Corporate Social Responsibility

For many companies, it’s not enough to make money and satisfy customers. These
companies often go the extra mile to give a little something back to their
employees, the community, and the world at large. They’ve developed solid
reputations for going out and doing some good, turning their success into an
opportunity to help others. The following companies are just a few examples of
those doing Corporate Social Responsibility right.

1. Starbucks
Starbucks has been around for more than four decades, and from the very
beginning it has worked hard to operate in an ethical manner. Starbucks ranked
as Fortune Magazine’s fifth most socially responsible company in 2012. There are
a number of good reasons for the high ranking. The company looks for better ways
to develop sustainable production of its coffee. It has set in place
some guidelines it calls C.A.F.E Practices, ensuring environmental leadership,
economic accountability, and product quality. Starbucks also supports Ethos
Water, which provides clean water to more than a billion people.

2. Disney
Disney is a name known around the world, and though the company has been
around for a long time, its reputation is still a glowing one. The Walt Disney
Company largely focuses on a few areas of social responsibility, namely
community, the environment, and volunteerism. Disney has been a major provider
of aid after natural disasters, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The company
also takes an interest in protecting the environment, giving proceeds from nature
films to plant trees in the rain forest and protect thousands of acres of coral reef.

3. NuSkin
NuSkin is a personal care company with a big focus on helping communities
around the world. One of the company’s major initiatives is called Nourish the
Children. The program was started in 2002 and allows company sales leaders,
employees, and customers to donate nutrient-rich meals to needy children. In
March 2014, NuSkin announced that it had surpassed 350 million donated meals.
The company also operates the Force For Good Foundation, which works to offer
children relief from illiteracy, disease, and poverty.

4. Microsoft
Microsoft is another major company that takes great effort in giving back. The
company was even named the best at Corporate Social Responsibility by the
Reputation Institute. One way Microsoft is helping out is through its annual
Employee Giving Campaign, where employees attend fundraising events for
nonprofit organizations. The campaign has been held every year since 1983 and
has raised more than $1 billion in contributions to more than 31,000 organizations.
5. TOMS Shoes
TOMS Shoes might not be as well known as some of the other companies on this
list, but its charity work is still impressive. The entire company was founded on the
idea of giving back. For every pair of shoes sold, another pair is donated to a child
in need. More than 10 million pairs of shoes have been donated, and that charitable
effort has now extended to vision care for kids.
For these companies and many others, business isn’t all about the bottom line.
They make strides to be a caring part of the community and help out those who
live in less fortunate circumstances. They’re companies that know how important
Corporate Social Responsibility can be to others.

6. Lego
Lego tops this year's roster of top CSR companies with 74.4 RepTrak points,
having jumped from its fifth place showing last year.
In RI's ( Reputation Institute) analysis, Lego beat all other companies in the
perception that it behaves ethically, conducts business fairly, operates
transparently, protects the environment and supports worthy causes.
Lego "has embraced corporate social responsibility from top to bottom," says RI
Chief Research Officer Stephen Hahn-Griffiths.
Its Build the Change and Sustainable Materials Center initiatives - and its
partnership with the World Wildlife Fund - are part of the Danish toy company's
push for sustainability.

The cost to the bottom line will quickly be reimbursed when you see your socially
active employees producing more and your supported community engaging with
your firm. For the survival of this planet, it’s crucial for people to do their part to
improve the world. The bonus is that they will get so much in return.