Give Where You Live
Corporate Social Responsibility
Lesson Package
SECONDARY LESSON PACKAGE
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RATIONALE
Business drives the economy. Strong businesses help keep the country running by providing employment, paying taxes and creating a
market for goods. But sometimes the business world seems cold, driven by consumerist profits and the want for more. Sweeping across
21st century business however, is the emerging ideal of corporate social responsibility. Businesses that are socially responsible are working
to protect the environment, encouraging employees to volunteer, partnering with other companies that are also doing good, ethically
sourcing products and materials, making financial contributions to charities and much more. It is good for them, but more importantly it is
good for everyone. Use this lesson package to delve into the growing world of corporate social responsibility.
This lesson package was created to provide educators with comprehensive lessons on the purpose and management of corporate social
responsibility. With introductory, core, concluding lessons and a top ten list, there is a diverse range of information and activities to help
students understand the motivation for businesses to be socially responsible and for consumers to patronize them. Use the lesson plans,
PowerPoint presentations, blackline masters and assessment rubric to educate, engage and empower your students.
Core Skill Sets
Look for these icons at the top of each lesson. The icons
identify the most relevant core skills being developed. Learn
more about the WE.org: Learning Framework at www.weday.com/weschools.
CRITICAL THINKING
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
RESEARCH AND WRITING
ORGANIZATION
INFORMATION LITERACY
ARGUMENT FORMATION
ACTION PLANNING
REFLECTION
DETAILS
Level: Secondary
Themes: Character education, economy, empathy, global issues,
inspirational figures, local issues, health, poverty, socially conscious
living, values and ethics, volunteering, team building.
Estimated time: 205 minutes
Learning goals:
Students will:
o Learn the history of corporate social responsibility
o Investigate businesses for social responsibility with case
study analysis
o Discover the use of ethics in business
o Research and promote a socially responsible business plan
for a local business
o Uncover the top questions to ask a business about social
responsibility
Course connections: English, Canada and World Studies, Social
Sciences and the Humanities, Health and Physical Education, Math,
Computer Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Resources required:
o Front Board
o Paper and writing utensils
o Computers with PowerPoint capabilities, projector, internet
Resources included:
o Powerpoint presentation
o Blackline master
o Case Studies
Assessment:
o Appendix 1: Assessment rubric
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INTRODUCTORY LESSON:
WHY CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Purpose: Students will learn about the history of corporate social
responsibility and discover the importance of conducting business
ethically to consumers, employees and executives.
Instructional method(s): K-W-L charts, class discussion,
PowerPoint presentation
Differentiated instruction:
o Divide the PowerPoint headings or the points students wrote
in the “want to learn” column of their charts to groups of
students as investigative topics. Have them research and
present their findings to the rest of the class.
Course connections: Business Studies, English, Career Studies,
Social Sciences and the Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies
3.Distribute the blackline master, K-W-L chart. Have
students catalogue what they know about corporate social
responsibility and what they want to learn about corporate
social responsibility on the chart. Instruct students to leave
the “learned” column blank; it will be filled in during the
PowerPoint presentation.
4.Run through the PowerPoint presentation with your students.
Instruct students to take notes from the presentation using
either the “learned” column or a separate page in their notes.
Ensure they write down not only what is on the PowerPoint
slides, but also what is discussed during the presentation.
Students will be using their notes in future lessons.
5. At the end of the class ask students to hand in their K-W-L
charts. Review them to ensure the PowerPoint presentation
covered everything in the “want to learn” column. If there
are any remaining questions ensure they are answered or
addressed in the core lesson.
Estimated time: 45 minutes
Steps:
1.Begin the lesson with a brief discussion. Ask students to think
about the businesses they patronize. What responsibilities do
these businesses have toward the people and communities
in which they operate? Do small local shops have different
responsibilities than large international corporations? Why?
What are the differences?
2.
Introduce students to corporate social responsibility. Tell
students that while there is a long history of businesses who
felt they held a responsibility to the surrounding community,
environment and employees, businesses gauged their
success mainly on profit. Recently however, especially in
Canada, focus has shifted toward a new style of conducting
business, social enterprise and corporate social responsibility.
As consumers, we also have a unique opportunity to ask more
from the businesses we support. Although profit remains a
key measure to success and accomplishment; the activities
of socially responsible corporations also determine their
success in terms of their social impact.
