CSR & GOOD GOVERNANCE
Chapter 5:
Environmental Sustainability in CSR
Prepared by:
Divine S. Mendoza
Jadewyn L. Aviles
INTRODUCTION
In today’s rapidly changing business
landscape, organizations are expected to not
only generate economic returns, but also to
contribute to the well-being of society
Business and industry have enormous
environmental impacts, from emitting hazardous
pollutants to consuming vast amounts of natural
resources. Today, many companies undertake
environmental sustainability not just as a legal
obligation, but as a business opportunity and moral
imperative.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the
idea that a business has a responsibility to
the society that exists around it
 Corporate social responsibility means a
business’s performance is measured not
only in terms of profit, but in how well it
addresses its social and environmental
impacts.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Firms that embrace CSR are typically
organized in a manner that empowers them
to act in a socially responsible way to
positively impact the world.
 Firms are often guided by a concept known as
the triple bottom line, which dictates that a
business should be committed to measuring its
social and environmental
impact, sustainability efforts, and profits.
TYPES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CSR is traditionally broken into four categories:
 Philanthropic
 Ethical
 Economic
 Environmental
TYPES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Philanthropic responsibility refers to a business’s
aim to actively make the world and society a
better place.
• Ethical responsibility is concerned with ensuring
an organization is operating in a fair and ethical
manner.
• Economic responsibility is the practice of a firm
backing all of its financial decisions in its
commitment to do good. The end goal isn’t just to
maximize profits, but also to make sure the
business operations positively impact the
environment, people, and society.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Environmental responsibility is the belief that
organizations should behave in as
environmentally friendly a way as possible. It’s
one of the most common forms of CSR.
• Is is the duty that individuals (and businesses or
organizations) have to protect the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• Environmental sustainability is based on the
principle that “our survival and well-being
depends, either directly or indirectly, on our
natural environment.”.
• Therefore, living sustainably means creating and
maintaining “the conditions under which
humans and nature can exist in productive
harmony to support present and future
generations.”
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability calls for efficient, wise use of natural
resources, energy, and materials. It requires an
understanding that humans are part of many
complex ecosystems and food webs on Earth and
that our actions have consequences for the entire
planet.
WHY IS ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT?
 Earth is our food and water source and our
home. It supplies what we need for clothing,
hygiene, medicine, companionship, serenity,
adventure, and air to breathe.
 Earth must be balanced to meet these human
needs. Too much pollution harms our health and
the health of plants and animals who share our
homes.
 Environmental sustainability means a better
quality of life. Better quality of life
benefits everyone.
WHY IS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
IMPORTANT IN BUSINESS?
 You can reduce your operating expenses by
being more efficient with resources.
 Secondly, you can raise the profile of your
business and enhance its reputation by being a
leader in supporting environmental
sustainability
What do we owe
to the world as
we run our
businesses?
CSR activity businesses can adopt
Reducing Plastic
02 Forest Preservation
04 Saving Energy
01
Increased Supply Chain Effectiveness
Supply chain efficiency is about how effectively a
company gets its products to the right place at
the right time and at the lowest possible cost and
how well it uses resources to produce and deliver
goods
Supply chain efficiency can help a company
minimize its carbon footprint and increase its ROI
Ways to improve supply chain.
 Increase supply chain visibility.
 Develop strong relationships with dependable
suppliers.
 Form strategic partnerships that are mutually
beneficial.
 Automate supply chain processes.
 Implement and optimize inventory management
processes.
 Leverage new technologies.
 Research and initiate green shipping and packaging.
02
Renewable Energy Investment
Every year, big enterprises contribute 6.3 billion
tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
In recent months, corporate response to the
climate catastrophe has taken a sudden turn, with
many pledging to go carbon neutral.
Examples of Renewable Energy are: Solar Energy,
Wind Energy, Hydropower Energy, Wave Energy,
Tidal Energy, Geothermal Energy.
