Many business executives are finding it difficult to incorporate CSR in their company’s strategy. There are many reasons contributing to this fact more so for SMEs. Could it be because there is no definite definition of the concept of CSR?
How about large corporations / MNCs that have these executives that know what to do but they just sit at the top and employ half-baked graduates whom they shower with fancy office titles.
To me this is an issue to deal with the perspective of business executives as well revise the nature of business when it comes to which product or which packaging and what strategies they take like in case of supplying.
In an era of continuous climate breakdown/climate crisis/ ecological crisis our natural world is disappearing at a rate which is going to put our own human race at risk. We all have to fight this as individuals, governments and businesses at large among other organized entities.
Business executives have to act beyond promoting only their organization's interests. Activities like clearing vegetation, wetland and swamp reclamation, disposal of toxic waste in our water bodies, deforestation, air pollution, plastic pollution. These and many others are among the activities how businesses are doing our harm to our environment.
In regards to plastic pollution, both local and MNCs are producing huge amounts of plastics put on market. Despite the return and refill policies in developed countries, companies like Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, KFC, Shell, Total and Nestle have failed to roll out strategies in developing countries. Apart from these popular brands there are many products that are contributing huge amounts of plastic in form of packaging from many companies. Some of these are producing locally in Uganda and others are practicing several ways of foreign/international market entry operations.
Growing businesses invest their resources into a safely continuous venture that guarantees long-term / forever success. Dying businesses peak at short term, they invest in activities with a diminishing base. When we keep plastics in our system means we'll continue fracking fossils out of the ground.
According to CIEL by 2030, emissions from the plastic lifecycle will release as much carbon as 295 coal plants. My friends at CLEAN SEA tweeted a photo of Felix Ketchup used between 1964 – 1980 found in 2030 still decomposing for the 360 years or so on. A reality check by Greenpeace Africa found out 34 plastic bans in Africa, 16 of these regulating the plastic bag. However this is not working because both local and MNCs undermine the bans and are not willing to #EndPlasticPollution.
Therefore as the Financial Times defines CSR as a business approach that contributes to sustainable development, this should be every company's strategy. We must have a new dimension / perspective of doing business. A changing perspective is influenced by the motive to promote planet/people but as well make a profit. It considerers further understanding of the company’s environmental, social and economical interests and how to have them applicable to the company's strategy.
Abbreviations.
CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility.
SME's - Small-Medium Enterprises.
MNCs – Multinational Companies.
CIEL -
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