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POWERPOINT MATERIAL:
WHY CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY?
What is corporate social responsibility?
Although this term has been defined in a variety of different ways,
generally, corporate social responsibility is the responsibility
that companies have to the societies they operate in. It is
a commitment to behave ethically with regards to social,
environmental and economic actions.
In other words, companies are guided by a set of principles in all
of their actions, whether environmentally or socially. For example,
a company could ensure that their practices are environmentally
friendly, or that their products are sweatshop-free. Alternatively,
corporate social responsibility could be as simple as contributing
to the local community, either monetarily or through volunteer
hours.
History
Although the term “corporate social responsibility” was not
coined until 1953, concerns regarding the social responsibility of
businesses are as old as commerce itself. The following are some
examples:
Corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly important
for companies as consumers are demanding that they adhere to
higher socially responsible standards.
From a benefits perspective, companies that are socially
responsible not only ensure greater employee satisfaction, as
employees (particularly from generation Y) seek more meaning in
their work, but they also attain a more positive company branding
with the general public.
Examples of Corporate Social Responsibility
o X
erox has a program called Social Service Leave, which
enables employees to take a year of leave with full pay to
work for a community nonprofit organization.
o Keurig Green Mountain instituted an innovative program to
pay struggling coffee growers “fair trade” prices for their
coffee.
o TELUS is involved in a variety of socially responsible
initiatives. One example is their response to the Alberta
fires in 2011, when they provided free wireless calling, longdistance calling cards, replacement cell phones and more
than 1,500 comfort kits for relief workers and residents of
Slave Lake.
o Me to We donates half of their annual profits to their charity
partner Free The Children with the other half being reinvested
to sustain the growth of the enterprise.
o In the 17th century, there were concerns over the excesses of
the East India Company.
o The 18th century saw the first large-scale consumer boycott
over sugar that was harvested by slaves.
o In the 18th and 19th centuries, companies started by Quakers,
such as Barclays and Cadbury, were examples of businesses
engaged in socially responsible business practices.
o During the Industrial Revolution, the unhealthy working
practices caused some to protest against the conditions in the
factories, particularly with regard to child labour.
About Corporate Social Responsability
No organization exists independent of the society it works in. All
corporations benefit and draw from the local community, whether in terms of infrastructure (roads, police, firefighters etc.) or in
terms of their employees. As a result, corporate social responsibility dictates that the companies have an obligation to give back to
the community.
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Resources:
1.Corporate Social Responsibility and Related Terms: www.sagepub.com/upm-data/41167_1.pdf
2.
Daily News and Analysis:
www.dnaindia.com/world/report_corporate-socialresponsibility-evolved-in-the-early-20th-century_1428014
3. Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center
www.ecrc.org.eg/Uploads/documents/Articles_A%20
guide%20to%20corporate%20social%20responsibility.pdf
4. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accordscommerciaux/index.aspx?lang=eng
5. Keurig Green Mountain, Creating Sustainable Products:
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/
SustainableProducts/Overview.aspx
6. Maclean’s magazine, “Top 50 socially responsible
corporations: 2014”:
www.macleans.ca/work/bestcompanies/top-50-sociallyresponsible-corporations-2014/
7.
Mallen Baker, writer, speaker and advisor on corporate social
responsibility: www.mallenbaker.net/csr/definition.php
8. Me to We, Innovative Social Enterprise:
www.metowe.com/about-us/our-organization/socialenterprise-an-innovative-new-model
9. TELUS supporting emergency relief efforts
http://about.telus.com/community/en/relief/ and http://about.telus.com/community/english/news_centre/
news_releases/blog/2011/05/16/telus-helping-slave-lakeresidents
10. The Xerox Foundation:
www.xerox.com/about-xerox/citizenship/xerox-foundation/
enus.html
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CORE LESSON:
TIME TO REPORT
Purpose: Through example case studies of socially responsible
businesses and the creation of their own case studies, students
will discover the importance and benefits of working beyond profit
margins.
Instructional method(s): Case studies, gallery tour/job fair,
collaborative learning
Differentiated instruction:
o When studying businesses, have students work in groups.
Course connections: Business Studies, English, Career Studies,
Social Sciences and the Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies
Estimated time: 110 minutes
m. What are a few of the investments companies need to
commit to?
n. Why is being socially responsible good for business?
