5 Benefits of Becoming a Socially-Responsible Business

Consider the impacts of corporate social responsibility on the environment, the community, and your bottom line. 

Consider these impacts of corporate social responsibility on the environment, the community, and your bottom line.

Becoming a socially-responsible business is not always an easy choice, but it can be incredibly beneficial to the environment, your community, your reputation, and our future generations. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is about holding yourself accountable for how your business operations impact the world around you, and it’s something that consumers are increasingly considering when making purchasing decisions. Consider these five benefits of becoming a socially-responsible business:

  1. Reduces non-renewable resource usage
  2. Improves the local community
  3. Enhances talent recruitment
  4. Improves employee satisfaction
  5. Leads to new business opportunities

Keep reading to learn more about corporate social responsibility and how it can benefit your business.

1. Reduces non-renewable resource usage

Social responsibility starts with adopting environmentally-conscious business operational standards. Investing in environmentally-friendly materials, using renewable energy resources and promoting workplace recycling are a few ways you can help reduce your company’s usage of non-renewable and environmentally-degrading materials like plastic.

Find more ways to reduce office waste here.

2. Improves the local community

Launching a corporate community engagement effort is an empowering socially-responsible way to make a difference for area residents and neighborhoods. Through staff volunteering, sponsoring an event, setting up donation jars, or giving back in other mutually beneficial ways, your company can make a significant impact on your local community.

Discover these six ways to give back to your community.

3. Enhances talent recruitment

Your reputation as a socially-responsible business can help with talent recruitment and employee retention. According to a 2016 study, 58% of people factor in a company’s commitment to social and environmental issues when considering a job opportunity. Your company’s success is driven by the quality of your team and developing a socially-responsible culture will help ensure you attract the very best talent.

4. Improves employee satisfaction and productivity 

Your employees will also take note of your business’ socially-responsible viewpoints, actions, and priorities. Sponsoring social and environmental initiatives and providing the time needed for your employees to participate in them can help build loyalty, create company pride, and increase overall job satisfaction. Employees may also feel more invested in your company when they can help make a positive impact on the community, and can trigger an increase in job performance and productivity.

5. Leads to new business opportunities 

Consumers are increasingly more concerned about investing in socially-responsible companies. According to one study, 63% of consumers want businesses to take the lead on social and environmental change, and 87% said they would be willing to buy a product or service based on a business’ advocacy efforts. In this way, corporate social responsibility can give you a competitive advantage, and may even lead to new business opportunities that spark healthy local economic growth.

These five benefits of becoming a socially-responsible business illustrate how corporate social responsibility can help improve the environment, the community, and your company’s bottom line. As a socially-responsible company ourselves, we encourage you to join us in setting an example for other businesses to help make a difference today and protect future generations. For more business and environmentally-conscious tips, keep reading our blog.

If you’re not yet an EZ Office Products customer, call our local customer concierge to set up your business account at (608) 310-4300 and learn how we can help you become more eco-friendly today.