Analysis of The Walt Disney Company's Corporate Social Responsibility

This report provides an analysis of The Walt Disney Company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. It begins with an introduction to the concept of CSR and highlights the importance of businesses considering social interests alongside profits. The report then focuses on Disney's approach to CSR, detailing their key areas of focus, including responsible product creation, community investment, workplace ethics, and environmental stewardship. It examines specific initiatives such as the "Disney Team of Heroes" program, environmental efforts like plastic reduction, and supply chain investments. The report highlights Disney's achievements in reducing environmental impact, supporting communities, and maintaining ethical practices, concluding that Disney has made significant efforts in CSR since 2012, balancing shareholder interests with societal, environmental, and stakeholder considerations. References from the Walt Disney Company's CSR report and unido.org are included.

Management
Running Head: Management 0
3 / 2 3 / 2 0 2 0
Student’s Name

“Management” 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
CSR practice and results..................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

“Management” 2
Introduction
Every business work in a social environment containing several stakeholders, and therefore the
same need to consider social interest apart from focusing on profits. “Corporate social
responsibility” is an emerging management concept where businesses integrate environmental
and social concerns in their activities and interact with their stakeholders (unido.org, 2020).
Many businesses are focusing on, pursuing this concept, and being responsible enterprises. The
company selected for the discussion of this report is “The Walt Disney Company”, which is an
entertainment conglomerate founded in the United States. In this report, the manner in which
Disney sees CSR will be discussed along with the effort pursuing in the related field.
CSR practice and results
The company considers CSR an important concept and believes that it is making a long term
investment by operating in an honorable and socially responsible manner, which benefits the
company today. Each year the company sets its targets related to CSR and puts. The creation of
responsible products and content, investment in communities, maintenance of respectful
workplace and development as a good steward of the environment are some of the main CSR
focuses of the company. 2018 has been a landmark year for the company in respect of achieving
its CSR targets. In this year company has remained engaged in reducing its environmental
impact, ethically ensuring production, engaging community members in productive ways. In
addition to this, the company has also decided to expand its focus in another area that can enable
the same to make an impact via philanthropy.

“Management” 3
To discuss the specific efforts made by the company in the sector of CSR, if the mention of
"Disney Team of Heroes" seems important. It is an “enterprise-wide community outreach and
philanthropy initiative”. Through this initiative, the company is likely to deliver inspiration and
comfort worth $ 100 million to the kid and their families in children's hospitals globally. Further
during 2018, the company has developed "Disney themed" playrooms in many hospitals of china
and unveiled "Disney themed" clothing for patients in hospitals of Hong Kong. As mentioned
above, this is not the only area where the company has made its efforts but the same has also
taken some important initiatives for environmental protection. The company continuously
making use of resources wisely and securing the environment. The company has decided to
eliminate the use of "single-use" plastic stirrers and straw at all of its owned and operated
locations worldwide by reduction of 13 million stirrers and 175 million straws each year
(thewaltdisneycompany.com, 2018). Further the company also eliminating the use of polystyrene
cups worldwide. These efforts seem significant in the reduction of single-use plastic in the long
term. Disney has concerned about humans resources associated with the same in external as well
as in internal process and therefore has announced the "Supply Chain Investment Program" in
2017. It is the latest round of investment that is intended to provide solutions for systemic labor
issues in the "global supply chain.” In 2017, the company has made a charitable contribution
worth $332 million.
The company has truly been successful in its applied CSR efforts where the same over exceed its
water target and been capable to maintain potable water use to the level of 2013. In comparison
to 2013, the company has reduced the water use level by 6% in 2018. The company has reduced
its net emission by 44% in 2018 in comparison to 2012's level and further set a target of 50% for
2020 (thewaltdisneycompany.com, 2018). The company generates operational waste from

“Management” 4
studios, office locations, theme parks, and resorts and a diversion rate of 54%. Considering 2013
as a baseline, the company has reduced "potable water consumption" by 5.8% in 2018. The
company is also attaining its nutrition guidelines and working responsibly. In 2018, the company
has achieved 85% guideline goal worldwide. The company is operating a range of innovative
projects across the globe and has invested nearly $19 million since 2012. Not only the company
but also its employees have responded and helped people in various natural disasters that
affected communications in 2018. The company has made a case commitment to people affected
by the hurricane and providing meals, emergency supplies, assistance as well as other lifesaving
services.
Conclusion
To conclude the report presented hereby, this is to state that since 2012, Disney is making great
efforts in the field of CSR and in addition to considering the interest of shareholders by doing
well economically, the same is also considering the interest of society, environment, and other
stakeholders.

“Management” 5
References
thewaltdisneycompany.com. (2018) Corporate Social Responsibility Update. [online] Available
from: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/app/uploads/2019/03/2018-CSR-Report.pdf [Accessed
on 23/03/2020]
unido.org. (2020) What is CSR? [online] Available from:
https://www.unido.org/our-focus/advancing-economic-competitiveness/competitive-trade-
capacities-and-corporate-responsibility/corporate-social-responsibility-market-integration/what-
csr [Accessed on 23/03/2020]