Corporate Social Responsibility College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Social Responsibility College - Essay Example (Marrewijk 2003 p 95). The European Commission (2001) defines CSR so that it incorporates social, environmental and economical aspects: CSR is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis." (European Commission 2001) Companies like UPS, FedEx, DHL and a large number of other multinational and smaller organisations are beginning to, or indeed already have taken the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) very seriously. The logistics and transportation sector plays a positive role in the economic development of societies, spreading opportunity and acting as a backbone for global development and communication, as well as contributing to communities. However, this sector also faces some strong emerging challenges to its perceived social responsibilities. The core business of this industry's direct relation with major sustainability issues such as environmental impact, traffic congestion, energy waste, safety and security, and sustainable infrastructure, puts logistics firms under the careful inspection of various stakeholders. There is a group of consumers who consider CSR in their purchasing decisions (Mohr Webb Harris 2001 p 45). 0ver the past few years, socially responsible consumers have been studied in relation to boycott behaviour (e.g. Klein 2003 p10 ) and cause related marketing (e.g. Polonsky 2001 p8) and it has been found that "negative CSR associations can have a detrimental effect on overall product evaluations, whereas positive CSR associations can enhance product evaluations" (Brown and Dacin 1997, p. 80). Recent surveys in Europe, the U.S. and Australia also suggest consumers do consider CSR policies in their purchasing decisions. The majority of surveyed consumers say they would pay more for goods and services marketed by socially responsible companies. (MORI 2001; Lloyd 2003 p58). Furthermore, as Kotler (1972) predicted, socially responsible consumer behaviour is growing . UPS UPS is one of the most active corporations in logistics sector on CSR issues. They are the biggest of 8 logistic companies in the world with a full triple bottom line report which is aligned with GRI; both sustainability and CSR are mentioned in their annual report for the last 3 years. The UPS website states that sustainability is in the heart of their business strategy. All CSR programs and initiatives are seen as business-as-usual in a well-managed company. Both the Chairman's statement and company mission statement explicitly states the importance of being a good corporate citizen. The Annual report includes a section called "Our Sustainability Statement". UPS has consistently ranked among the most admired companies in the country. They have reinforced the reputation of dependability and reliability by being conservative financially, being good corporate citizens and emphasizing social responsibility in the community. UPS is a tough competitive company but they understand the responsibility of a market leader. UPS policy promotes initiatives with the United Way, developing sustainability, increasing diversity, and limiting