OWW Consulting

The benefits of CSR

There is now a consensus, based on both practical experience and formal studies, that developing an effective CSR policy can deliver significant benefits which include:

• Improve financial performance
• Reduce exposure to non-financial risk
• Help in identifying new products and new markets
• Enhance brand image and reputation
• Increase sales and customer loyalty
• Improve recruitment and retention performance
• Create of new business networks
• Increase staff motivation, contribution and skills
• Improve trust in the company and its managers
• Improve government relations
• Reduce regulatory intervention
• Reduce costs through lower staff turnover
• Reduce costs through environmental best practice

This provides a compelling business case for CSR and breaks the link with pure philanthropy. In turn, this can deliver win-win solutions for enterprises and the communities in which they operate.

The benefits of CSR Reporting

• Clear CSR Reports help stakeholders:
  SRI investors need information on CSR performance
  Brief and/or standardised reports help feed information to the markets
  “Green-wash” or “Mock-cheque” add-ins don’t help!

• CSR Reports must show value added improvements:
  Reports can show year-on-year CSR improvements
  Reports can highlight new areas of CSR performance
  Reports can be used to benchmark for comparative valuations

• CSR Reports help internal strategy too:
  Assessing, monitoring and reporting CSR helps develop strategy
  Case studies from one department can be applied in others
  Reporting to your internal stakeholders is as important as external

• CSR Reports and Investor Relations:
  Recognise CSR as value-adding
  Engage with investors and the media on CSR issues – many of which companies will already be incorporating
  Engage with specialist Investor Relations firms to develop and implement effective communications
  Educate investors on CSR activities and their importance