R.E.S.P.E.C.T: Your Elders, Your Peers, Your Environment
by Rosa Jin ~ November 14th, 2012. Filed under: Brand Positioning, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Uncategorized.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a growing topic of discussion in today’s world of business, as the global population grows to new heights and endangered icebergs simmer down to new lows. The carbon footprint that each of the world’s seven billion persons leaves is not a matter to be taken lightly – especially by those that have a greater-than-average impact upon others; in other words, businesses.
While the number of companies that are changing, finding new ways to be sustainable, and providing eco-friendly options for their consumers is increasing, innumerable businesses around the world still do not recognize the weight that they carry on their shoulders. In contrast, the scholarly leaders of the ancient world knew much of not knowing much. As an article from Forbes’ CSR Blog said (referencing Princeton philosophy professor Melissa Lane’s book),
“[Leaders of the ancient world] understood that they were embedded in an interdependent social web and they knew that their decisions had to take into account not just self-interest but the collective interest as well.”
It is then implied within that statement, that today’s leaders and business folks think and act according to Adam Smith’s famous self-interest principle. How, then, can we expect advancement towards sustainability in the competitive corporate world, where prices are already much higher than what the average consumer can afford in the current economy?
In response, I agree with David Marks,
“The right strategy could become a competitive advantage.”
And an example of this competitive advantage that other companies should take into consideration is the reinvention of athletic apparel brand Nike; by “addressing impacts throughout [its] supply chain,” Nike is promoting a better image, creating a positive change on the environment, and ensuring a greater lifespan for the company as a whole. Why all companies don’t do this bewilders me – if we don’t work to be sustainable now, who knows if there will be anyone to do business with in the future !
So consider that.
Sources Cited:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/csr/2012/10/02/ancient-advice-for-todays-sustainability-leaders/
http://nikeinc.com/pages/responsibility
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/11/12/how-companies-manage-sustainability-tradeoffs