Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Corporate Social Responsibility: Tracking The Top Trends: 1.CSR Trend: Increased Transparency
Corporate Social Responsibility: Tracking The Top Trends: 1.CSR Trend: Increased Transparency
Corporate Social Responsibility: Tracking The Top Trends: 1.CSR Trend: Increased Transparency
Top Trends
As pressure is added by consumers seeking to make more responsible choices and by the
constraints of ever-dwindling natural resources, more companies are incorporating
sustainable strategies and adopting more socially responsible practices. Corporate social
responsibility, or CSR, is the business practice of pursuing social and environmental gains,
alongside financial gains. As the push for companies that do good increases, corporations of
all sizes are looking for ways to incorporate sustainable business practices into their
everyday.
Some of the most popular CSR trends in the area of corporate social responsibility include
increased transparency, investment in green technologies, local community and employee
engagement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Consumers are no longer satisfied with shady business dealings and hidden agendas but are
demanding to know more about previously internal matters. For example, even workers at
places like Google have openly protested the company's bid on a cloud computing contract
with US Customs and Border Protection. Just as nonprofits are subject to rigorous impact
reporting, financial transparency, and accountability, increased transparency is a CSR trend
that will only grow in coming years.
Whether it's fashion companies looking into alternative fabrics such as eucalyptus or recycled
water bottles, producing clean emissions through more rigorous machinery emissions tests, or
simply getting certifications like LEED for their buildings, green technology will certainly be
a growing trend for businesses looking to enhance their corporate social responsibility.
Also, corporate social responsibility initiatives actively attempt to engage in activities that
benefit their local communities as well as produce profits for the corporation. Not only are
there publicity benefits to be gleaned from getting involved in local communities, it can also
boost employee satisfaction. Increasingly, corporations interested in CSR are donating to
local nonprofits, funding the construction of things like schools in lower-income
neighborhoods, and becoming engaged with civic issues that affect where they do business.
Corporate-sanctioned volunteer events, especially during the holidays, is also an emerging
CSR trend that allows employees to volunteer their efforts and make positive contributions
with minimal time commitments.