Integrating socially responsible business policies and practices can offer tremendous benefits to your business while making a positive social and environmental impact.
Whether you’re a creative or professional services firm, a retail business, or a solopreneur working from home, your business can make a positive social and environmental impact. There are countless ways your business can integrate social responsibility—and here are ten practical ones to get you started:
Community
#1: Encourage your employees to volunteer for a local charity. This can include organizing a “day of service” as a way to build teamwork.
#2: Offer pro bono services, or donate products in-kind, to help a nonprofit improve its impact.
Environment
#3: Measure your current energy and water consumption and set reduction targets. Recruit an “environmental champion” among your staff to help engage your team in finding ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
#4: Offer subsidies or other incentives to encourage employees to carpool or use public transportation.
Employees
#5: Involve your employees in decisions that impact their work environment. Empower them to make positive changes that result in greater efficiency and effectiveness.
#6: Provide training and mentoring opportunities that include personal and professional development.
Customers
#7: Offer a written consumer warranty or client protection policy on your product or service.
#8: Establish customer service standards and practices and set targets for improving customer satisfaction.
Suppliers
#9: Establish a Supplier Purchasing Policy that gives preferences to local suppliers, women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
#10: Establish a supplier Code of Conduct to ensure that your suppliers operate ethically and responsibly.
Integrating socially responsible business practices can bring tremendous benefits to your business. If social responsibility is new to your company and you’re not sure where to begin, check out our Sustainable Business Consulting Services page, or schedule a quick consultation with me. We are here to help.
Do you have any tips to share with other businesses? Share your thoughts in the comment box below!
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