By Ryan Ayers In the past, companies could mostly stay neutral on topics like politics, social and environmental issues, and other cultural concerns. Those days are over. Today, consumers expect companies to contribute to the good of society and take a stand against injustice. In an era where brands have to be politically correct and […]
Your Startup Needs a Social Responsibility Plan to Compete—Here’s Why Read More »
Mr. Kelly has reason to be worried. After all, when C.E.O.s do push for real, meaningful change, the judgment can be swift and harsh. In 2015, David Crane was chief executive of NRG, one of the country’s largest power producers — and one of its largest polluters. Mr. Crane believed that NRG had a moral
Nearly 200 chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies met in August as part of the Business Roundtable. Discussing the most pressing issues facing modern corporations, their manifesto signaled a departure from old-school corporate philosophy. Its primary message? Shareholder value isn’t everything. Regardless of how far-reaching their call for change is, the reality
How to Meet the Demands of the Socially Conscious Consumer Read More »
According to the Duke University Fuqua School of Business twice-annual CMO Survey, more than a quarter of top marketers now believe it’s appropriate for their brands to take positions on political issues. That’s up significantly from February 2018, when the CMO Survey began asking respondents about this subject. At that time, just over 17% expressed
By Aaron Viles Last year, world leaders met in Paris to hash out a global climate deal to curb greenhouse gases and prepare countries and communities from the unavoidable impacts of climate change, made so by decades-long feet-dragging and unwillingness to act. While these public solutions are critical to fighting climate change, equally important are
10 Big Companies Setting Great Environmental Examples Read More »
Consumers have high expectations for companies to prioritize corporate social responsibility (CSR). At the same time, however, many consumers don’t make it a part of their decision-making process when buying — even though they want to support companies whose CSR initiatives resonate with them. So how should you approach CSR for your company when it
Positioning Your Company Behind the Right Causes Read More »
Public relations and corporate social responsibility, though different, are closely connected in their focus on building relationships with people. “Corporate social responsibility isn’t all about gaining good publicity,” said Darian Kovacs, CEO of Jelly Marketing. “However, businesses can use public relations to reach their audience and gain their trust.” Public relations is about building a
The issue of plastic waste came to a head in 2018, with David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II raising widespread awareness of the issue. For brands in industries where plastic is an integral (and seemingly unavoidable) part of product packaging – such as FMCG, food and drink, fashion, and cosmetics – an absolute solution seems hard
How FMCG brands are fighting back against plastic waste Read More »
