In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

To achieve genuine sustainability a business must ensure that every aspect of the business can be maintained for future generations. 

In the current economic climate, achieving genuine sustainability needs to include becoming socially responsible.

Positive Social Responsibility improves a company’s public image and relationship with consumers.

It is all about reputation.

A good reputation improves:

• Consumer loyalty

• End user loyalty

• Staff loyalty

• And more importantly – referrals and enhanced brand visibility

Customers want to trust organisations they engage with. Employees want to work for values-driven employers and investors want to know that a company is addressing its ethical responsibility.

Social Responsibility has many advantages that can apply to any business, regardless of its size or sector.

It establishes a process that you can use every year to monitor and report your SR activities.

It is amazing what we are already doing in the arena of SR that we don’t talk about.

Many or indeed most of us will have already implemented positive action in one or more of the four pillars..