CSR, or corporate social responsibility, is a business model or strategy that helps a company to become socially responsible and accountable.
According to one study, nearly half of consumers are looking for brands that are leading the way to make the world a better place.
However, while many companies talk about these issues, many fail to act on them. Unfortunately, this is not a successful strategy. Action must be taken rather than hollow words. If your business is ready to engage in CSR, here are some things you need to consider to create a successful CSR strategy.
Act now, talk less
Since the United Nations developed the Millennium Development Goals, companies and governments all over the world made grand statements about what they were doing to tackle the issues. However, decades on, and there have been relatively small improvements.
Now, the UN has released new goals, the Sustainable Development Goals, and over 120 countries have recently taken part in COP26, the UN climate change conference. Once again, governments and companies are saying that they are committed to making a difference. However, it is yet to be seen whether strong action will actually be taken.
However, this is the wrong approach. With so many consumers valuing CSR, businesses need to stop talking and actually do something. Although CSR goals should be communicated well, actions speak louder than words.
What do businesses need to do?
From the outset, companies should begin by setting out a defined list of CSR principles, as well as a timeframe. These timeframes should be realistic but not lofty. Consumers want to see change, not just promises of a better future.
Take Starbucks as an example. This giant company has long been known for its actions in regard to CSR. From the start, Starbucks has achieved many of its CSR goals, including reaching 100% ethically sourced coffee, creating a global network of farmers and planting 100 million trees by 2025.
To create a CSR strategy that your company can actually achieve, think about what you and your stakeholders genuinely care about, as this means that you will be more likely to achieve these goals.
Once you have created a brief list of ideas, it is important to speak with a professional to determine whether these goals can be achieved and the steps you need to take. Then, you can outline the goals that are the most achievable and set out a time frame to complete them.
Finally, once you have created a CSR strategy, you can then communicate it with your employees and your customers. Make sure that everyone has as much information as possible so they can play their part.
Learn more about CSR with Seamless
If you’re looking to implement CSR goals that are actually attainable or want to learn more, speak to our team at Seamless today. We can help you to create global business solutions with our knowledge and expertise. Get in touch with us today to learn more or to book an appointment.