Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an ethical framework integrated into the governance, investment, management and operations of commercial organisations.  It relates to both to social and environmental responsibility.

For decades, many private companies did not accept that they had any social responsibility; their business was simply to make profits for the benefit of shareholders.

However, these company’s lack of transparency and accountability, coupled with the globalisation of supply chains, a growing global population, coupled with increasing pressures on the environment has challenged that view in recent years.

CSR is primarily a culture which is adopted voluntarily by companies and so this guide focuses on the voluntary actions of the private sector to improve environmental performance above and beyond the baseline set by legislation.

Legal Requirements

Other than legislation on energy, water and the management of other natural resources, there are few legal requirements which relate specifically to corporate social responsibility in this area.  One innovation is the October 2007 amendment to the 2006 Companies Act, which requires companies to provide information about environmental matters in the business review section of their annual report and accounts, or to explain why they do not believe that environmental issues are relevant to their business.

Barbour Resources

We offer a range of resources to help you create policy and communicate with the workforce, including regularly reviewed documents which provide technical guidance, and policy and risk assessment assistance.

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