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Get your CSR initiative off to a good start: participatory audit, prioritized action plan and selection ofoCSR tools for your company in 4 weeks.
97% of customers of Mon Entreprise Durable say they have carried out their CSR projects without slowing down their business operations.
Why incorporate CSR into a company's policy?
What is CSR? Why should we care about it?
Corporate Social Responsibility is now a topic at the center of public discourse. That is why our article explains the main issues surrounding CSR and the pillars on which it is based.
Over the past few years, ecological awareness has become increasingly widespread in our society. Adopting a responsible lifestyle, taking initiatives to preserve the environment, promoting the local economy – we can’t count the number of little habits encouraged on a daily basis.
How can these changes be implemented within the company? More and more organizations are exploring ways to integrate CSR into their operations. Indeed, the principle of Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining increasing prominence.
CSR embodies organizations’ contribution to sustainable development, which encompasses not only the environment but also social and governance aspects. Our article provides you with all the key information about CSR. Become a true expert on corporate CSR initiatives!
What You Need to Know About Corporate Social Responsibility
Defining CSR and Its Objectives
CSR is the acronym for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Swiss Confederation defines this principle as follows: “CSR concerns the effects of corporate activities on society and the environment.” In other words, companies have a duty to adapt their activities to minimize negative impacts through responsible practices. Thus, a company committed to CSR contributes on a daily basis to protecting the environment, as well as to improving living conditions in society and promoting a healthy and equitable business economy.
A successful CSR initiative must therefore have a positive impact on three distinct pillars. These are known as the pillars of CSR:
The social pillar
This sector addresses all issues related to people and their lives in society. It encompasses a wide range of topics related to health, education, and living and working conditions. The goal is to develop measures that ensure the well-being and respect for the rights of every individual. Thus, the social pillar of corporate CSR focuses in particular on issues such as workplace well-being, pay equity, and respect for diversity…
The environmental pillar
This section focuses on issues relating to greenhouse gas emissions, waste and environmental pollution. This pillar highlights recycling, renewable energy consumption and all other measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the structure concerned. In a company, the environmental pillar covers issues such as transport, waste management, energy use, etc.
The economic pillar
This refers to the economic system adopted by an organization. It includes, in particular, issues related to its procurement policy, suppliers, and manufacturing processes. A company committed to CSR will therefore focus its efforts on adopting a production model that uses fewer resources, supporting the local economy, and implementing a responsible procurement policy. There are also other possible actions depending on the company and its activities.
In conclusion, CSR is, above all, a corporate investment strategy focused on sustainable development. This involves taking actions aimed at protecting the environment, as well as ensuring a high-quality work environment for employees and fostering external relationships that are consistent with this commitment.
CSR and the ISO 26000 Standard
You have now learned about the fundamentals of CSR. Next, we will take a closer look at the rules governing the concept of CSR. This will then help us understand the framework established to guide the actions to be implemented.
The ISO 26000 standard is the international benchmark for CSR. It was developed in 2010 by more than 90 countries and is coordinated by the ISO. This standard defines the framework for developing a corporate CSR strategy; it serves as a guide and establishes the fundamental principles of CSR. It applies to all types of organizations. National frameworks use it to measure and evaluate the extent to which companies are engaged in initiatives promoting sustainable development. The ISO 26000 standard thus defines CSR with the following objectives:
- Contribute to sustainable development and the betterment of society
- Taking stakeholders into account
- Respect for the law
- Adopt responsible behavior that is reflected throughout the organization and its relationships.
The ISO 26000 standard also sets out the basic principles of CSR. These principles are supplemented by seven key questions intended to guide the actions to be implemented.
The standard is thus based on the following seven principles:
Corporate accountability: the organization must be accountable for its activities and their impact on the 3 pillars mentioned above. It also means accepting to be evaluated and ensuring the legality of all steps taken.
Transparency: This principle relates to an organization’s communication regarding the actual implementation of its CSR initiatives. It also involves making clear and verifiable information available.
Ethics: this means developing our actions in a spirit of integrity and equality.
Respect for stakeholders: this means clearly identifying the company’s stakeholders and respecting their needs.
Legality: the company has a duty to comply with the law, and to take account of possible changes. Its approach must always comply with established standards.
Compliance with international standards: the company must also comply with international standards. In the event of France’s legal silence on certain concepts, these standards are authoritative.
Respect for human rights: companies must offer activities and a working environment that respect human rights.
The principles listed above form the foundation of the ISO 26000 standard and thus define the guiding principle of any Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. A company adopting a new Corporate Social Responsibility policy must ensure that it is fully aligned with these pillars.
Note that certain rules are already mandatory. Failure to comply could result in severe penalties.
Why Should Companies Incorporate CSR?
Implementing a CSR approach within a company is a complex undertaking, but one that offers many benefits and positive outcomes.
