Values and Approaches to Sustainability/CSR

This document discusses the values and approaches to sustainability and CSR in the context of two companies. It analyzes their social reports, identifies the differences between them, and discusses the relevant Sustainable Development Goals. It also identifies the sustainability phase of each company and examines how their social reports reflect their stated values.

Running Head: VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
Values and approaches to sustainability/CSR
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
Table of Contents
i. Identify and describe the two companies you have researched, their core business activities
and the countries and industries in which they operate...............................................................1
ii. What differences are evident between the two companies in terms of the range of issues
dealt with in their social reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues? Please note –
this question does not ask for a description or summary of the content of each company’s
reports. Instead, you need to analyse the types of information, the major themes, the
presentation, formatting and tone of each report – and explain how the reports are similar to
each other and how they are different..........................................................................................2
iii. Discuss which of the Sustainable Development Goals you believe are most relevant to
these companies, their industries and the countries in which they operate. Discuss the extent to
which these SDGs were addressed, explicitly or implicitly, in the CSR/Sustainability reports
of your companies?......................................................................................................................3
iv. Based on your analyses of your companies’ sustainability/CSR reporting, identity in which
Sustainability Phase/s (Dunphy, Griffiths & Benn) each of your companies sit. Explain your
reasons for these assessments......................................................................................................4
v. Discuss the extent to which the social reports provided by these companies reflect their
stated values.................................................................................................................................5
vi. Briefly reflect on your group’s discussions of these companies. In what ways did the ideas
presented by your group confirm your conclusions, influence your thinking and present
another perspective to you?.........................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................7

2VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
i. Identify and describe the two companies you have researched, their core business
activities and the countries and industries in which they operate.
According to the official website of Cole’s supermarket (Coles.com.au, 2019), the
business activities of Coles comprises of the retail trading that provides household food products
to that of the potential consumers of the economy. It is an Australian based company that has
been operating for about 90 years. It is addressed as the supermarket that has the number of
physical stores located in different parts of the country. Cole supermarket operates upon the
retail, industrial sector. This supermarket chain is famous for its high end consumer products that
are offered. On the other hand, the supermarket chain is a huge competitor to that of the top rival
brand that is the Woolworth supermarket.
According to the official website of Loblaw (loblaw.ca, 2019), the business activities of
the Loblaw comprises of the household and that of the grocery items. On the other hand, the
supermarket chain provides a long chain of commodities that ranges from that of the pharmacies,
banking and apparel. It is a retail industry. It is a Canadian based country that has been able to
capture a major proportion of the consumer market share. On the other side, the firm is having
several a competitor such as that of the brand like Sobeys, Gordon, Sysco, Sofo foods, and much
more.
Both the company is famous for its high end quality products that they provide in the
market. They are famous for the strategic pricing that they make use of. On the other contrary,
there is remarkable goodwill and brand-equity that the firm has been able to generate in spite of
the presence of a huge number of competitors.

3VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
ii. What differences are evident between the two companies in terms of the range of issues
dealt with in their social reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues? Please note –
this question does not ask for a description or summary of the content of each company’s
reports. Instead, you need to analyse the types of information, the major themes, the
presentation, formatting and tone of each report – and explain how the reports are similar
to each other and how they are different.
Speaking about the Coles supermarket although the firm has taken much of the initiative
towards sustaining the environment. Much of the issue has taken place over the period such that
profitability of the firm has reduced to a certain extent such that in the year of 2015 there has
been much of the deficit in the profit earning capacity. However, it is to being ignored by the
concerning frim because of it a result of their positive efforts towards the environmental
sustainability programme (Geissdoerfer et al., 2018). On the other perspective, it has been
observed that the supermarket is imposing several inconsiderate and insensitive conditions upon
the retailers, suppliers and that of the distributors. The firm has been dismissing the loyal
suppliers of the firm that are present nearby to the store.
On the other perspective to meet the quality requirements of their product offering, it has
been imposing unrealistic conditions upon the fishing companies. They even threatened the
suppliers that they will be eliminated from the supply chain if the quality is not met. Allegations
also took place against the company in the early era of 2014; the allegations took place because
of the suppliers. The firm was even charged with an amount of 10$ million US dollar.
Speaking in terms of the Loblaw company, the firm is facing immense competition in the
consumer market for which they put heavy pressure upon the internal suppliers of the company.
Besides, there are several feedback from the side of the consumer market that the firm is having

4VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
an issue regarding that of the consumer end product that they are selling online. The product that
is being purchased using the online e-commerce platform is not of quality. On the other hand, it
is the CSR report that clearly states that they aim at providing a satisfactory product to that of the
end consumers of the market (Kopnina et al., 2018). On the other hand, the consumers have even
faced problems with that of the payment system such that many of the time the payment gets
struck within the online page. Their CSR report does not outbring the note that they will make
several efforts towards having a concern upon the issue that has been faced by the existing
consumers of the market.
Besides, the similarity that takes place in the social report of the concerning firms is that
they pay huge focus and attention towards sustaining their action towards the positive
environmental factors. On the other hand, they make use of the positive environmental friendly
raw-materials which they have clearly stated within their CSR report. They even outlay their
financial cost report that has been incurred by making efforts towards sustaining the positive
CSR activity.
iii. Discuss which of the Sustainable Development Goals you believe are most relevant to
these companies, their industries and the countries in which they operate. Discuss the
extent to which these SDGs were addressed, explicitly or implicitly, in the
CSR/Sustainability reports of your companies?
Sustainability goals of the supermarket firm Coles, the supermarket aim at making
several efforts towards bringing the innovative products shortly period. The firm has even
claimed that the firm will take care of the present issues that they have addressed using the
consumer's feedback. The firm even claims that by the year 2022, 90% of all waste diverted
(Steele et al., 2014). The number of waste that is being generated by each of the sub firms will be

5VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
reduced to such extent that by calculating the extent of waste on an overall basis. The total score
will be half of the present amount of waste. The firm even claims to donate unsold edible food
from every Cole’s supermarket in Australia. The supermarket even aims at providing 100 million
meals to Australians who need basic amenities.
Sustainability goals of the supermarket firm Loblaw, the business firm claims to reduce
the emission of the carbon footprint by 30% in the coming era of the time. On the other hand, the
firm even claims to make use of the recyclable raw material. This is to ensure that maximum
productivity is being achieved by making efficient use of the resources (Steele et al., 2014). To
succeed, their CSR activities have to be relevant to that of their business, customers, colleagues
and partners – and society as a whole. To understand societal and stakeholder priorities and that
of the individual concerns, they aim to make use of the variety of surveys and engagement
processes, proactively reach out to experts, and collaborate with like-minded organizations to
develop solutions to complex issues.
iv. Based on your analyses of your companies’ sustainability/CSR reporting, identity in
which Sustainability Phase/s (Dunphy, Griffiths & Benn) each of your companies sit.
Explain your reasons for these assessments.
Under the phase of the organisational change for the corporate sustainability the
following Dunphy, Griffiths & Benn sets. On the other hand, it is their vision to introduce within
the organisational premises not only in terms of the product offerings but also in terms of the
entire business process. Thy aim to make use of the consumer’s feedback to understand the
changes that are required to be introduced within the organisational premises. On the other hand,
the firm aims to make use of the VMS (Vertical Marketing System), making use of this system

6VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
the firm aims to sustain its position within the consumer market. They even strive to penetrate
the consumer market to obtain a major proportion of the market share.
v. Discuss the extent to which the social reports provided by these companies reflect their
stated values.
Speaking about the Coles supermarket, they aim to introduce their efforts towards the
CSR activity. Besides, they have even claimed that within the coming era of the time they are
planning to undertake this specific set of changes. Besides, the firm has even introduced the
recycling methods of the raw materials to devote its efforts towards environmental safety. The
CSR report which is also addressed as the corporate citizenship, sustainability or social
performance report), due to the typical breadth of information most relevant to stakeholders’
interests, can be a key component of a company’s stakeholder engagement strategy. Besides, the
CSR report, for instance, may be used to inform stakeholders how a company has addressed or is
addressing stakeholders’ CSR concerns and incorporating them into the company’s strategic
decision-making processes. The even undertake measure to modify their CSR report
continuously by undertaking changes whichever is necessary (Johnston et al., 2017).
vi. Briefly reflect on your group’s discussions of these companies. In what ways did the
ideas presented by your group confirm your conclusions, influence your thinking and
present another perspective to you?
Taking into consideration the business activities of the Coles supermarket, it seems like
the supermarket is required to understand the extent of pressure that it puts on the internal
suppliers of the company. On the other hand, the supermarket Loblaw does not make any
pressure on the internal suppliers of the company. However, both the company strives to occupy
a major proportion of the market share, but there is a requirement to have a concern towards the

7VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
external stakeholders of the company. Upon engaging with my peer groups, I was able to gain
this specific conclusion. It was the different ideas and the individual perceptions of my group
members that helped me to understand the nature of the concerning business into a different
perspective. On the other contrary, the different member of the group took part in the
identification of the issue that is being faced by the company differently, such that the different
vision of their observation helped in understand the proposed situation of the concerning
business firm. The different members of the group even began to debate while having the
communication session regarding the preparation of the questionnaires. This debate helped to
address the different key issues that are being faced by the concerning business firm. The above
mentioned facts are some of the observations that resulted because of the different perspective of
the peer members.

8VALUES AND APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY/CSR
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