CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility

Necessary spearhead of company policy

It is Sunday afternoon, the 20th June. The summer season should be starting, however it’s a cold, rainy and grey day, more like autumn. A good opportunity to write a column. It has been quite some time since the last one. Moreover the summer holiday season is ahead.

This column intends to give you some food for thought when you are on holiday on a nice sunny beach or elsewhere. In the Netherlands CSR is almost the talk of the town. Especially now directly after the national elections as the political parties are discussing a new coalition cabinet.

Also in the egg business sustainability (environment and animal welfare) is an important issue. That is to say that everybody is talking about it, but only a very few companies have their intensions clearly laid down in a Code of Conduct and in Rules of Compliance. However be aware that latest consumer research shows that consumers are becoming increasingly interested in products produced under a clear Code of CSR.

A common problem is that almost everyone has a different perception of Corporate Social Responsibility. Below I give a short description of my perception of CSR.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a management concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities, the environment and animal welfare in all aspects of their operations. 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.

Corporate Social Responsibility (synonymous with sustainable entrepreneurship) can be split into three dimensions: 1. The standards and values a company stands for. These are often described in a Code of Conduct and in so-called Rules of Compliance 2. The social responsibility of a company: The way in which a company executes its core business by taking responsibility regarding animal welfare , the environment and the social context. 3. Many companies describe their activities in this area in an annual Social Report. It is becoming increasingly common practice to publish such a report. The motto “People, Planet, Profit” is for many companies the basis of their Social Report. Often, the voluntary guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative are used in order to make the Social Reports of the different companies more comparable.

CSR: consider to make it one of the spearheads of the company policy. Reward: the necessary social and consumer recognition.

Finally I wish you all a happy holiday season and I hope to meet you again in good health through my next column in September.