What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business practice that measures the impact of an organization’s activities on society and the environment. This is achieved through transparent and ethical behavior that:
- Contributes to sustainable development, including the health and welfare of society;
- Acknowledges the expectations of stakeholders and customers;
- Complies with applicable laws and is consistent with international norms;
- Applies to the entire organization and is reflected in relationships with external stakeholders.
The Six Core Subjects Identified by ISO 2600:
- Human rights
- Labor practices
- The environment
- Fair operating practices
- Consumer issues
- Community Involvementand development
CSR goes hand in hand with sustainable sourcing and helps:
- Support and respect the protection of human rights, ensure your business is not complicit with any abuses throughout its operations and seek to eliminate all forms of forced labor;
- Promote equality and eliminate discrimination in employment;
- Determine responsibility for the environmental impacts of your business;
- Implement strict ethical business practices, including anti-corruption measures, responsible marketing and whistle-blower mechanisms;
- Embrace transparency and report on your company’s CSR progress;
- Extend this responsibility to your supply chain and ensure these principles are upheld by your suppliers, partners, distributors and other third parties.