Importance of using Renewable energy;
• Reduction in Greenhouse Gases
• Pollution Reduction
• Renewable energy infrastructure is often more resilient
to climate impacts, providing reliable energy even in
adverse conditions.
• By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, renewable energy
helps mitigate the effects of climate change,
contributing to global efforts to limit temerature rise.
03
Investment in Philanthropy
It refers to the initiatives a business consciously
takes to contribute to bettering a community,
society, or the environment. Companies
commonly accomplish this through financial
donations, matching gifts, volunteerism, in-kind
services, and similar forms of support.
The Philippines is home to ten noteworthy
and inspirational environmental
organizations that work hard to improve the
nation’s environment and give its residents a
healthy atmosphere.
Their objective is to safeguard the
environment , protect & conserve our
natural resources.
05
Minimizing Packaging waste
Packaging waste is one of the top concerns that
most businesses are facing today. However, to
promote sustainable packaging, more and more
companies are using materials that are ecofriendly throughout the packaging life cycle.
Some ways to minimize packaging wastes
• Use recyclable & re-usable materials
• Encourage minimal packing
• Source sustainable raw materials
• Invest in an industrial shredder
• Use bio-degradable packaging
• Train your staff
06
Conscious Water Consumption
Water is essential for life, and it is a finite resource that is
becoming increasingly scarce. The availability of freshwater is
not only a global concern but also a critical issue for
businesses. Companies that use large amounts of water in
their operations face rising costs, regulatory pressures, and
reputational risks. Therefore, water conservation is a
key element of sustainable business strategies. By adopting
water conservation practices, companies can reduce their
environment impacts, improve their bottom line, and enhance
their reputation among stakeholders.
Ways to conserve water
• Conduct a water audit
• Install a water efficient fixtures & appliances
• Implement a water efficient practice
• Use a recycled & reclaimed water
• Monitor water usage
• Adopt water conservation
strategies/techonologies.
07
Environmentally Conscious Building
Corporations are making a concerted effort to limit
their environmental footprint by paying close attention
to how infrastructure is built.
Environmentally conscious building, also known as
sustainable construction, is an innovative idea that
introduces more environmentally, socially and
economically aware construction methods
Some construction methods to adopt;
• Using green construction materials
• Prioritizing local sustainable materials
• Consider investing in a water recycling system
• Incorporating modular construction techniques
• Use of renewable energy sources
• Companies can also consider incorporating
biophilic design and green spaces into their
workplace.
08
Waste Removal
Proper waste disposal is no longer just an operational
essential in today’s corporate world; it’s become a
strategic necessity.
Pollution of the air, water, and soil is a result of
improper waste disposal and has far-reaching negative
effects on the ecosystem and human health.
Proper waste disposal is essential for protecting the
environment, promoting public health and safety,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting
sustainability
Proper disposal methods;
• Waste segregation
• Recycling
• Use proper disposal methods for hazardous wastes
• Compost organic waste
• Proper disposal of electrical wastes
09
Convenient Transportation
Looking at eco-friendly transportation choices is an
essential component of your CSR, from modifying how
staff commute to work each day to rearranging product
distribution
The transportation industry is a significant contributor
to greenhouse gas emissions, making it essential for
businesses and logistics providers to adopt greener
practices.
Proper waste disposal is essential for protecting the
environment, promoting public health and safety,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting
sustainability
Some ways to make transportation more sustainable
• Route optimization
• Electric & alternative fuel vehicles
• Providing commuter services
10
Innovative Technology
Eco-innovation, the practice of employing technology
for sustainable objectives, is essential in identifying
potential energy alternatives and developing solutions
to challenging problems
Examples of eco-innovation inventions
• Solar-powered roads
• Smart Reusable Notebook: RocketBook
• Water Conservation in Farming: SupPlant
• Solar-Powered Battery
Clean Air,
Clean Water,
Clean Planet,
Our shared
responsibility
Thank You