3. Allow students fifteen to twenty minutes to read the case
study and answer the questions. After this time, have
students exchange the case study for another so they can
compare and contrast. Instruct students to
answer the questions for this new case study.
4. Ask students what they think about the case studies they just
read. Were they surprised, intrigued, frustrated, etc.?
5. Now students have the opportunity to study a business
and assess its social responsibility on their own. Through a
written report and visual presentation, students will share
what they learn.
6.Individually or in pairs, students should select a company to
study by using the definition of corporate social responsibility.
Steps:
1.Dive into the world of socially responsible corporations
by sharing with students the provided case studies. Show
students how the theory they learned in the introductory
lesson applies in practice.
7.Instruct students to use the questions from step 2 to draft
their own. They should also include an interview on corporate
social responsibility with someone who is involved with the
initiative? Hold a class brainstorm session to prepare a list of
questions for interviews.
2.
8.Direct students to develop a plan for gathering, organizing
and presenting the information. Presentations should have
easy-to-read written information, visually appealing graphics
and an additional presentation component that further
captures the work of the socially responsible business. Have
students write up an outline and submit it for approval. Allow
class time for research and preparation. Assign what is not
completed in class for homework. Set a due date for a gallery
tour/job fair to share the findings.
Divide the class into three sections; distribute a different case
study. In groups of three to four, have students read then
answer the following questions:
a. What is the business profiled in the case study?
b. What do they do as a business?
c.How do they qualify as a socially responsible business?
d.When did they begin their socially responsible program?
e.Where is their socially responsible work concentrated?
f. How does their daily business contribute to the social
responsibility initiative?
g.Who is the main audience benefiting from their socially
responsible work?
h.What is the impact of their socially responsible work on
their business? (i.e. are they more successful? Do they
have a better product as a result? Etc.)
i. What are their ethical motivations?
j. How can they build or expand their work?
k.What other companies, do you think, would benefit from
adapting a similar program?
l. Why might companies choose to undertake these high
investment programs?
9.Hold the gallery tour/job fair. Move desks to the outer edges
of the classroom. Have students set up their presentations
around the room. Encourage students to take pride in their
work and share their new knowledge with their peers. Instruct
groups to take turns touring the classroom so each booth has
presenters ready to explain their project with visitors. Open
the tour up to other classes and guests in the school.
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CONCLUDING LESSON:
ONE AT A TIME
Purpose: Bringing a local focus to corporate social responsibility,
students will create a proposal to encourage a local business to
become socially responsible.
Instructional method(s): Business proposal, brainstorming,
independent study, research
Differentiated instruction:
o Have students work in pairs or small groups
o Include an extended research element to ensure a more
thorough and formal proposal.
Course connections: Business Studies, English, Career Studies,
Social Sciences and the Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies
Estimated time: 50 minutes
Steps:
1.Building on what students have learned thus far with the
lessons on corporate social responsibility, tell students they
will create a proposal for local businesses outlining how they
can become socially responsible.
2.
5. Once a rough draft is completed, have students exchange
proposals with a partner. Ask students to review the rough
draft and mark suggestions for making a stronger proposal.
Have students return the drafts.
6.Have students make a good copy of the proposal and hand it
in.
7.
Review the proposals. Suggest students mail the proposals
to the businesses to encourage social stewardship in local
businesses.
We365 Tips
Change the world, every day. Suggest students download
the We365 app and become part of a community of change
makers.
Tell students that throughout the school year they will be
creating a portfolio of their social impact with the We365
app. Ask students to imagine they are local business owners in search of supporting a local cause. Using the
We365 app students can work independantly or in groups
and choose a cause they would like to support as business
owners. Have students develop an action plan and create
challenges to support their cause and track their impact.
Check in with students periodically throughout the year to
learn about their progress.
Working individually, ask students to select a local business.
3. Hold a brainstorming session to decide what is important to
a business, what special considerations businesses have (e.g.
small businesses, large businesses), etc. Advise students to
think like a business owner as well as a socially responsible
citizen. The following are a few suggested questions and
considerations, but it is not an extensive list:
a. What are the benefits?
b. What are the costs?
c.Who will benefit? (Customers, employees, employers,
everyone?)
d. How does it fit into the business model?
e. What are the connections to my business?
f. Will it be a continuous effort or short-term?
g. How can people get involved?
