Increasingly Corporate Social Responsibility

Running Head: CSR AND WOOLWORTHS: RESPONSE TO ISSUES 1
Title: CSR and Woolworths: Response to issues
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Institution:

CSR AND WOOLWORTHS: RESPONSE TO ISSUES
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Introduction
Increasingly, corporate social responsibility is becoming an important part of organizations’
overall priorities. Firms have come to understand the numerous benefits that accrue from being
responsible corporate citizens (Tilt, 2016). These include a better connection with the society
within which an organization operates, as well as the increased chances of a firm surviving if it
behaves in an ethical and responsible manner. Corporate social responsibility is much more than
mere charity work. Once organizations realize their roles as important social stakeholders, they
are better placed to originate and support efforts to conserve the environment, improve the social
and economic wellbeing of the society, and work in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to all
interested parties. In this paper, I review the ability of Woolworths to understand different
stakeholders’ needs, as well as its responsiveness to queries about its CSR related programs and
associations.
Understanding Stakeholders’ Needs
In Australia, as with the rest of the world, climate change, and the role of human activity in it is a
raging debate. Climate plays an important role in human health, as well as social and economic
development (Fontaine, 2013). The realization of this role has led governments and
organizations to invest more resources in reducing the effect of humans on climate. My research
shows that climate change mitigation has become a victim of politics and policy disagreements
(Beeson & McDonald, 2013). Various stakeholders do not even agree on whether human
activity causes climate change in the first place. This leads to a lack of a coherent national policy
on climate change.

CSR AND WOOLWORTHS: RESPONSE TO ISSUES
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With such a chaotic approach at the national level, individual organizations must step in to
address their own contribution to climate change. Research by Allen and Craig (2016) suggests
that while this is far from ideal, it has a significantly positive effect. Companies have had to
rethink their approach to CSR as far as climate change and environmental sustainability are
concerned. Organizations realize that more than environmental conservation being politically
correct, they are grappling with their own long-term survival. They must be responsible to the
society within which they operate, in order to survive (Allen & Craig, 2016).
These themes are evident in Woolworth’s stance on environmental sustainability, and its efforts
to reduce its carbon imprint. The organization clearly shows a deep understanding of climate
change issues, its role in them, and what it is actively doing in response. Woolworths also
downplays the influence BCA has on its approach to climate change-related issues.
Data collection
Woolworths is one of the biggest Australian firms, with a strong presence in the Australian retail
market. I collected the data reviewed here from Woolworths’ Facebook page, which fields
queries from its customers, as well as communicating important messages to the public.
Woolworths is a member of the Business Council of Australia, an organization that has been
blamed for not doing enough to contain climate change in Australia. In particular, the council has
been accused of not aggressively engaging industries that use or mine coal, one of the top
producers of greenhouse gases. Woolworths’ Facebook page has sought to address its
membership with BCA, as well as what it considers important actions as far as climate change is
concerned.