Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

 

Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, and responsible business) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

 

CSR is in close relation with sustainability and sustainable development.  Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The field of sustainable development can be broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability.

 

To be a responsible company, the management should deal with all three aspects of sustainability.

 

To see a unique collection of CSR best practices visit the CSR Europe homepage.