WITH A BIT OF VISION, AN EXISTING CSR PLATFORM COULD BE A USEFUL SPRINGBOARD FOR MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND MAKING THE MOST OF FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY? I DON’T SEE A DIFFERENCE TO BE HONEST. BOTH, TO ME, IMPLY A VOLUNTARY RESPONSIBILITY – SOMETHING THAT CAN BE OPTED IN OR OUT OF. WHAT WE NEED IS MUCH MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE – HELPING TO SHAPE A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD. THIS ISN’T JUST A ‘NICE TO HAVE’, IT’S A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE.
HOW WIDESPREAD/ MAINSTREAM IS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, IN THE SENSE YOU DESCRIBE, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY BEST-IN-CLASS EXAMPLES? I don’t think there’s a business out there that is truly sustainable. Though there are some pioneering companies with the public ambition and programmes in place that aim to get there. Think Interface’s ‘Mission Zero’ or Kingfisher and ‘Net Positive’. There are also (often smaller) companies, like Neal’s Yard Remedies, that have had ethics and sustainability at their heart from the very start – and
although we’re not immune from future challenges, we’re arguably in a better place to tackle them. For example, we’ve worked with many of our suppliers for over 30 years, building relationships with a level of trust that isn’t easy to replicate. This will stand us in good stead for tackling future challenges together. HAS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PASSED ITS SELL-BY DATE? AND WHY DO YOU SAY THAT? YES. I THINK THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES AHEAD NEED A MORE RADICAL RESPONSE. THE GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, IS THAT WITH A BIT OF VISION, AN EXISTING CSR PLATFORM COULD BE A USEFUL SPRINGBOARD FOR MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND MAKING THE MOST OF FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT WILL CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS’ TIME? Collaborative projects tackling systemic challenges too big for any one company to tackle alone. This coupled with radical innovation that creates real solutions.
WHAT WE NEED IS MUCH MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE – HELPING TO SHAPE A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD. THIS ISN’T JUST A ‘NICE TO HAVE’, IT’S A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE
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