Executive Summary
The importance of environmental conservation cannot be overemphasized. This is the same with social responsibility. It is vital that corporations start taking into account the need to conserve the environment.
Introduction
Good leadership is required so as to have dreams being fulfilled. A company’s main aim is to maximize profits. However, it is vital that the company undertakes activities that will promote its brand and image. These include social responsibility initiatives and contribution towards environmental management systems. All this requires that the right kind of leadership be in place. The leadership must be strong and decisive. This means they must be firm in what the set forth to achieve.
In addition, the leaders must be passionate about what they do. At times, they may be forced to go the extra mile and deal with issues from the heart not because they will get paid for that.
Commitment is also required by the leaders. This means focusing on a certain target and doing everything possible to defend it.
The leaders must also be professionals. The project requires skills and contribution by qualified individuals. Lack of this will lead to failure of the whole project.
Statement of Purpose
The proposal is aimed at informing the management the importance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability which includes environmental and energy management.
Objectives
Implementing the Strategy
The escalating energy cost is one of the drivers of the process. The corporation should rely on sources of energy that are renewable. They also use sources with less of carbon so as to avoid pollution of the environment.
Recycling of wastes is yet another strategy that the corporation may put in place so as to conserve the environment
The corporation should try as much to engage in reduction of wastes.
The company should also make it a priority to ensure proper disposal of wastes.
The corporation should also conserve water by ensuring it uses it in the right way.
Water treatment methods and recycling should also be relied upon.
The company should take it as an initiative to encourage afforestation measures.
The whole organization should be mobilized for the new change. This should be done by some leaders, preferably part of the management team. They should inform all the
It is important that all departmental heads be informed of the need for the new change. They should be informed about this in time and their reaction noted.
It is also important to communicate the need for the change to all the employees.
After the project has begun, it is important for the management to monitor it effectively. This seeks to ensure that everything is working right.
Corporate Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is the tendency of a corporation or business unit to take care of stakeholders’ interests. These stakeholders include the environment, consumers, communities around, members of the public and employees. A company that is socially responsible must be willing to take into account the importance of each of these persons. The business must respect the rights of these individuals and ensure it does not infringe upon them. Businesses use different techniques so as to be socially responsible.
Corporate social responsibility takes into account the environment in which the business is operating. The business unit should seek to ensure that this environment remains clean. Pollution must be avoided at all costs by companies that are socially responsible. This includes the manner of dumping wastes. Poor dumping of wastes leads to health complications for people living around this place. Disease outbreaks such as cholera and dysentery result from poor dumping of wastes. By taking care of the environment, the businesses take care of its consumers since these are the people who live in this environment.
Certain companies go to the extent of supporting afforestation initiatives. Some of these initiatives are projects by the government, private companies, non-governmental organizations or members of the public. Companies may support this through advertisements to inform people of the need to preserve forest covers. Companies may also spend funds in supporting these initiatives. Other initiatives include supporting sporting activities as is the case with Barclays which supports the premier league.
Corporate social responsibility also includes the way the business corporation relates with its employees. It is essential to point out at this stage that employees determine to a great extent the direction that a company will take. A company that mistreats its workers is not socially responsible. Instead, workers should be well remunerated and motivated. Employees should also be provided with a conducive working environment. The working environment should be clean to start with. Offices should be designed in a way that will bring satisfaction to the worker. It is essential too that worker be treated like managers. They should not be seen as subjects since this will undermine good performance.
A business corporation that struggles to enhance security of the members of the public is socially responsible. This may be done through employing enough guards not only to guard the premises, but also to take care of the security of members of the public. It also goes to the extent of talking care of social needs of the public. A good example is a corporation that promotes health by contributing towards building of a school or health centre. This will allow members of the public to access good health and education. Such other options available include promotion of education through scholarship programs. This helps the poor to have access to education, which they would otherwise not afford.
It is also notable that businesses take care of the needs of customers. These are the people who determine the way a business will perform, even in future. A business that is socially responsible should strive to ensure that the goods and services it provides to customers are of high quality. This will bring about customer satisfaction. The business must also ensure that the weights and measures are perfect as they should be. Similarly, businesses must ensure the safety of working premises. This will ensure that all the workers work in a friendly environment that cannot harm them. At the same time, the goods produced by the business should be safe for consumption so that they do not cause harm to the consumer’s health.
A corporation or business that is socially responsible must also ensure that it conforms to all the rules and regulations governing the running of the business. Such a business should operate only after following all the laid down procedures and legal steps. It should also be tax compliant so as to avoid wrangles with the government and tax authorities. A corporation that is socially responsible usually has higher chances of success amidst many possibilities.
Benefits of Implementation
Improvement of the image of the company, as well as its brand.
Improved working conditions and the working environment as a result of sensitized social responsibility.
A cleaner environment
Saving on energy costs
Reduction of pollution and proper waste disposal. This will come as a result of various initiatives.
Better financial opportunities for the corporations.
Improved public relations with customers.
Challenges
The process of sustainability requires a lot of effort. This also has to be continuous.
The process of sustainability, environmental conservation and energy management is expensive.
The process requires logistical support as well as professional support, which is not readily available.
The process also requires time for it to be effective.
Evolving customer attitudes and expectations have to be dealt with.
Recommendations
The corporation should hire professionals to deal with the sustainability issue as well as any challenges experienced along the way.
It is also vital for the company to set aside a funds kitty for implementation of this proposal.
The implementation process should be made as economical as possible so as to save on costs.
Life cycle management should be done by experienced people who have tried the process successfully.
Research should be done on the most efficient ways of doing things.
References
Shozo T. and Yasushi U. (2007) Advances in Life Cycle Engineering for Sustainable Manufacturing Businesses: Proceedings of the 14th Cirp Conference on Life Cycle Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, June 11th-13th, 2007 Springer