Indeed, a company that distinguishes itself as actively committed to Corporate Social Responsibility enjoys an attractive image in the marketplace. Since CSR is at the heart of the challenges facing our society, the company will project an inspiring image that is sure to attract attention. Integrating CSR into its brand image can be a real competitive advantage.
Furthermore, CSR also fosters a positive image internally. In fact, all employees can become actively involved in the initiative, thereby fostering genuine team cohesion. It is also recommended to make internal communication a central focus of the CSR action plan’s implementation. This will allow employees to take pride in working for a company that is people-oriented and committed to its values. Productivity is bound to improve! This also serves as an effective tool for external communication. A company recognized for its CSR commitment will also be more attractive to potential job candidates.
Finally, adopting a CSR approach can also change production processes and lead to certain cost savings!
How do you set up a CSR strategy?
Diagnosis
The first step is conducting an assessment. This process involves taking stock of the company’s current situation and evaluating its level of maturity in relation to the pillars of CSR. The company will therefore draw on data such as the employee satisfaction index and the ethical standards of the methods used… This analysis will help determine the guiding principles for the future CSR strategy and prioritize its key issues. It also provides an opportunity to identify the project’s stakeholders. The goal is to identify their needs and interests so that these can be taken into account throughout the strategy development process. The assessment serves primarily as a working foundation. It is a collaborative tool designed to propose a methodology for the future CSR action plan.
Define the action plan
The CSR action plan is developed following the CSR assessment. It is designed to align with the company’s purpose and implement the chosen CSR policy. It is therefore structured around seven key questions defined by the ISO 26000 standard:
- Governance: this covers all issues relating to the company’s management and hierarchical organization.
- Human rights: these are issues linked to people and their daily development within the company.
- Working conditions: guaranteeing working conditions that respect rights, codifying relations between different statuses (employees/supervisors, for example).
- Loyalty in our practices: ensuring an honest approach in line with the principle of ethics.
- Consumer protection issues: actions to ensure transparency and respect for the consumer.
- Promoting local development: this refers to actions that will enhance the local economy.
- Protecting the environment: from reducing pollution to saving energy and protecting biodiversity.
The questions listed above thus serve as a framework for a company’s CSR policy. The CSR action plan will therefore be defined as a response to these key questions through concrete actions. These actions will be consistent with the approach adopted by the company during the diagnostic phase. Next comes the implementation phase, during which the actions are put into practice within the company. The key to successful implementation lies in communication—both internal and external. The company must communicate as much as possible with all employees to ensure optimal internal integration. It must also engage in dialogue with its external partners to make a strong impact on the public.
Possible actions to be taken
Here are a few examples of actions you can implement as part of your CSR initiative; they cover the various pillars.
Actions relating to the social pillar :
- Offer suitable premises (space, equipment, etc.)
- Comply with health and safety standards
- Sports and team-building activities
- Promoting diversity
Actions relating to the environmental pillar :
- Draw up a waste reduction plan
- Favoring renewable energies
- Reduce CO2 emissions (carpooling, telecommuting)
- Recycling
Actions relating to the economic pillar :
- Promoting local partners
- Drawing up an Ethics Charter
- Promoting short circuits
- Enhancing employment opportunities for young people and seniors
What are the CSR indicators?
Once your CSR initiatives are in place, the key will be to closely monitor their impact. The final step involves evaluating the CSR policy.
Certifications and CSR Reporting
There are many CSR tools available to support your efforts and measure their effectiveness, including reporting and certifications.
Reporting is a clear and precise assessment of the impact of a company’s activities from an economic, environmental, social and societal point of view. Fully in line with the principles of transparency and accountability, it enables companies to evaluate themselves. It also attests to the credibility of their commitment in the eyes of customers and partners. Reporting acts as a showcase, but also as proof of the company’s investment. It must establish a clear and rigorous follow-up.
The following certification bodies are authorized to evaluate a company’s CSR strategy. If the company meets the criteria, it will be awarded a certification that attests to its credibility.
These include :
Eco Entreprise: This Swiss certification evaluates a company’s overall performance based on ISO 26000 standards. The evaluation is based on an audit conducted by an external certifier. It allows for a more thorough assessment in the awarding of public procurement contracts. The certified company may display its logo for 3 years.
B-Corp: created in 2006 in the United States, this label has been present in Switzerland since 2019. Its role is to assess a company’s overall performance, based on its responses to the online reference system and the documents provided. Labeled companies are reassessed every 3 years.
CSR is an increasingly important concept in the development of a company’s operations. In addition to enhancing its image, it conveys a message of strong values! We hope we’ve helped clarify your understanding of corporate CSR!
Your goal is to obtain the EcoEntreprise certification? Put your trust in a company that has been through the same programme. We also support you with the standards B Corpand CSRD and EcoVadis.
