The business world has had an increased interest for the last 50 years in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The concept is not necessarily new, as companies undertake social initiatives for centuries. However, as customers are no longer buying just a product, but rather a brand, companies have to make sure that consumers want to be a part of their brand. CSR refers to the company’s sense of responsibility towards the community and the environment in which it operates. Companies are accountable not only to shareholders, but also to employees, consumers, suppliers, local communities and society.
Today, the number of companies that choose to go green is highly significant, tens doing it daily. Why go green? What is a green company after all? A green company defines itself by a constant care for the environment, by a sustained effort to have a positive impact of the environment and by a commitment to its principles.
In today’s business world, enterprises have to meet the advanced demands for greener, more customized and higher quality products. This means they have to focus on smaller and more specific market segments of customer oriented products. Mass production is turning into ‘mass customization’, which can be defined as offering customized goods at a price close to that of mass production.
Along with the technology age came the wave of social networking. And just how big is the wave in fact? How much do our daily activities depend on this flow of unrestrained Internet connections? People all over the world have begun to use the social networks available right from their beginning and today we find ourselves in a world were Facebook or Twitter are a common topic of discussion, no matter the context. Moreover, people are starting to replace the human relationships with the virtual ones, thus leaving themselves in the position where they cannot face the world unless via Internet.
It is interesting to observe different companies striving to reach their destinations. And above interest, this presents a great opportunity to assess other companies and their way of handling issues, thus benefiting from a chance to compare one’s company and strategies with another’s.
