Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) andGreen Businessare key topics

  • of discussion in Government and around the board tables of big business, but what do

  • they mean and are they relevant to small businesses?

  • Concern about the social and environmental impact of businesses is increasing. We're

  • all being urged to use less energy, to reuse and recycle, and to 'go green'.

  • We're urged to think about the well-being of our employees and to take care how we choose

  • our suppliers.

  • We're asked about how involved we are in our local community and what we're doing

  • to 'give something back'.

  • And at the same time we're trying to grow our business and make a profit.

  • It doesn't have to be daunting. Ultimately CSR is about running your business in a responsible,

  • professional and sustainable way. It's about developing and maintaining good relationships

  • with everyone you deal withemployees, customers, suppliers, investors, funders and

  • the community in which you operate.

  • The benefits are wide-ranging and it can have a very positive impact on your profile and

  • profitability.

  • CSR involves 4 key areas that describe the scope of a business's responsibilities.

  • These are Economic, Ethical, Legal and Discretionary.

  • All four areas apply to all businesses and some issues within each of the areas, such

  • as being a good employer, are important to all businesses, regardless of size or type

  • of business.

  • Other issues may be specific to certain types of business and only apply in those cases,

  • for example, particular legislation may only affect a certain sector.

  • CSR is about embedding key principles and practices into your businessand there's

  • no better time to do this than when you're starting the business.

  • Small businesses by their very nature are flexible, creative and innovative. Restricted

  • budgets and limited resources mean that they are always looking for new and different ways

  • to achieve more with less.

  • Positive CSR action is always likely to bring benefits and small businesses often see those

  • benefits and the impact of their actions in this area much faster than larger organisations.

Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) andGreen Businessare key topics

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it