Economist keeps going down the CR is good for business road – -provided it is CR 2.0…
As firms grapple with a brutal economic downturn, they are taking a long, hard look at the resources they devote to everything from supporting charities to making their activities carbon-neutral.
That is hardly surprising: cutting back on CSR, or “sustainability” as it is sometimes known, would seem to be a quick and relatively painless way to save money. Cassandras who felt many CSR initiatives were little more than publicity stunts in the first place predicted that they would perish as soon as the economy fell off a cliff.
Self-interest also explains why many companies are intent on creating greener supply chains, in spite of the costs. Mars and Cadbury, two confectionery-makers, have separately announced plans to increase the amount of cocoa they source from sustainable sources because both are concerned about future shortages if production practices do not change. IKEA is also fretting about one of its most important raw materials. The Swedish furniture giant has agreed a plan to increase the amount of wood in its products that comes from responsibly managed forests between 2010 and 2012.