Top 5 | CSR Programs Ever

Corporate Social Responsibility emphasises a company’s charitable obligations and accountability to society for their ethical practises. CSR came into popularity in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and is now perceived as a requisite for big businesses making millions in profits, profits which often come at a cost to the environment. CSR gives the opportunity for ‘giving back’ actions that achieve positive social outcomes.

We’ve been digging through the archives and have uncovered our top 5 CSR initiatives from around the world…

·         On Tuesday 26th November 2013, International drinks powerhouse Coca Cola announced that it will not be spending any money on advertising from November 2013 onwards. Instead, the corporation will be donating that money to relief efforts in the Philippines following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Furthermore, the company has already donated a staggering $2.5 million in cash, $600,000 in bottled water and $1 million through the American National Red Cross. The overwhelming response has been one of praise for the multi-national brand.

·         Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program is designed to eliminate waste by recycling athletics shoes of any brand. Since 1990, more than 25 million pairs of sneakers have been ground up, separated into materials and reconstituted as Nike Grind – then used for playground surfaces, tracks, fields and more.

·         IKEA Foundation supports UNICEF in its efforts to improve the quality of education for children from ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Minority children are usually educated in Vietnamese – though few speak the language – by teachers who cannot understand the children’s indigenous tongue. UNICEF works with schools and communities to provide education in a safe, child-friendly environment and to incorporate classes taught in the children’s indigenous language. The project also involves setting up basic infrastructure such as a safe water supply and sanitation, classrooms and playgrounds, and providing resources such as books and teaching aids. An estimated 120,000 students and 3,000 out-of-school adolescents have participated in the project so far.

·         Car Giant Buick Buick are funding the distribution of free backpacks filled with school supplies to 475 low-income students Through an innovative partnership with CBS EcoMedia’s EducationAd advertising program. Local Buick GMC Dealers participated in a special assembly where they personally distributed the backpacks to the surprised students at a primary school.

·         Hormel Foods Corporation announced that donations to hunger relief organizations throughout the United States and abroad totalled more than $6.5 million during fiscal year 2013. The On Our Way to Ending Hunger program focuses on collaboration with retailers, non-profit organizations and government agencies to address hunger relief, nourishing the hungry both domestically and internationally, as well as motivating individuals and corporate partners to take action against hunger. Hormel Foods donated more than $220,000 to local hunger relief organizations in more than 20 communities where it has U.S. manufacturing facilities. Each plant identifies the organization(s) within its community to support.