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Giving back: the  people to pay o   unmanageable debts                                   For the greater
 in Brazil, for example.
                                                                                          good: six CSR drives
 But CSR is not just  recruitment
 PR; it can also have a tangible
 best way forward  impact on a company’s bottom line.                                         Google’s Project Loon
   Companies that integrate climate-
 change management into strategic                                                         Forming a network of   oating satellites
 Far from being a nice bit of PR for well to do companies, corporate social   planning, for example, see an  18%   near space, Loon will provide internet
 higher return on equity  than those that
                                                                                          access to some of the  4.1 billion people
 responsibility is essential for luring in the best sta  . By Seb Murray  don’t, according to a study by CDP, a   across the globe who do not have it .
 non-pro  t that helps companies with
 environmental disclosure.                                                                    TOMS shoes
 rom teaching kids in deprived   poor CSR practices. The survey of   “While there are many reasons why   For every pair of shoes sold by the
 F  areas of the world to code to   ‘Companies   1,000 people found 75% of millennials   a company might achieve good results,   company,  a pair is donated to someone
 creating a platform that helps   leading   would take a pay cut to work for a   it’s clear that companies leading the   who needs them. TOMS has shipped
 people  access a  ordable loans,   the way on   responsible company, and 83% would   way on sustainability can and do   75m pairs, which has contributed
 companies are increasingly   be more loyal to a business that   perform well   nancially,” says Paul   to protecting more than 2 million
 incorporating corporate social   sustainable     enables them to contribute to solving   Simpson, chief executive.   children from hookworm, an intestinal
 responsibility (CSR) into their business  practices   social and environmental problems.   Enterprise software company   parasite typically acquired by walking
 plans. In 2011-2013  Fortune 500   can and do   “ To attract and retain talent, you   SAP’s 1,800 UK employees can take   barefoot on contaminated soil.
 companies spent $19.9bn  (about £13bn)   need to show you are doing all you can   part in Africa Code Weeks in 35
 a year on initiatives that had a positive   perform well   to give back to the communities you   countries,  helping youngsters develop   Asda’s wonky veg box
 impact on society or the environment.   fi nancially’  operate in,” says Richard Donovan,   technical skills and promote economic   To tackle food
 And while some worry  CSR could   head of corporate responsibility for the   development. “I do not believe CSR   waste, the UK
 threaten   nancial performance, a   UK and Ireland at Experian.   undermines our   nancial results,”   supermarket group
 growing body of evidence suggests  it   The credit agency’s UK employees   says Tom Loe  ert, HR director for the   last year began
   actually provides numerous bene  ts.   volunteered nearly 12,500 hours in   UK. “By providing the opportunity for   selling imperfect
 For one, it can help you attract and   2016/17 to support community and   employees to do meaningful work, we   vegetables via a
 retain talent.  Research by marketing     nancial education programmes , and   have seen higher levels of engagement   Above: fruit of the   “wonky veg box”
 agency Cone Communications  found     its social innovation programme has   and productivity. CSR can also help us   Loon – Google’s   priced at £3.50, 30%
 that nearly two-thirds of young people     helped more than 9 million people   win new deals and, ultimately, grow   internet balloons   cheaper than standard lines. Farmers
        will help lift people
 won’t take a job at a company with   globally since 2014  – by supporting   our business.”   out of poverty  may bene  t by getting money for
                                                                                          produce such as misshapen carrots,
        Right: shoe win –                                                                 which are often chucked away. Some
        for every pair sold,                                                              £13bn worth of food was wasted in
        TOMS ships a pair of
        shoes to someone                                                                  the UK in 2015 – that’s approximately
        in need                                                                           7.3m tonnes,  or £470 per household
                                                                                          per year.

                                                                                            Nu Skin’s Nourish the Children
                                                                                          Employees and customers can purchase
                                                                                          and donate a nutrient-rich food to
                                                                                          people su  ering from malnutrition
                                                                                          and famine. Since 2002, the  company
                                                                                          has donated more than 550m meals to
                                                                                          malnourished children across the globe.
                                                                                            Ikea’s Brighter Lives for Refugees
                                                                                          campaign
                                                                                          Last year,  Ikea funded a solar farm to
                                                                         Left: power to the   bring renewable energy  to the 20,000
                                                                         people – harnessing   Syrian refugees living in the Azraq camp
                                                                         solar energy in Syria  in Jordan. Each family can now power
                                                                                          a fridge, TV, fan and lights, as well as
                                                                                          charge their mobile phones – essential
                                                                                          for contacting family overseas. The
                                                                                          solar farm will save $1.5m and reduce
                                                                                          CO2 emissions by more than 2,000
                                                                                          tonnes per year.
       PHOTOGRAPHY: GOOGLE; TOMS; IKEA; GETTY                                             consumption
                                                                                            Heineken’s responsible

                                                                                          Heineken wants to brew a better
                                                                                          world. The beer maker invests 10% of
                                                                                          its media budget in some countries on
                                                                                          advertising to encourage responsible
                                                                                          alcohol consumption. It also committed
                                                                                          to invest €200m over   ve years on a
                                                                                          campaign to combat drink-driving.
                                                                                                   Be happy!   3 February 2018   9
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