Arden University PRM7005: Sustainability and CSR Report

This report delves into the concepts of sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within a business context. It begins with a literature review, critically evaluating the development and value of sustainability, supported by examples from organizations like Nestle and JBS, highlighting the...Read More

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
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Table of Contents
Section 1: Sustainability in Business.........................................................................................1
Section 2: Corporate Social Responsibility for Business...........................................................3
Section 3: Conclusion and Recommendations...........................................................................6
Section 4: Reflection on group work.........................................................................................8
References................................................................................................................................10

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Section 1: Sustainability in Business
Sustainability refers to process of the people that helps the people in maintaining the
change within the balanced environment. Sustainability helps in meeting needs of present age
and it does not compromise ability of the future generations of meeting the needs.
Sustainability helps the business in framing the decisions years ahead and it considers more
number of factors than that of the profit or the loss involved (Herzog 2017). A company
issues the sustainability goals and they want to work towards them. The companies achieve
the sustainable needs by the cutting of emissions and by lowering the usage of the energy.
The companies take care of the fact that the products are sources from that of the fair-trade
organizations and they take care of the fact that the physical waste is disposed in the proper
manner. The companies ensure the fact that there is less carbon footprint that makes a
company sustainable in the competitive environment. Sustainable business or the green
business refers to an enterprise which has very little negative effect on global or the local
environment. The sustainable business in the society possess the progressive environmental
along with the human rights policies. A business incorporates the principles of the
sustainability in each of the business decisions that helps it in taking care of the environment
(Laszlo and Zhexembayeva 2017). A sustainable business supplies the environmentally
friendly products which helps in replacing the demand pertaining to the non-green products
along with the services. A sustainable business participates in the green activities which helps
in ensuring that the process along with the products are adequate that helps in addressing the
environmental concerns of the present age. It is indicative of process that helps the various
companies in assessing the designing of the products which can help in taking advantage of
the present environmental situation. Brundtland Report has stated that sustainability is
indicative of a three legged stool that comprises of people, planet along with the profit (Crane
and Matten 2016). The sustainable business having supply chain should be capable of

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balancing the aspect of the people, planet and the profit with the help of the triple bottom
line. A business that is sustainable helps in creating value for the customers along with the
investors. A sustainable business takes recourse to stakeholder balancing that helps in
catering to the needs of the present age. Green business acts as the possible mediator in
relation to the economic-environmental relations and it plays an important role in diversifying
the economy in the modern age. Sustainable business decreases the environmental harm by
eliminating or decreasing environmental harm that is caused by consumption of goods. The
effect of the human activities can be measured in terms of units of carbon dioxide which is
referred to as carbon footprint (Baland, Bardhan and Bowles 2018). The sustainable business
leaders take recourse to life cycle cost pertaining to the items that are produced.
Sustainable development is emphasized by Nestle and the company lays stress in
increasing access of the world to that of the higher quality of the food. Nestle lays emphasis
on locating aspects of the production within the developing world instead of simply sourcing
the raw materials from the developing world. It has been found that 45 % of the factories of
Nestle are located within the developing countries and 48 % of the employees of Nestle are
located within developing countries (Nestle.com 2019). Nestle has stated that fundamental
principle in relation to the economic investment is that it wants to produce goods that can be
good for the countries. Nestle starts the operations within the developing countries that acts
like the developmental agency that helps the local farmers in the creation of modern dairy
industry. The company has 800 agronomists along with the field technicians that helps the
company in acting in a sustainable manner. Nestle Agricultural Services protects source of
raw materials that helps in meeting the production needs. Nestle Agricultural Services is
instrumental in maintaining the ongoing dialogue at that of the international and the local
level. Nestle transforms the perishable goods into the high quality of the food products which
helps in meeting needs of the customers (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). Nestle lays stress on the

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environmental priority in relation to the water usage. Agricultural raw materials acts as the
basis in relation to the finished products of Nestle. The company supports the sustainable
agricultural practices. Sustainability stride was made by the company JBS that makes the
company committed to the future. The company in the year 2017 invested in sustainability-
related projects that helped the company in relation to the future growth (Jbssa.com 2019).
JBS is involved with a large number of local along with the global forums that helps in the
discussion of the sustainability related issues. JBS USA recognizes the fact that for the
meaningful progress in relation to sustainability, a company should partner with various
stakeholders along with the organizations (Epstein 2018). JBS develops various kind of
active partnerships that helps in bringing about continuous improvement for the company.
Meeting of food along with the nutritional needs of the growing global population is a
challenge in the present age. JBS helps the society so that it can meet the global challenge in
a manner that is responsible.
Section 2: Corporate Social Responsibility for Business
A business can get various kinds of benefits in the event of implementation of
corporate social responsibility (CSR). In the event of the manufacturing companies,
implementing the activities pertaining to corporate social responsibility they can enjoy
various kinds of advantages. The activities pertaining to CSR helps the companies in
demonstrating responsibility towards the community. It helps in reflecting on human side of
the companies and the commitment of the companies to the community. The activities in
relation to CSR can help in improving the element of the innovation and the competitiveness
of a business. The CSR activities help in the development of long term goals that helps in
improving understanding in relation to the complex environment in the modern age (Ioannou
and Serafeim 2017). The process pertaining to CSR helps in the developing of innovativeness
in a business that helps them in being creative in the present age. The CSR activities helps the