Reflection: From Both Sides Now
After students have submitted their proposals ask them to
assemble in pairs. Instruct students to consider the proposal
from the perspective of the local business owner. After discussing
the pros and cons of becoming a socially responsible business
have the class reassemble as a large group. Ask students if they
would have written their proposal any differently based on their reflection from the perspective of the business owner. Why or why not?
4.Instruct students to draft a proposal. Students should answer
the who, what, when, where, why and how in their proposal.
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TOP TEN QUESTIONS
TO ASK BUSINESSES ABOUT CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
The existence of socially responsible businesses is only part of the solution. As consumers, we need to ask questions of our
businesses, those that already have socially conscious programs and those who do not. Here are our top ten questions about
corporate social responsibility.
1. What are the company’s business objectives?
2. How did the company get involved in the socially conscious program?
3. What is the focus of the social responsibility? (Environmental, local, social, etc.)
4. How does it relate to the overall business?
5. What is the main motivator for their social responsibility?
6. What is the long-term plan as a socially responsible business?
7. Does it seem like the company is fully committed to the corporate social responsibility program?
8. Is there evidence of success or results from their socially responsible program?
9. How can consumers become more involved?
10. What are the next steps to elevate the level of social responsibility?
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
In addition to the lesson plans, share these resources with your students:
ƒƒ
Corporate Social Responsibility and Related Terms: www.sagepub.com/upm-data/41167_1.pdf
ƒƒ
Daily News and Analysis: www.dnaindia.com/world/report_corporate-socialresponsibility-evolved-in-the-early-20th-century_1428014
Mallen Baker, writer, speaker and advisor on corporate
social responsibility: www.mallenbaker.net/csr/definition.
php
ƒƒ
ƒƒ
Me to We: www.metowe.com/about-us
ƒƒ
Me to We, Our Story: www.metowe.com/about-us/our-story
ƒƒ
Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center: www.ecrc.org.eg/Uploads/documents/Articles_A%20
guide%20to%20corporate%20social%20responsibility.pdf
ƒƒ
e to We, An Innovative Social Enterprise: M
www.metowe.com/about-us/our-organization/socialenterprise-an-innovative-new-model
ƒƒ
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada:
ƒƒ
TELUS 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: http://
csr.telus.com/content/pdf/TELUS_CSR_2013_EN.pdf
ƒƒ
ELUS, Corporate Social Responsibility: http://csr.telus.
T
com/en/ SustainableProducts/Overview.aspx
ƒƒ
eurig Green Mountain, Resilent Supply Chain: K
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/
ResilientSupplyChain/Overview.aspx
Slave Lake: http://about.telus.com/community/english/
news_centre/news_releases/blog/2011/05/16/telushelping-slave-lake-residents
ƒƒ
The Xerox Foundation: www.xerox.com/about-xerox/
citizenship/xerox-foundation/enus.html
ƒƒ
Xerox 2013 Report on Global Citizenship: www.xerox.com/
corporate-citizenship/2013/enus.html
www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accordscommerciaux/index.aspx?lang=eng
ƒƒ
Keurig Green Mountain, Creating Sustainable Products:
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/
ƒƒ
ƒƒ
eurig Green Mountain, People and Communities: K
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/
ThrivingPeopleandCommunities/Overview.aspx
ƒƒ
aclean’s magazine, “Top 50 socially responsible
M
corporations: 2014”: www.macleans.ca/work/bestcompanies/top-50-sociallyresponsible-corporations-2014/
Change the world, every day.
We365, an initiative of We Day and TELUS, is a digital community that helps students change the world, every day of the year. Students can
track volunteer activities, find inspiring content, take daily challenges, and connect with fellow change-makers right on their mobile device.
Using the power of technology, We365 is the one stop shop for students to build their social impact portfolios. Once you’ve led students
through a lesson plan or campaign, look to We365 for related challenges and encourage them to take action. Find out more
on we365.com and download the app today!
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Appendix 1
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
This assessment rubric is based on Bloom’s taxonomy, a multi-tiered model to classify cognitive levels of complexity to evaluate students’
comprehension of issues and participation with the lessons.
