Definition | CSR
“Corporate social responsibility (is) a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.”
European Commission (2001)
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Source: Commission of the European Communities: Green Paper. Promoting a European framework for Corporate Social Responsibility. Brussels, 18.7.2001
I find this definition a little bit problematic, because it suggests that companies do CSR activities voluntarily, when in fact a lot of companies only care about CSR due to societal pressure, legal regulations or greenwashing. I think that we are far away from companies doing CSR on a voluntary basis and that alterior motives often play a crucial role in their efforts.
The definition is true but the problem is that it is voluntary. CSR is really important and one of the key factors to change our resource absorbing habits.
As my colleagues already said, there is the critical aspect “voluntary”. Most of the companies and every other organization won’t do CSR activities for a voluntary aspect, when they don’t fear consequences.
Totally agreeing with my colleagues – voluntary isn’t enough anymore.
I totally agree with my colleagues. Yes, it is a good definition but maybe this was true for 2001. Nowadays being corporate social responsible on a voluntary basis is critical as we face all the issues with climate change, plastic waste and so on. Companies have to change their minds and so will hopefully their consumers. To save our world companies have to work hard and think about new products, concepts, processes and many more.
I also agree with my colleagues about the aspect of voluntarism in this definition being problematic nowadays. Also, I would like to add, that this definition focuses on companies only, and seems to leave out any other kind of organization.
This is an old definition of CSR – as we can also see in the year. I would not consider it as a “concept” and as the article says, it is not voluntarily anymore.
I find the definition too “compact” – it excludes too many aspects.
I like this definition in an ideal world, which we, however, do not live in. Accordingly, I feel very much like my classmates, who have criticised the term “voluntary”. I think that companies need to a feel a pressure to apply CSR in their daily business, after all in many cases all of society has to suffer the consequences, if irresponsible corporate behaviour goes wrong.
In my opinion CSR should not be voluntary. This definition fails to underline the importance of CSR.