibility, enterprises should have in place a process to integrate social, environmental, ethical and human rights concerns into their business operations and core strategy in close collaboration with their stakeholders” / European Commission; 2011-2014 strategy on CSR
Confederation of British Industry / Business Association / “The acknowledgment by companies that they should be accountable not only for their financial performance, but for the impact of their activities on society and/or the environment.” / www.cbi.org.uk/
World Business Council for Sustainable Development / Business Association / “The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large” / WBCSD, 1999, “CSR: Meeting Changing Expectations”
H&M / company / All we do must be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. It is all highly connected and important for our future growth. We want to make sustainable fashion choices available, attractive and affordable to as many people as possible. Our planet is facing scarcity issues on many fronts and too many people still live in poverty. Clean water, climate change, textile waste, wages and overtime in supplier factories are some of the key challenges in the textile industry. / sustainability.hm.com
CSR Asia / Social Enterprise / “A company’s commitment to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner while balancing the interest of diverse stakeholders”. / www.csr-asia.com
IKEA / company / IKEA's low prices must never be achieved at the expense of people or the environment. That is a condition for doing good business. Our customers must always feel that the products they buy are safe to use. IKEA products must be manufactured under acceptable working conditions by suppliers who take responsibility for the environment. We do not accept child labour. The IKEA Group supports sustainable forestry and our long-term goal is to source all wood in the IKEA range from forests certified as responsibly managed. We work actively to reduce IKEA's impact on the climate change. / www.ikea.com
· What are the essential elements and building blocks of CSR?
· Why are drivers for business to work on CSR?
· What are elements that could be added to your ideal definition of CSR?