Social Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Essay

This essay delves into the concept of social sustainability as a crucial aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), particularly within the context of business and economics. It highlights the importance of maintaining environmental, social, and economic systems, emphasizing an organization's commitment to social sustainability and responsible stewardship. The essay analyzes how companies like Deloitte can drive development and economic growth by investing in innovation, infrastructure, and sustainable industrial practices. It addresses challenges such as demographic shifts, resource scarcity, and climate change, and offers solutions like integrating value-creating economic strategies with long-term social and environmental considerations. Recommendations include appointing dedicated sustainability managers, ethical operations, and transparency in decision-making to align with sustainable development goals and enhance business performance. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a range of study tools and academic resources for students.

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Defining the issue
Social Sustainability is a Corporate Social Responsibility issue that describes how
various processes and systems, environmentally, socially and economically, are maintained
(Ward 2016, p. 46). It also refers to the commitment of an organization to practice social
sustainability and also how to become good stewards of social landscape and the environment in
which they operate in. this also includes building resilient infrastructure, fostering innovation and
to promote sustainable and inclusive industrialization. Construction of new infrastructures by
exploiting smart technologies potential or reconfiguring the infrastructure already in place
reduces the environmental impact caused by the organization.
Analyzing the issue
Deloitte investing in innovation and infrastructure could be crucial in driving its
development and economic growth agenda. This is due to the fact that, over half of the
population in the world live in cities making renewable energy and mass transport more
important, also the growth of new information and communication technologies and industries.
In order for Deloitte to facilitate sustainable development, there is a need for them to promote a
sustainable industry and to also invest in innovation and scientific research. Also, Deloitte
improves and manages its environmental and social impact by innovating its organization,
strategy and operations.
Sustainability is key to driving technological and organizational innovations which
results in a reduction in input costs (Owen 2018, p. 60). Therefore, Deloitte should put more
emphasis on sustainability towards profitability and also considering environmental and social
responsibility bottom lines. There is a growing sense that taking after environment and society,

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the organization initiates greater efficiencies in fostering infrastructure, promoting innovation
which will translate to the purchasing power of the local customers increasing.
Sustainable and inclusive industrial development for Deloitte is their primary source
where they generate income which translates to rapid and sustainable increases in living
standards and also provides solutions to environmentally sound industrialization technologically.
Also, it is recognized that corporations like Deloitte are engines for economic development and
innovation, therefore, there is a need for them to be proactive in balancing this with
environmental protection and also society equity (Mukherjee 2017, p.46). The contribution of the
organization’s sustainable development to sustainability is twofold where it helps the company
focus on areas like environment, infrastructure improvements, economic and social performances
and also provides the government, civil society and the company a goal to look forward to
industrial and economic sustainability.
The sustainable development shows the focus areas of the organization, which in this
case are innovation, industrial and infrastructural areas and also contributes to the societal goals
and vision that the organization should work toward. By doing this, it should help the company
to promote innovation and sustainable industrialization and also build infrastructure that is
resilient which will help them achieve their business goals and objectives and to also benefit the
society in the long run.
Deloitte might face some challenges as the world is being changed by sustainability-
related megatrends. The challenge of demographic shifts, resource scarcity and climate change
might hinder their vision as these challenges redefine public policies, societal expectations,
regulatory frameworks and hence investments outcomes and business environments. These

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challenges create new risks and opportunities that Deloitte Company should address so as to
remain competitive (Bhargava 2018 p.14). The organization manages and anticipates the present
and the future environmental, economic and social risks and opportunities by focusing on
innovation, promoting industrialization, and productivity hence will emerge as leaders more
likely to create competitive advantage. Reason being, the leading companies are identified and
selected by its management, strategy and its ability to deal with the risks and opportunities that
are deriving from social, economic and environmental developments.
The main question the executives and investors of Deloitte should ask themselves is
whether sustainability is an advantage to the company or not they would realize that it provides
some new deliverables and a larger purpose for the company to strive for which will help renew
their commitments back to basic goals like sustainable growth and efficiency. But perhaps also,
if they share their strategy in public, they might get a better reputation and a public goodwill
which will enable them to get a market premium (Gaese 2011, p. 65). Also, for Deloitte
Company to ensure that their financial success is long-term, they need to recognize their
operation is within a larger social and biophysical environment and to respect the processes and
limits that are governing the sustainability in the larger ecosystem. Consequently, they find it
challenging to behave in a socially responsive and environmentally sustainable manner while
trying to improve and maintain social and environmental developments.
Sustainable development goals will enable Deloitte Company to benefit from, and
engage with, the partnerships around a set of priorities shared globally. Through these
collaborations, they can build stronger relationships and scale their impacts on the topics that are
critical to their business and those which matters in the market. Companies that are aligned with

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sustainable development goals have the opportunity to be aligned with policy priorities which are
emerging which could potentially enhance their operating license.
Solutions
Sustainability is a common area that the outside observers and consumers use for
evaluation of the company’s responsibility. This could be achieved by, for example, choosing the
most responsible products that can impact Deloitte in their role as a steward in the industry. The
company can also use sustainable development goals to find opportunities and manage long-term
risks so as to develop and grow their business and trying to generate significant environmental
and societal benefits that their investors, customers and the global community value (Peddada
2015, p. 67). Deloitte should progress towards sustainable development goals so as to develop
business models that are inclusive which offer the potential for both development impact and
commercial success.
Recommendations
Management needs to come up with business strategies that will integrate value-
creating economic and long-term social and environmental considerations where they also
provide the resources which are necessary to implement those strategies. Secondly, they should
also appoint a dedicated manager who will oversee the sustainability performance of the
company. But still, all members of staff and management at every level are supposed to be
responsible, individually, for promoting operations which are sustainable in the company.
Incentive scheme for the executives should be in place and must include social and
environmental goals and also the economic goals (Lion 2017, p. 66). Thirdly, they should
operate in a manner that is ethical and respects the law. The behaviour which is expected from

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the staff members should be documented in writing and resources for its implementation should
be provided.
Fourth, the life-cycle approach, with environmental impact and economic profit should
inform the decision made by Deloitte Company. The company should be committed to a
sustainable environment. Also when selecting partners in business, Deloitte should prioritize and
consider sustainability factors. Again, through extensive cooperation and professional
organizations, the company should integrate regulatory policies and processes and sustainability
principles into their operations (Oliveira 2018, p. 58). Fifth, there should be transparency in
decision making and operations. The company should collect information and reliable data about
their activities, environmental, economic and social performance and impact on an ongoing
basis. Finally, the company should always state their objectives as a written sustainability
mission helps investors and customers see where their priorities lie which can also assist the
company in formulating a long-term plan on their financial and social goals, and also networking
with other sustainable companies which can assist them to achieve their goals.

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References
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Lion, H 2017, The corporate sustainability recommendations, Corporate Sustainability
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Mukherjee, JS 2017, The Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals,
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