Corporations love to have their names on giant sports stadiums (who wouldn’t?), and they love any kind of attention to their brand, so long as it’s positive attention. In the past, corporations have demonstrated traits that did not jive with a socially conscious organization, like participating in fair trade or improving labor policies. Corporate social responsibility is an important concept for the health of businesses, their employees, and the communities in which they exist because it insists that the corporation be accountable to the system in which it flourishes. There are many ways that a corporation can embrace social responsibility. 

1. Donating to Charities

The concept of giving is sometimes out of step with corporate culture, in which the bottom line speaks loudest. Yet the positive attention that can be garnered from giving resources to charitable organizations is tantamount to the potential good that it can do. It should serve as a company-wide message that profit is not the only line to consider. 

2. Reducing Carbon Footprint

There are lots of dynamic initiatives that apply to reducing a company’s carbon footprint. As part of corporate social responsibility, the recognition that corporations, with their resources, must help to protect our planet is too big to miss. Science has been ringing the alarm for many years about how the world needs to trend green to try to halt the effects of climate change. Ways to initiate such green programs include educating employees and offering them flexible schedules that may involve working remotely and hosting and participating in virtual meetings and conferences instead of traveling. Revamping means of production is another salient concept when it comes to thinking green.

3. Representing All Peoples

Diversity and inclusion are important and such policies help to ensure that the best candidates do not get overlooked. When underrepresented groups are offered opportunities, their successes become the company’s successes. Acknowledging that quality business traits exist within all types of people is admirable, but putting diverse candidates forward for management and executive positions is tantamount to widening the think tank. Like all effective efforts toward corporate social responsibility, initiating programming is good, but sustaining it is essential. 

4. Investing in Topical Movements

The platform that corporations have is immense. Billions are spent on advertising, persuading people to think certain ways about certain things. Corporations can use this same paradigm to help people to consider topical matters like saving the planet from pollution or issues of social justice. Of course, not everybody thinks the same way about all things, but some truths should be spoken out loud. Besides, the corporate logo will be right there in the spotlight generating buzz and positive ethos by backing the right issues.