Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR for short, means the voluntary responsibility of companies, organizations and institutions towards society. It has now become one of the core elements of business ethics. While corporate ethics deals with the general values of companies, CSR is voluntarily and directly aimed at the economic, ecological and social criteria of the core business and thus at the overall social responsibility of entrepreneurs.
As a result of globalization, companies have to take on more and more personal responsibility. With corporate social responsibility, the focus is primarily on the way in which profits are generated and not their use for good causes such as donations or sponsoring.
Systemic changes take place voluntarily in order to generate profits as sustainably as possible under ethical, environmentally friendly, social and economic aspects and thereby contribute to strengthening the sustainable development of society. Companies strictly adhere to environmental and labor protection laws as well as all other laws of their respective location. The profit is made without any consequences or damage to third parties.
The non-certifiable ISO standard 26000, the “Guide to Social Responsibility”, has existed since 2010. This is intended to offer companies, organizations and institutions a guideline that they can use as a guide in order to be viewed as socially responsible.
The primary benefit to a company is
-
to implement the concept of sustainable development in operations,
-
to systematically integrate and further develop the company's social commitment for its employees and the local community and the environment in its management,
-
to maintain and expand the company's reputation,
-
Minimize risks and
-
ensure the long-term viability of the company.