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companies in improving the ties with the regulators along with communities within which the
company operates (Crowther and Seifi 2018). The good relationship with regulators helps in
facilitating dealings for a company with that of the government department officers. The CSR
activities helps in winning hearts of communities that paves the path for the better public
acceptance. It paves the path for less amount of confrontation that leads to smoothness
pertaining to the operations of a business. The implementation of CSR helps the companies in
improving relationship with the stakeholders (Unit 2015). The CSR activities attracts
shareholders that paves the path for the success of a company. The CSR activities helps in
building the relationship with the employees and they become more loyal to the company.
The CSR activities helps in portraying the fairness of a company that helps in reduction of
element of the employee turnover.
There are various challenges in relation to the implementation of CSR in a company.
The costs of the implementation of CSR can prove to be highly costly that can act as a big
challenge for the companies. The activities pertaining to CSR can prove to be complex for a
company. In the event of the companies not perceiving the CSR activities to be important
they may not be able to contribute significantly to wealth of company (Grayson and Hodges
2017). The implementation of the CSR activities can be delayed that can act as a challenge
for a company. The organizations have the tendency of laying more emphasis on the aspect of
the competitive advantage as compared to the ecology development in the society. The
organizations lack the strategic vision and the willingness of spending on the CSR activities
that acts like a barrier in relation to the implementation of CSR (Crane, Matten and Spence
2019). The challenge pertaining to implementation of CSR arises on account of the cultural
diversity. This has an effect on the aspect of the success in relation to the CSR operation. It is
important to bring about the change in the organizational culture that can help in the proper
implementation of the CSR related activities. Barrier rises on account of the fact that the

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people within an organization have various kinds of beliefs along with the values that
hampers the process of implementation of CSR activities (Hopkins 2016). The people in an
organization has different way of the thinking along with the style of the communication that
can create misunderstanding pertaining to implementing of Corporate Social Responsibility
Acts.
Nestle is a Health and the Wellness company that has participated in the business
activities that has helped in improving quality of life of communities. The company has been
instrumental in the creation of better employment opportunities for a large number of people.
The company has created the awareness in relation to nutrition along with the good hygiene
with the help of various kinds of programmes. Nestle has carried out the school based
programmes that has helped the students in getting the nutrition training that can improve the
health of the children. The multi-partnership approach of the company has helped the
company in collaborating with the regional universities. It has helped in changing the
knowledge along with the attitude of the students that has helped the company in earning a
large amount of revenue. The company has implemented various kinds of sanitation projects
that has provided encouragement to the girl students within the rural school for encouraging
the attendance (Wang et al. 2016). It has made the company popular among a large section of
the population that has helped the company in earning a large amount of revenue. The
company has also undertaken clean drinking water project that has helped the company in
constructing the drinking water facilities that has played an important role in building the
reputation of the company among the people.
Nestle has to face the challenges in relation to the implementation of CSR. The
company is facing challenges in relation to the sustainable usage of water. Nestle has to
comply with that of the International Labour Organizations that is throwing challenge on the
path of the company (Nestle.com 2019). The company has to develop the talent so that it can

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maintain the competitive workforce. The company has to face challenges pertaining to the
empowering of the high performing teams that is acting as a hurdle in the path of the
company. There has been renewed focus on the aspect of the sustainable productivity that
acts like a challenge for Nestle.
Unilever implements the systematic strategy that has helped the company in fulfilling
the aspect of the corporate social responsibilities. The Code of the Business Principles of
Unilever helps the company in the arena of the worldwide operational standard
(Unilever.com 2019). Unilever lays stress on the creation of an environment within which
people can reach the full potential. The employees of Unilever are able to earn 5.2 billion $ in
terms of pay that helps the employees of the company in making a large amount of profits.
The policy of Unilever supports International Labour Organization that has helped the
company in banning any kind of child labour. This has helped the company in winning the
favour of the customers.
Unilever also has to face the challenges pertaining to the implementing of the
corporate social responsibility acts. The companies of Unilever have to comply with the
Unilever Framework Standard that can help in taking care of the aspect of the occupational
health. They have to abide by the norms of the International Standards Organization that
threatens the future of the company (Clayton and Radcliffe 2018). The company faces
challenges in relation to getting the help from the specialist environmental that can help in
increasing te popularity of the company among the common people. The proper
implementing of the corporate social responsibility acts needs the help of the people and
Unilever has to face barriers in relation to challenging the lifestyle of the people that can help
them in undertaking the corporate social responsibility acts.

