At Kitchener Clean, a major reason we launched our Office Compost Program was to help businesses counter climate change. We’re happy to share what we’ve learned with you!
Now, let’s take a deeper look at how you can increase corporate social responsibility.
How to Improve Corporate Social Responsibility at Work
Start With Your Mission Statement
The Financial Times defines corporate social responsibility as “a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.”
Your company’s mission statement should reflect these values.
Let’s use Patagonia as an example here. Patagonia is an American clothing company that markets and sells outdoor clothing. They’re serious about sustainable business practices, and their short and precise mission statement conveys a clear message of corporate social responsibility:
“Our Reason for Being: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”
Develop a vision and mission statement, and work towards putting it into practice.
Your company’s mission statement should clearly reflect a high level of corporate social responsibility
Build a Committee
A mission statement that promotes corporate social responsibility is all well and good, but unless everyone is committed to seeing it through, it won’t amount to anything.
Gather a group of dedicated employees and form a committee with a focus on developing action items and next steps on the path to increased social responsibility.
Consider this example from Peerfit, a digital health platform that connects employers and carriers with personalized fitness experiences:
“You may be thinking to yourself, “What in the world is a CSR committee?” Well, in short, it’s a committee dedicated to making sure our organization leaves a lasting, positive social impact beyond our normal day-to-day mission. We watched, like the rest of you, as companies like Starbucks announced they were eliminating plastic straws in their stores over the summer, while other companies like Warby Parker have long incorporated a “buy one, give one” approach into their business models. We knew we wanted Peerfit to do something, so, with support from our Leadership team, this is what we came up with.”
Committees help get things done!
Gather a group of dedicated employees and form a committee
Encourage Volunteer Opportunities
According to the Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire, “volunteering is a key part of any corporate social responsibility program, and can improve your corporate culture in many ways.”
For example, getting involved in the community “shows what your company stands for, improves employee attraction/retention, encourages employees to work together, and enhances corporate brand image.”
Let’s focus on that last point for a moment.
“The community sees your company’s presence in a positive light,” CSRN continues. “When they think of your company’s product, they also think of all the good you do. Both with your product, and in general. It’s important that local communities see beyond the company’s office buildings, its logo and [it’s] marketing.”
Improved corporate social responsibility is not only good for the environment, but also good for business
Pursue Green Initiatives
This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. Adopting green initiatives is how you tangibly and meaningfully improve corporate social responsibility.
Office composting is trending in 2019, and for good reason. Workplace settings generate large volumes of organic waste, and all too often it is discarded into garbage cans and sent to the landfill. There’s a better way, and the Office Compost Program is here to help.
In order to get everyone on board with the Office Compost Program, education is key. This is where your previously instituted committee will take action, as employees need to know a) why it’s important and b) what they need to do.
Begin by having a general information session, and then post information in the kitchen and break rooms explaining what can be composted.
These posters should reiterate “why” an office composting program has been implemented. A good place to post is right beside an Office Microwave Policy.
Important compost tip – know what can go in your Green Bin:
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All food scraps including bones, peelings, shells, baking and cooking ingredients, spoiled and raw and cooked food (remove all packaging and stickers)
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Small amounts of liquids (no more than one cup per green bin)
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Some paper products, such as paper plates, paper towels, facial tissue, greasy take-out paper packaging, paper baking cups, shredded paper.
Be sure to read our post on Compost Tips and Tricks for more information.
The Office Compost Program is an incredible way to improve corporate social responsibility
make Corporate Social Responsibility a priority
As a general rule of thumb, if initiatives aren’t impacting your decisions and the day-to-day operations of the business, they won’t soak into the culture of your workplace and make a lasting impact.
Therefore, it’s important to celebrate successes along the way and let employees know their efforts aren’t going unnoticed!
As The Balance Careers notes, “Celebrating success is important to sustain the momentum of any CSR program. Involving company leaders, and praising the success of these initiatives, gives the program real meaning.”
This is a simple but effective way to keep corporate social responsibility top-of- mind.
Improve Corporate Social Responsibility at Work With the Office Compost Program!
From our inception, we have always been an environmentally responsible company.
We proudly offer our Office Compost Program to businesses across the Waterloo Region, helping you make a positive impact on the environment.
Create a greener workplace with our Office Compost Program – contact us today!
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING:
“We are currently using the compost program and they have been great as our company has grown and our usage increased. Very friendly and terrific service!”
— JULIE G., BIG ROAD