Businesses should engage in corporate social responsibility since it contributes to the sustainability and growth of the world. It supports social causes in the society with the aim of satisfying basic human needs like hunger and lack of shelter; furthermore, it addresses various environmental issues including global warming.
There are a variety of ways in which a corporate body can offer its support, including setting up foundations which can benefit the needy, cash donations to under listed activities or providing their technical expertise (Kotler & Lee 4).
Although there are several organizations, notably the agencies grouped under the umbrella of the UN, whose main responsibility is to tackle the various issues affecting the populace like poverty, other business organizations should invest more in social responsibility.
This is because some of the organizations like Exxon Mobil make larger profits than the amount allocated for, say, UN aid. An argument by other organizations that there are no direct or tangible profits brought forth by corporate social responsibility may arise due to factors like the one stated above.
Businesses which are corporate social responsible should have policies which ensure they stick to law, ethical and environmental standards set consequently embracing responsibility for their actions. This defines what they stand for and guides them on their mission. Stipulations governing environmental pollution and degradation should be clearly defined and adhered to.
Polluter pays principle should also apply, whereby the entity damaging the environment is responsible for returning it to its original state. Emission criteria should be set for companies which use toxic emissions consequently they should be adhered to. Accountability, through acquiescence to rules, transparency and responsiveness to legitimate expectations is indeed of great importance. An organization must be accountable for its economic, environmental and social impacts (Visser, Mahten & Pohl 4).
Social accountability enables the organizations to interact with the society, adding value to their fiscal and social progress and proving that they owe their success to the society (Crowther, Lez 5). It may take the form of providing employment opportunities for top graduates who are taking part in their projects, or providing capacity building programs for orphanages or children homes.
Community development is another major way of interacting with the community. A nation or state can be rich or poor depending on the social responsibility of NGO’s and business organizations. The amount of effort put into social responsibility will ultimately determine the amount of wealth created (Crowther, Lez 5).
Efficiency in manufacturing and disposal of products should be enhanced consequently fulfilling environmental social accountability. Organizations should strive to advise their staff, the communities and the general public about their products. This is the case with how to store and dispose them off. The environment should be well- sustained, maintained and enhanced. This can be done through awareness seen in road shows and educating people on how to utilize products.
Precision of corporate dealings and their activities is of importance in corporate social responsibility. How an organization acquires its raw materials, the manufacturing and packaging process and negative effects of its activities should be properly documented in its policies. Effective preventive and restorative measures of combating such effects should be put in place.
Corporate social responsibility should be enhanced within the business setting. This not only improves an organization’s standing in the community but also contributes to its success. This is evident in increase returns and ability to attract competent individuals from the society. The environment in its different forms such as the people, natural surroundings and relations benefit from corporate social responsibility (Crowther, Lez 5).
Works Cited
Crowther, David. & Rayman, Bacchus. Perspective on corporate social responsibility. Vermont: Ashgate publishing limited, 2005 8. Print.
Kotler, Philip. & Lee, Nancy. Corporate social responsibility. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2005 (1) 3-4.Print.
Visser, Wayne. Matten, Dirk. & Pohl, Manfred. The A to Z of corporate social Responsibility: a complete reference guide to concepts, codes and organizations. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2007, 4-5. Print.