Tel.: Corporate Social Responsibility CSR – An Overview

CSR among SMEs „How to pronounce?“ „What does it mean?“ „Does it affect me at all?“

Triple Bottom Line Sustainable Development Stakeholder Value LOHAS Corporate Citizenship Corporate Volunteering Cause-related Marketing … + OECD GL, GRI, UN GC, ISO 26000, ILO MNEs, SA 8000, Corp. Governance Codex etc.

„The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.“ Milton Friedman (1970) so what?!

Things have changed! It is not about: How to spend the money you make. It is about: How you make the money you spend.

EU-Definition of CSR The European Commission defines CSR as: „A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.“

Economic Reasons why companies do CSR Improve and keep a good image and reputation Foster the relations to stakeholders e.g. customers Increase trust into the company and the products Raise the motivation of employees

Economic Reasons why companies do CSR Enhance the attractiveness of the company for high performers Reach new customer groups throughout sustainable diversification Decrease costs for emissions e.g. reduction of waste Better financial position throughout better ratings at banks and insurances and SMEs? (98% of companies in EU 27 / 70% of jobs)

The German „Mittelstand“ small with a long tradition family owned down-to-earth and close-to-home

„Zukunft Mittelstand! - Erfolgsfaktor gesellschaftliches Engagement“ Project on behalf of the European Union Programme „Mainstreaming CSR among SMEs“

Zukunft Mittelstand: Primary research about the knowledge, activities, interest and information-needs of SMEs for CSR Consulting of SMEs in the field of CSR by individual consulting, workshops, events, information materials and campaigns Promotion of successful medium sized “CSR-companies” (Best Practices) Development and use of teaching-material on CSR for universities and adult training centres

Synopsis of the most significant results Less then one third (28%) of SMEs have already dealt with CSR 75% of SMEs think CSR will gain in significance Only 22 percent of SMEs believe CSR is not worth it from a business perspective Main barriers>> little time >> limited financial resources >> missing practical know-how of staff

How much time and money does CSR take? “outside” the market, CSR can be an investment... “inside” the market, CSR means the challenge of creating a sustainable business, along >> the whole supply chain >> the life cycle of products and services >> all levels of the company structure...but what about missing know-how of staff?

„InnoTrain CSR – Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung (CSR) als Bestandteil beruflicher Bildung“ „InnoTrain CSR - Integrating CSR into vocational education and training (VET)“ Project on behalf of the European Union Programme „Leonardo da Vinci – Transfer of Innovation“

Main objects and activtities Transfer of missing CSR knowledge into enterprises by qualifying trainers in SMEs and training institutes Enabling involvement of all employees into CSR issues by integrating CSR in vocational education and training CSR online platform >> 80 modules for seminars >> 4 educational films + CSR seminars in DE/HU/PT/UK

Thank you! Wolfgang Keck Project „InnoTrain CSR“ GILDE GmbH