Recyclable cups, fair trade practices, health programs at work, Google’s Project 10 to the 100th - all of these are examples of CSR.

Corporate social responsibility is basically businesses taking responsibility for their actions. It’s the extra measures (beyond the law) that an organization makes to lessen the negative impact of doing business. From wikipedia:

Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business and corporate social opportunity) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

When you’re shopping, does it make a difference to you that the company cares about your health, the environment and their employees?

Apparently a lot of people do nowadays! Marketing Mag just published results from a survey that reported:

Fully 90% of consumers feel it’s their duty to contribute to a better society and improve the environment; 84% feel they can personally make a difference, and 87% are willing to change their own consumption habits to help make the world a better place.

But then there are the critics. They say that most companies aren’t really serious about their CSR initiatives, that many choose self-serving ways to ‘give back’ and are merely flashy, half-hearted attempts to woo consumers.

What are your thoughts on corporate social responsibility?