Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A multi-lateral approach to the subject

Résumé du document

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been a highly debated topic during the last recent years in most developed and developing countries. We can today distinguish among three main general views on the role that CSR could play in shaping companies' policies. The first view on CSR, which has been summarized by the Economist in the 20th of January 2005 issue, is, as the British weekly magazine titled, sceptical. I highly recommend you to go through that issue; making a brief summary the idea of the Economist is that CSR is useless since companies should only care about what they are supposed to do (maximize shareholders' profits) and should not do more than obeying to the existing law that regulates business. The Economist clearly states that it is the role of governments to ensure civil, political, and social-cultural rights of people, and to make laws to prevent discrimination and to protect the environment. Companies should follow such laws, but not do more by themselves, since this would be harmful to their business.

Extraits

[...] A corporation's Social responsibility goes beyond its own operations and financial results. As an example of how Norwegian corporations have moved towards an understanding of the important ness of Corporate Social Responsibility (Hydro is one of Norway's big oil companies, which also deals with aluminium and alternative energy resources.) has implemented several principles concerning this topic in their day-to-day operations. Hydro`s Basic CSR Principles 1.1 Respects for Human Rights Hydro supports the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [...]

[...] The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility becomes better known in Poland every year and engages the attention of the management of a growing number of companies. Socially responsible business means introducing a style of managing people, processes, products and whole organizations based on taking voluntary obligations, which exceed the legal requirements in a given country. Due to the integration with the EU, more and more companies in Poland start to adapt their business standards to those already existing in Europe, as defined by the CSR Europe principles. [...]

[...] Company has assured all the prerequisites and has organized its work processes in order to achieve the overall safety and protection at every work position, as well as the Environmental protection and quality of life of all citizens.” 1 Jugopetrol AD Kotor not only complies with the legislation and standards applied in Montenegro, but keeps track with the processes of redesigning and adjusting the national regulations with the European standards by using international knowledge and experience embedded in Hellenic Petroleum Group, by implementing cutting-edge technologies and by applying the latest technical solutions. Organizational structure of the Company is adjusted in such a way to satisfy the needs of monitoring, preventing and eliminating possible causes for the occurrence of any kind of accidents in any segment of the business. The continuous training of the employees has been done according to the specified plan that complies with the Legal regulations. [...]

[...] In the German ranking of sustainability reports were considered the reports of the 100 largest German industrial and service companies as well as the reports of the 50 largest companies in retail, banking and insurance. Out of these top 150 companies publish a stand-alone sustainability report (or an environmental or a CSR report). Lastly, these reports were evaluated. [...]

[...] In order to achieve our targets: We will provide and we will maintain safe and healthy environment in accordance with the acceptable Working Rules and relevant legislation. We will make all efforts to eliminate the provisions that may result in people's injuries or illnesses, in damages to the environment, our assets and we will prevent any malicious activity. We will control our waste disposals and emissions, having as a target their continues reduction and we will use energy in most effective manner. [...]