Virtues reward? Companies make the business case for ethical initiatives
Article Type: Abstracts From: Strategic Direction, Volume 24, Issue 10
Skapinker M. Financial Times, April 28, 2008, Start page: 9, No of pages: 1
Purpose – examines how multinational companies are approaching the issue of sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – presents examples of the types of initiatives being undertaken by major companies who are using their sustainability programmes to cut costs and develop innovative products for new consumer markets. Draws attention to the new corporate philosophy underlying their adoption of social corporate responsibility (CSR); refers to the arguments for and against CSR. Outlines how sustainability goes further than CSR and quotes corporate leaders who recognize that sustainability can result in increased profitability; quotes Wal-Mart corporate leaders and looks at some of the sustainability initiatives undertaken by both Wal-Mart and Unilever and others; highlights some of the criticisms made of Wal-Marts growth strategy that appears to undermine their claims supporting sustainability. Originality/value– illustrates how sustainability initiatives are making good business sense. ISSN: 03071766 Reference: 37AM059
Keywords: Corporate strategy, Environmental management,Social responsibility, Sustainable development