KNOWLEDGE AND
COMPREHENSION
Level 1 50-59%
Level 2 60-69%
Level 3 70-79%
Level 4 80-100%
Demonstrates limited
Demonstrates some
Demonstrates considerable
Demonstrates thorough
knowledge and
knowledge and
knowledge and understanding
knowledge and
understanding of the
understanding of the
of the relationships among
understanding of the
relationships among
relationships among
facts, ideas and concepts
relationships among
facts, ideas and
facts, ideas and concepts
facts, ideas and concepts
concepts
APPLICATION AND
ANALYSIS
Uses critical and
Uses critical and creative
Uses critical and creative
Uses critical and creative
creative thinking
thinking processes and
thinking processes and
thinking processes and
processes and develops develops examples with
develops examples with
develops examples
examples with limited
considerable effectiveness
with a high degree of
some effectiveness
effectiveness
SYNTHESIS AND
EVALUATION
effectiveness
Demonstrates
Demonstrates knowledge
Demonstrates knowledge
Demonstrates knowledge
knowledge and makes
and makes connections
and makes connections with
and makes connections
connections with
with some effectiveness
considerable effectiveness
with a high degree of
limited effectiveness
ORGANIZATION
AND
COMMUNICATION
effectiveness
Expresses and
Expresses and organizes
Expresses and organizes
Expresses and organizes
organizes information
information while using
information while using
information while using
while using appropriate
appropriate language
appropriate language for
appropriate language
language for different
for different audiences
different audiences and
for different audiences
audiences and
and purposes with some
purposes with considerable
and purposes with a high
purposes with limited
effectiveness
effectiveness
degree of effectiveness
effectiveness
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Appendix 2
TOP TIPS: How to stay safe while you stay connected
Staying connected with friends and family is easier than ever with laptops, tablets and smartphones that receive service in
every corner of the country. As with every medium, there is a learning curve to master, but more than that, there is a lot to
be learned about using them appropriately. Use these top tips to keep your personal information safe and secure from falling
into the wrong hands. comprehension of issues and participation with the lessons.
1. Be friends with friends. Social media is the best platform to
share stories, photos and experiences with your friends and
family; that’s the intended purpose. But before accepting
an unfamiliar friend request on Facebook and tweeting to
unknown followers, stop. Making new friends is great, but
you wouldn’t go up to a stranger on the street and tell them
details of your life and what your plans are for the next few
weeks. If you have Twitter followers you don’t know and you
are sharing information about yourself, that’s what you’re at
risk of doing.
2. Be your own follower. Whether you are posting on Facebook,
writing a blog post or sending a tweet with Twitter, think
critically about what you are writing. With every message you
send out, ask yourself: is this engaging and interesting; would
I want to read this? Make sure what you write is relevant to
your friends and followers. Don’t just write about yourself.
But if you do, think about what message you are sending.
Short messages enter the world of social media often without
context and with little emotional perspective. Even with
the use of emoticons, emotions like sarcasm are difficult to
express.
5. Cracking the code. You know the drill. A unique, more
complicated and diverse password for every application
and device is more difficult to crack. It might seem like too
much unnecessary work, but if you misplace your tablet,
you want to know all of your information is secure. Besides,
remembering complex passwords is good for your brain. Be
sure to lock all your devices with passwords. You never know
when your little sister is going to get a hold of your phone.
With secure password protection, she won’t be able to send
that photo of you participating in the family reunion eating
contest.
3. Google yourself. Just as you might google the name of your
friends or someone famous, it’s a good idea to keep track of
your online presence. An easy way to do this is by googling
your name. Find out where your name shows up and what
information on social media platforms is available to the
general public. Stay in the know by setting up a Google Alert.
Check out google.com/alerts for more information. While this
isn’t a foolproof method, once you know what’s out there, you
can learn to manage your digital footprint.
6. Go underground. Turn geotagging off. Geotagging identifies
your exact location and attaches it to photos, posts, tweets
and more. Many smartphones and social media applications
geotag automatically. While it might seem like fun to share
with everyone where you are, do you really want all of your
contacts to know where you are? This setting is typically
turned on unless you turn it off.
