An increasingly high demand in the market that reflects consumer decisions, social responsibility is a set of actions and practices for the benefit of society.
Brands focused on making a better world are preferred by 72% of Brazilians interviewed by the report Eldeman Trust Barometer 2021: Trust, the new brand capital.
Therefore, find out everything about the concept, what types it is, how to implement it in companies and examples of socially responsible companies, with emphasis on iFood.
What is social responsibility?
Social responsibility (SR) is the term that defines the voluntary initiatives of citizens and companies in favor of well-being and development of society It's from environment.
In this sense, organizations and individuals must take responsibility for the impact caused by their actions and decisions on the planet, and how they will be managed.
As the concept has gained traction in companies over the past three decades, standards, certifications and guidelines were being created around the world.
In Brazil, for example, one of the rules that regulate RS is the ABNT NBR ISO 26000, of National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro).
The management system, subject to audit, will be regulated by the standard ABNT NBR 16001, through the National Certification Program in Social Responsibility.
How important is it in companies?
The importance of social responsibility for companies and people lies in the fact that
Everyone plays a co-responsible role in the development of society.
Therefore, having positive ethical and moral behavior, with a focus on common well-being, is a duty for everyone who seeks to live in a more fair, sustainable and egalitarian world.
An example of this is the adoption of conscious consumption, sustainable and ecologically correct practice.
In this way, it will be possible to minimize or even reverse several socioeconomic and environmental problems that we face on a daily basis.
What are your goals?
The objectives of social responsibility are, in a broader sense, to promote a better future for all generations.
In organizations, these are to provide quality of life, health and well-being in the company, in addition to taking care of the environment and creating links with the community in which it operates.
Therefore, the concept is directly linked to ethics and transparency of managing a business, with an emphasis on environmental quality and justice.
Types of social responsibility
There are four types of social responsibility: business (CSR), corporate (RSC) and environmental (RSA) and individual.
Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) concerns the socially responsible management of the business and how its actions impact society and stakeholders (shareholders, suppliers, government and customers).
In addition to trust, the concept is important because an ethical and responsible company gains a reputation, which brings a competitive advantage.
CSR is based on four pillars: economic responsibility (being a profitable company), legal responsibility (obeying the law), ethical responsibility and philanthropic responsibility.
Corporate social responsibility
(CSR) is very similar to CSR. However, more focused on the internal public, such as employees and directors, their families and the community in which it operates.
Just like corporate social responsibility, CSR has to do with the commitment that an organization makes to society through ethical and responsible actions and postures.
Environmental Social Responsibility (RSA)
(RSA) or Socio-Environmental is the most current of social responsibilities, as it is related to concerns about the environment.
Sustainability policies and respect for the environment are RSA's main objectives.
Cleaner production, adequate waste management, rational use of natural resources are among the practices of an environmentally responsible company or organization.
Individual Social Responsibility
Individual Social Responsibility relates to each person's attitudes and how they impact society and the community.
Social development does not only depend on business and government actions and strategies, but also on what everyone does to make the world a better place.
Rethinking your role in society, being a conscious consumer, taking care of your family and community, looking out for others and the collective, are individual attitudes that are beneficial to everyone.
What are the essential characteristics of social responsibility?
The essential characteristics of a company are: accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for the interests of people interested in the organization's decisions.
Furthermore, compliance with legal requirements, that is, being in compliance with the law, respect for international standards of behavior and universality of human rights are also attributes.
Examples of social responsibility
Examples are: good governance practices, fair competition practices, promotion of diversity and combating discrimination, social actions of public interest.
Other actions are combating piracy, tax evasion and corruption, defending the rights of children and adolescents and combating child labor.
Social responsibility practices include promoting sustainable models of development, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
Also included is the protection of the environment and the rights of future generations.
Ethics and social responsibility: what are the differences?
They are distinct, but complementary, concepts. Ethics is related to the moral values and principles that guide human behavior.
Meanwhile, social responsibility concerns the impact of companies' actions on society and the environment. Furthermore, it involves companies' commitment to acting ethically and sustainably, promoting actions that benefit society.
Both are important for the success and reputation of companies, as ethics directly influence decision-making and the way organizations are perceived.
Social responsibility contributes to building a positive and lasting image, which can attract customers and investors.
Sustainability and social responsibility: what is the relationship between the two concepts?
The relationship between sustainability and social responsibility is one of interdependence, that is, without being sustainable a company cannot be considered socially responsible.
A company's sustainability will be ensured on three pillars: profit, environmental quality and social justice.
A sustainable company seeks profit without exploiting people or environmental degradation, committing to the development of society through the concept.
What is the difference between social responsibility and ethics?
Ethics is the concept that guides principles and standards guiding behavior in the business environment. In other words, it will talk about values that we will not put to the test.
Meanwhile, social responsibility promotes maximizing the positive effects and minimizing the negative effects of a company's actions on society as a whole.
In this way, ethics is one of the dimensions of a company's social responsibility, as well as the legal, economic and philanthropic dimensions.
Social responsibility: how to implement it in a company?
Implementing the concept in a company requires a flow of complementary and continuous actions, which must be periodically reviewed by the company.
The e-book Corporate Social Responsibility, of Sebrae, brings seven tips for implementing the concept in a company. See what they are below.
- Identify triggers, that is, the company's actions in the face of a crisis or threat, proactively and in advance so that they are starting points in solving problems or avoiding future problems.
- After identifying the problem, prepare solid arguments, with as much information as possible, so that an action plan can be put together, with analysis of risks and opportunities.
- Assess the scope of issues such as business ethics, the environment, health and well-being, diversity and human rights and how they relate to the problem at hand and how to involve the company and stakeholders.
- Commit to acting to resolve the problem in a transparent and ethical manner in order to reduce risks and expand business opportunities.
- Integrate strategies and create guidelines for the resolution process so that it is favorable to everyone involved and everyone wins.
- Include the public with constant, coherent and continuous dialogues and partnerships to understand the needs of everyone involved.
- At the end of the process, make reports and evaluate the results in order to understand what will need to be improved.
Examples of companies with social responsibility
According to Merco Responsibility and Corporate Governance Ranking in Brazil, of 2020, the companies leading with are: Nature, Boticário Group It is Ambev.
O iFood appeared on the list for the first time as an example of a company with transparency and good governance.
Social responsibility analyst: what do you do?
A social responsibility analyst is responsible for evaluating, planning and executing projects and programs that aim to improve the relationship between companies and society.
Its activities include identifying relevant social issues, defining strategies to address them, engaging stakeholders and evaluating results.
This professional is also responsible for promoting transparency and ethics in business, in addition to ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to corporate social responsibility.
Finally, he can work in organizations of different sectors and sizes, from private companies and non-governmental organizations.
When to hire a social responsibility analyst?
Normally, we will hire this professional when the company has a strategy to improve its social performance.
Thus, this analyst will develop a plan to promote actions that will impact society, politically and environmentally.
Hiring this professional can also represent a competitive advantage over competitors. This is because it will show the market the brand's desire to gain consumer trust.
4 social responsibility actions to implement in your company
Check out some actions that can help your company build social responsibility:
- Volunteer programs for employees, promoting engagement and well-being in the community.
- Implementation of sustainable practices, such as reducing the use of plastic and the use of clean energy sources.
- Fundraising campaigns or donations to charities.
- Creation of opportunities for hiring vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities or in situations of social vulnerability.
What is not considered social responsibility?
Charity, good deeds and some types of philanthropy are not social responsibility. Assistance disguised as marketing actions is not the case either.
