Corporate Sustainability

Many firms are learning that being environmentally friendly and sustainable has numerous benefits. (O.C Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2015). This could enable them to increase goodwill from various stakeholders and also save money in the long term. This will mean that they are being more efficient and less wasteful of resources, which will enable them to be more competitive by satisfying stakeholders. The CEO of

Because corporations are established to profit and shareholders invest money with expectations of a greater return, managers cannot be given a directive to be “socially responsible” without providing specific criteria of checks and balances to which needs to adhere. Therefore, it is imperative to the success of a corporation for managers to not act solely but rather to act within the policies of the shareholders.

Many believe that business entities should have an ethical duty to be socially responsible, to work towards increasing its positive effects on society while decreasing its negative effects. Many organizations look for opportunities to be socially responsible while also creating shareholder wealth.

When an organization partakes in “proactive behavior…for the benefit of society,” it is deemed as socially responsible (P. 155). However, prior to labeling a organization as socially responsible, it is important that we first identify what specific elements of proactive behavior constitute a socially responsible business. To begin, for an organization to be considered socially responsible on the highest level, it must take a proactive approach to doing business. This is defined as “[taking a] approach to social responsibility in which an organization goes beyond industry norms to solve and prevent problems” (P.155). In addition, it is standard for a socially responsible organization to incorporate a larger scope of stakeholders, to include external stakeholders, in their business decisions to create positive externalities, and mitigate negative ones, to benefit society as a whole.

Every business organization has a social responsibility in ensuring that the environment it operates in is protected. Many companies have identified that they have a major role to play in protecting the natural habitat and ensuring that business is not only about making profits. Some organizations are setting aside funds that are developed in the protection of the environment while other organizations are setting a tree-planting day as part of their annual calendar. Companies have legal and ethical responsibilities that guide the organization in making sure that the environment is taken care of. The natural resource depletion and the environmental pollution have led to conservation groups setting rules that govern the company in utilizing natural resources.

The expectation that businesses behave responsibly and positively contribute to society all while pursuing their economic goals is one that holds firm through all generations. Stakeholders, both market and nonmarket, expect businesses to be socially responsible. Many companies have responded to this by including this growing expectation as part of their overall business operations. There are companies in existence today whose sole purpose is to socially benefit society alongside businesses who simply combine social benefits with their economic goals as their company mission. These changes in societal expectations and thus company purpose we’ve seen in the business community over time often blurs the line of what it means to be socially

Our company analysis focuses on the Kohl’s corporation, which tailors to customers needs in apparel, shoes and home décor. Kohl’s entertain the idea of their slogan by saying “expect great things”, they set high standards in the business world from an economical stand point as the maintain almost 20 billion dollars in revenue and from a sustainability stand point as they have achieved numerous goals since the 2000’s. Kohl’s is a great company with many department stores located throughout the United States and in Massachusetts. There is one less than a mile away from Merrimack College that has a huge collection of apparel, shoes and home décor.

To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society. Companies must benefit all of their stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate” (Straub,

Today, there is much emphasis given towards sustainability in the corporate world. According to its IR, NAB is said to be using much less energy in its data centers giving priority to infrastructure which is energy efficient, with some of its hubs receiving certifications too (p.14). NAB is also spending a significant amount on energy efficiency initiatives with $15 million of costs avoided and 81,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions being eliminated (p.26). Further the use of solar reflective roof paints and renewable energy (p.26) is an assurance that NAB is committed towards creating a sustainable environment with minimal impacts and preserving the environment for future generations.

Employees are a large part of what make up organizations and they play a vital role within the stakeholders of a company. In order for an company to conceive socially responsible goals, they must focus within their organizations structure and make sure their stakeholders needs are attained, specifically the employees working for them. Companies wouldn 't exist without employees who work and interact with their products, customers and suppliers on a day to day basis. David Chandler and William B. Werther, Jr. present the case study of John Lewis Partnership in their book, Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility, to illustrate an example of a company that strives to keep their employees a central priority in their organization. The John Lewis Partnership has a unique way of viewing the roles their employees play within the firm that has allowed their overall business to be a major success. The revolutionary concept has pioneered a new way that companies and other organizations strive to incorporate into their business strategy.

Corporate social responsibility has been one the key business buzz words of the 21st century. Consumers' discontent with the corporation has forced it to try and rectify its negative image by associating its name with good deeds. Social responsibility has become one of the corporation's most pressing issues, each company striving to outdo the next with its philanthropic image. People feel that the corporation has done great harm to both the environment and to society and that with all of its wealth and power, it should be leading the fight to save the Earth, to combat poverty and illness and etc. "Corporations are now expected to deliver the good, not just the goods; to pursue

There is a clear demand for water in locations that do not naturally have an adequate supply. Water diversion projects serve their purpose in providing water for individual consumers as well as for irrigation and industry. However, as illustrated in this paper, there are severe consequences that arise when disrupting the natural flow of water the ecosystem around it. To mitigate some of the consequences national geographic has suggested restricting the construction of dams, providing incentives for farming business to reduce the use of pesticides, establishing protected wetlands areas, and regulating water withdrawal for human use (Freshwater Threats, 2016). It is important that the solutions to reduce the negative effects of hydrological alterations are aimed at various areas. Efforts should be aimed at reducing the demand for water by increasing efficiency in industry and irrigation as well as increasing the efficiency of water delivery. Efforts should be aimed at the careful planning, engineering, and construction of the hydrological alterations with special attention

By 2040, the global population is estimated to be over 9 billion people (“World Population”). This should be a startling fact when considering the limited and relatively small percentage of freshwater sources. According to the United Nations there is technically enough freshwater sources to support a global population of 7 billion (“Water Scarcity”), but still due to water waste, mismanagement, and lack of infrastructure, 663 million (1 out of 10) people lack access to safe drinking water sources, not to mention people living in areas of physical water scarcity (“25 Years”). “Water scarcity already affects every continent” (“Water for Life”). Due to the dramatic increase in global population, rapid industrialization, and urbanization the importance, value, and demand of water has also increased. (Gnaneswar Gude) As reported by the United Nations, just in the last century alone, water usage has grown more than twice the rate of population growth (“Water for Life”). By 2025, nearly 2 billion people will be living in regions with absolute water scarcity (“Water for

Planet earth is made up of seventy percent of water and thirty percent of territorial land. Of that seventy percent, ninety-seven percent is salt water, meaning only three percent is drinkable water. Accounting for that three percent, only one percent is surface water; the other two percent is ground water. Most of the surface water is unusable due to agriculture runoff; industrial trash is a great deal of surface water that has been contaminated with harmful chemicals. Industries are relying on ground water which is being depleted at immense rates. It is true that many areas of the world are already facing dramatic water shortages. Water scarcity is the upmost challenge issue humans face because of poor practices in sustainability. "There is already severe scarcity in many regions of the world, causing tremendous problems for local populations and indeed entire societies"(Cordery). The issue of water scarcity raises many other issues. In this essay, the social dimensions that water shortages acquire, the social drivers that create the issue, and the potential solutions towards this issue will be discussed.

While doing business it is the prime responsibility of the organization to adhere to the anticipated social corporate responsibility of the organization. The organization should deliver it appropriately. They should be mindful on how they manufacture their products. Their operations and processes should be environmental friendly, their duties towards their employees and the external society and the proximate community should be fulfilled. This way they organization can increase their brand image and gain a competitive