4. Secure sign-ups. Every time you go onto Facebook it seems
like there is something new to sign up for. Online offers,
promotions on T.V., and hand-outs at events all seem to ask
you to sign-up for one thing or the other. Before signing up,
make sure you trust the company or organization that is
asking for your information. Be careful of the information
you give and look for the icon that shows you are on a secure
site. Usually it is a padlock icon found near the top of the web
server. The padlock icon indicates the site is SSL (Secure
Sockets Layer) certified. Many sites will allow you to sign in
using your Facebook or Twitter account. This is a quick and
easy way to gain access but when you allow access, the two
parties share information. So before you click approve, be
confident in your choice.
7. More than 911. Know who to turn to in case of an emergency
by keeping a list of emergency contacts in your smartphone.
While you want to memorize key numbers like your parents’
number in case something happens to your phone, a list of
other numbers like your local police department, your school
and other family members is good to keep in one place.
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BLACKLINE MASTER
K-W-L CHART
K
W
L
What I know
What I want to know
What I learned
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CASE STUDY
XEROX
Xerox: Giving Back to the Community
From its origins as a copier company, Xerox now provides an array of business processes and document management,
as well as IT services.
Xerox has demonstrated care for their communities, not only through donation programs, but also through volunteer
programs for their employees and their dedication to reducing their environmental footprint.
A foundational aspect of Xerox’s commitment to corporate social responsibility derives from their belief that “a
successful corporation must be an active participant in society.” So how does Xerox accomplish this? Xerox’s
success in corporate social responsibility results from their giving programs, their employee volunteer programs
and their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
Giving to support education is one of Xerox’s priorities and as a result, they have implemented an Employee Matching
Gifts Programs. Employees who contribute to institutions of higher education have their gifts matched by The
Xerox Foundation to a maximum of $1,000. In terms of its broader giving, Xerox provides grants, matching gifts and
community involvement activities for colleges, universities and nonprofits. Altogether in 2012, Xerox gave $13.5
million.
While giving is an important aspect of Xerox’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, it is their volunteer
work that is a particularly innovative. Xerox has implemented a community involvement program where teams of
Xerox employees work on local community projects. In 2012, 12,713 Xerox employees participated in 744 projects.
But what is revolutionary about Xerox’s commitment to making a difference in their local communities is their Social
Service Leave Program. This program enables employees to take a fully paid leave of absence when they work full
time for a nonprofit. Since 1971, 504 Xerox employees have been granted fully paid leaves of absence from their
jobs to work full time on social action projects of their own design and choosing.
The environment has also been a priority for Xerox in their overall commitment to socially responsible practices. In
2012, the company saw a 17% reduction in water consumption, when compared to 2011, as well as a 9% reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions. In 2012, Xerox also recycled 93% of its non-hazardous solid waste.
Resources
www.xerox.com/corporate-citizenship/2013/corporate-governance/enus.html
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CASE STUDY
KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN
BREWING A BETTER WORLD
Keurig Green Mountain is built on the idea that business can be used to make the world a better place. Their
purpose is to “create the ultimate beverage experience in every life we touch, from source to cup — transforming
the way the world understands business.” Integral, then, to the product that Keurig Green Mountain sells is the
commitment to the environment and the fair treatment of the farmers from whom they purchase their coffee
beans.
Practically, Keurig Green Mountain upholds its commitment to the environment through recycling programs at its
offices, reducing waste at its facilities and cutting down on energy consumption.
Although not all of their products are organic, Keurig Green Mountain is beginning to expand the number of Fair
Trade Certified™ and Rainforest Alliance Certified® coffee products that they carry. Fair Trade certification means
that farmers have to adhere to strict environmental and social standards, and in return they receive a fair price for
their beans. Coffee beans that are Rainforest Alliance Certified® also have to be grown to a comprehensive set of
environmental, social and economic standards that ensure the coffee beans are grown sustainably, with methods
that ensure biodiversity and conserve scarce natural resources.
One aspect of Keurig Green Mountain commitment to a socially just cup of coffee involves continued partnership
with their supply-chain communities, that is, the communities from which they procure the coffee beans. For
example, by 2020 Keurig Green Mountain aims to engage 1 million people in their manufacturing and agriculture
supply chains to significantly improve their livelihoods and provide access to clean water to 1 million people
worldwide.
