CSR & Sustainability

Corporate Social Responsibility has taken on a new imperative as Ireland moves on a path to reduce national carbon emissions, writes Emily Styles

Reducing carbon emissions has moved up the corporate CSR priority list but oldfashioned giving is still very much in vogue

Sustainability has always been a key plank of good corporate behaviour and now its importance has been elevated, not just for the good of society but also because consumers are demanding it. In addition to Environment and Sustainability, the policy document ‘Ireland’s National Plan on CSR’ lists three other core CSR dimensions: • Community – interaction with local community partners and organisations. • Workplace – supporting and engaging with employees. • Marketplace – interaction with local community partners and organisations. Business in the Community Ireland, the group that encourages corporate CSR activity, defines CSR as companies taking responsibility for their impact on society. It is a concept whereby enterprises integrate social and environmental concerns into their mainstream business operations on a voluntary basis. Philanthropy matters too. Rethink Ireland is currently raising funds to assist charities, social enterprises and community organisations with cash grants and business supports. Every euro raised is matched with government funding. The recent first call for the organisation’s Innovate Together Fund received 480 applications for the 50 grants available. The second call in August has been boosted with €500,000 support from Zurich Insurance. According to Terence O’Rourke, chairman of Rethink Ireland: “There is obviously a huge need for support amongst Ireland’s social innovation sector. As the country begins to open up again I am asking companies and individuals who are able to do so to consider donating to the fund.” In the latest review of the National CSR Plan, minister Heather Humphreys commented that customers, investors and job seekers are more conscious than ever of the ethical record of companies. “It is important that businesses large or small realise that placing CSR at the core of their business is a strategy that is good for their business. “It is the collective response of businesses that will have an immensely powerful impact in our economy and our society,” the minister stated. CSR has been practiced by companies throughout Ireland for many years. The breadth of CSR activity is widespread, and examples of best practice are detailed in this report.

Thanks to Ergo, every cloud has a silver lining for Make-A-Wish Ireland. The IT services provider has pledged to the charity 2% of its monthly subscription income from Microsoft Azure customers. Pictured are Ergo’s Jimmy Sheahan with Susan O’Dwyer, chief executive at Make-A-Wish