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Section 3: Conclusion and Recommendations
Sustainability is indicative of process that can help the people for maintaining change
in that of balanced environment. Sustainability can meet the needs of the present age and it
does not compromise ability of future generations. Nestle lays stress on the developing
countries that greatly helps local farmers in creating modern dairy industry. The company
possess various kinds of the field technicians which ensures the sustainability of the
company. Nestle Agricultural Services plays an important role in protecting the source of the
raw materials that meets production needs of company. The CSR activities of Nestle have
helped in innovating the business that has provided it with the competitive edge (Nestle.com
2019). It has helped the company in the developing of the long term goals which helps it in
understanding the environment.
Nestle has to commit to the environmentally sustainable business practice at the
various stage of the production that can help the company in protecting the future. The efforts
of Nestle should cut across the value chain that can help them in engaging in a proper manner
with the farmers along with the suppliers. The company can undertake energy reduction
project along with the water reduction project that can help the company in the area of
sustainability. The company can work with the farmer communities that can help the
company in ensuring sustainable production in that of the long term. The company should
help the farmers in adapting to the effects of the climate change that can help in increasing
the profitability of the company. The company can use the services of a dedicated supplier
development team that can help the company in making the profits. The company should lay
stress on the aspect of minimum standard of the sourcing which can help in ensuring that
supplier community has followed the sustainable environmental standard. The company
should lay focus on the aspect of the manufacturing that can be useful in improving the
operational efficiencies of the company. It can help the company in working with the fewer

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resources that can help the company in making the profits. The company can make use of
efficient technologies along with the process that can help in optimising the energy along
with the water consumption. Nestle should focus on specific guidelines in relation to
Packaging and the Design that can be useful in educating the consumers in relation to the
sustainable consumption. The company can take recourse to the element of the product
labelling that can help in the determination of recyclability of the products.
Nestle should focus on the development of a circular economy that can help in
increasing the prestige of a company. The company can play an active role in developing the
well-functioning collection along with the recycling schemes that can help the company in
operating in the various countries. The company can work with that of the value chain
partners along with the industry associations that can help in the exploration of the various
kinds of the packaging solutions. It can help in facilitating recycling that can help in the
development of approach which can eliminate the plastic waste (Epstein 2018). The
company should label the plastic product packaging with that of the recycling information
that can help the consumers in disposing of the packaging in the right manner. The company
can promote market for that of the recycled plastics by increasing proportion of the recycled
plastics in the packaging.
The governance of the company should lay stress on the element of sustainability that
can work to the benefit of the company. The company should liaise with that of the Advisory
Board that can work to the advantage of the company. The company can introduce the
methodologies along with the models that can help in the growth of the company
(Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). The company should make use of the continuous improvement
culture that can greatly help the company. The company should ensure the fact that there is
coherent implementation of the policies in the worldwide arena that can help the fortunes of
the company.

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Section 4: Reflection on group work
I have been able to learn with the help of the group work that a company in the event
of attaining the sustainability goals can help a company in making the profits. I have been
able to learn with the help of the group work that cutting the emissions can be instrumental in
the sustainability of the company in the long run. I have been able to learn that collaboration
is an important element that can ensure the success of a project. I have used my listening
ability in hearing the voices of the other people of the group. I have been able to learn that
effective communication can greatly help in understanding the view point of the other people
in the group. The group work has taught me about how the element of aggreableness in the
event of working within an team. It can help in understanding the view point of the other
members of the team that can help in the successful completion of a project. It has helped me
in learning about the art of the organisation that can help in successfully carrying out a
project. It has imbibed me with the planning skills that is crucial in relation to any kind of
group work. It has taught me the ability of making the decisions that can help in moving the
things in the forward direction. It has taught me how to collect the information that can help
in carrying out a successful project. It has taught me how to make the decisions quickly that
helps in facilitating the group work. It has taught me how to find the innovative ideas that can
be instrumental in solving a problem. It has taught me about the team work skills that can
help in proper carrying out of a project. I would in the future try to delve deep into the
perspective of the other people that can help in improving the quality of a project. I would
question the opinion of the other members of the team that can help in finding the right
answers to specific situations. I would like to develop my art of the persuasion in the future
that can help me in changing the opinion of the other members of the team. I would like to
improve on my facilitation skills in the future that can greatly aid in the success of a project. I

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want to develop my ability of the conflict resolution that can help me in my future group
work.

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References
Baland, J.M., Bardhan, P. and Bowles, S. eds., 2018. Inequality, cooperation, and
environmental sustainability. Princeton University Press.
Clayton, T. and Radcliffe, N., 2018. Sustainability: a systems approach. Routledge.
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Crane, A., Matten, D. and Spence, L. eds., 2019. Corporate social responsibility: Readings
and cases in a global context. Routledge.
Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald
Group Publishing.
Epstein, M.J., 2018. Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring
corporate social, environmental and economic impacts. Routledge.
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M. and Hultink, E.J., 2017. The Circular Economy–
A new sustainability paradigm?. Journal of cleaner production, 143, pp.757-768.
Grayson, D. and Hodges, A., 2017. Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make
corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.
Herzog, L., 2017. No Company is an Island. Sector-Related Responsibilities as Elements of
Corporate Social Responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 146(1), pp.135-148.
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reporting. Harvard Business School research working paper, (11-100).

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overview and new research directions: Thematic issue on corporate social responsibility.