In the past decade, there has been a significant shift in the way the private sector has addressed corporate social responsibility (CSR) – from inserting an environmental section to their annual financial report and only reacting to issues when it hit the media to being pro-active and embedding CSR as part of their day-to-day business operations.
Bill Greenhalgh, in
his recent article on CSR in the Financial Post, mentioned Nestlé’s work in the milk districts in India as “the ultimate example of altruistic self-interest” by continuously implemented initiatives that have improved the quality of life of the communities around its factories.
Over the past 50 years, Nestlé has developed artificial insemination programmes for cattle, subsidised farmers’ purchase of milking machines and helped procure loans for the community. In addition, company veterinarians and agronomists supervise the milk routes and advise farmers on the most appropriate feed for the herds and milk storage facilities have been set up in close location to the farmers.
Corporations need to change the way they manage “people, planet, and profit” and embrace CSR as the way they do business.
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