Resources
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/Overview.aspx
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/ResilientSupplyChain/Overview.aspx
www.keuriggreenmountain.com/~/media/Sustainability/PDF/ReportsDisclosures/SustainabilityReportSummaryFiscal2013.ashx
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S EC O N DA RY L ESS ON PACKAGE
CASE STUDY
ME TO WE
Me to We: Better Choices for a Better World
Me to We is a social enterprise – a new type of business that exists to make a direct, positive, social and/or
environmental impact on the world.
Me to We differs from for-profit businesses that merely promote social responsibility. While these businesses
often support social change through their policies of corporate social responsibility, the company’s first goal is
to make a profit. Me to We as a social enterprise, on the other hand, makes social change its primary objective,
and uses its profits to reach it. That means, although Me to We does aim to make a profit, it does this by selling
environmentally friendly and socially conscious products.
These products include clothing that is environmentally friendly and sweatshop-free, accessories made by
artisans in developing countries for a fair wage, books that tell inspirational stories about world-changers or act
as guides on how to change the world and life-changing volunteer trips.
In addition, half of the profits of Me to We are donated to their charity partner, Free The Children, to build schools
and water projects, provide health programming and to support alternative income and livelihood programs and
agriculture and food security initiatives. The other half of Me to We’s profits are reinvested to grow the enterprise
and its social mission.
Furthermore, all of Me to We’s products and services are uniquely designed to support Free The Children’s work at
home and abroad. For example, volunteers on a Me to We Trip help to build schools in Free The Children
communities.
Me to We is also structured to offset expenses and help provide pro bono services to Free The Children’s efforts—
contributions valued at well over a million dollars annually.
Me to We has been recognized by many prestigious awards for its model of social entrepreneurship, from the
Skoll Foundation to the Mars Institute. One of its most notable honours is the national Ernst & Young Social
Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which recognizes how Me to We has used business practices to redefine a triple
bottom line – people, planet, profit.
Resources
www.metowe.com/about-us/
www.metowe.com/about-us/our-story/
www.metowe.com/about-us/our-organization/social-enterprise-an-innovative-new-model/
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S EC O N DA RY L ESS ON PACKAGE
CASE STUDY
TELUS
TELUS: The Future is Friendly
A global telecommunications provider, TELUS is committed to living its ‘We give where we live’ philosophy
through corporate social responsibility that integrates economic, social and environmental considerations into
its culture and business practices. The company’s goal is to help build healthy, sustainable communities, with a
particular focus on empowering youth to reach their full potential and become leaders in philanthropy so that they
can make a positive difference in their own lives and those of others.
Through both good and challenging economic times, TELUS has remained committed to its social responsibility
goals, including those involving environmentally friendly practices and giving back to the community. The
following highlights three of the programs TELUS has put in place to help achieve these goals.
TELUS Day of Giving™ brings together TELUS team members, retirees and their families and friends to make a
positive difference in local communities through one day of volunteer community service held in collaboration
with not-for-profit community partners. Thousands of participants are involved in hundreds of local projects
across Canada and in communities abroad where TELUS has international operations, including the Philippines,
Central America, the United States and the United Kingdom. Their contributions range from cleaning up waste
from river valleys, parks and fields, to preparing or serving meals to the homeless and those in need, planting
trees and, in the case of the Philippines, building entire villages.
TELUS also seeks to minimize its environmental footprint and preserve the environment for future generations.
In addition to the greening of its real estate operations, recycling programs and other business practices, TELUS
encourages its team members to become involved in making a positive impact on the environment through its
Green Team program. Green Teams are composed of TELUS team members who donate their time to promote
environmental sustainability with the goal of inspiring every team member to live and work green.
The company also provides opportunities for its customers to support local charities and initiatives through cause
marketing campaigns. For example, through its Phones for Good and TV for Good campaigns, TELUS gives a
portion of revenues generated by the purchase of specific goods or services such as smartphones and TELUS’
Optik TV. Since launching these programs in 2009, the company and its customers have contributed more than
$10 million to local charities in Canada.
Overall, since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees have contributed more than $350 million to local
charities and in excess of 5.4 million volunteer hours of community service.
Resources
http://csr.telus.com/en/
http://about.telus.com/community/english/news_centre/company_overview/corporate_social_responsibility
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C O M P L E T I O N
Date
Educator
has successfully completed the
Give Where You Live workshop
with Free The Children
O F
C E R T I F I C AT E