The unprecedented crisis has brought about rapid changes in the way people live their daily lives. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic shook the world, fueling an unprecedented public health crisis and prompting an economic slowdown as nations closed borders and implemented new safety measures to protect their populations. However, our daily lives are undergoing rapid changes because of Covid-19.
In coming years, the business must value people with a strong belief in its people’s philosophy and provide opportunities to perform their full potential.
At the same time, the damaging effects of racial discrimination and a prevalent digital divide have become apparent while the importance of tackling climate change continues to grow.
Against the backdrop of these unprecedented times, it is no surprise that consumer behavior has changed, with priorities shifting to focus on areas such as health, safety, and sustainability. Expectations also continue to grow on corporations for sustainable business practices and operations.
Businesses need to grow together with society to ensure they create a lasting legacy for future generations to come. Businesses need to work harder at every level to help their various stakeholders, supporting local communities and employees to overcome challenges and adapt to the new environment as we return to our daily lives in a post-pandemic world.
The world needs a new CSR vision of “Together for a Better Tomorrow for everyone.”
Critical CSR Agenda for the coming years
1. Environmental issues we face
2. Renewable energy
3. Circular Economy
4. High-efficiency products
5. Eco-Package
6. Privacy & Cybersecurity
1. Environmental issues
Global societies are cautioned that climate change is expected to deteriorate biodiversity, human health, and food systems. Some regions are even warned that they may face unpredictable levels of crisis. Such a crisis will significantly impact companies’ activities, and a global response is needed.
The pandemic has also served to remind us of the severe environmental issues we face. Notably, as the new climate regime has been implemented since 2021 in accordance with the Paris Agreement, the international community is now at a watershed moment in the fight against climate change.
Responsible global companies are engaged in numerous initiatives to minimize their environmental footprint, from product development to production and, finally, disposal.
Climate change is a priority area for businesses as climate risks directly impact business operations and financial performance. As the company’s highest decision-making body, the Board of Directors needs to receive regular reports on any important agenda related to climate change.
2. Renewable energy
The energy transition is one of the most significant forces of change in commodity markets today. The world is moving away from carbon-based fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources and the electrification of global energy systems. Each step towards cleaner energy increases the demand for essential energy transition commodities. For Example, We need copper, battery raw materials for electric power vehicles, the store of renewably generated energy, steel, aluminum, and other materials used to construct renewable energy infrastructure. As a result, Significant investment is needed, not just to increase supply but to help the world meet its climate goals sustainably.
Businesses should continue expanding the use of renewable energy in regions where we can secure renewable energy. In addition, Companies require plans to build a success path by developing renewable energy use in other areas of business.
3. Circular Economy
As natural resources are depleted, business sustainability becomes essential throughout the entire process of purchasing, developing, manufacturing, distributing, using, and disposing of products. Therefore, it is necessary to move away from a linear economy that consumes and disposes of resources after one-time use to a circular economy that empowers efficient use of resources by expanding the reuse of materials and recycling.
Meanwhile, businesses need to continue to drive a circular economy through technological innovations and high-efficiency products with more excellent durability. The business also needs to promote sustainable materials, including renewable plastics, bioplastics, and sustainably sourced papers.
As natural resources run out and consumers’ demand for sustainable products rise, sustainability across all stages is becoming increasingly important for businesses, from materials purchasing, development, and manufacturing to logistics, use, and disposal. We need to make sure the transformation from a linear economy that consumes resources only for single-use to a circular economy in which we close the loop and expand the reuse and recycling of our natural resources.
Every business must establish circular economy principles to minimize social and environmental impacts and use resources efficiently throughout the entire product life cycle. Based on these principles, enterprises need to develop mid-to-long-term goals for 2030 and set a goal towards all efforts to achieve them.
4. High-efficiency products
There is a need to devote human resources and technology to create superior products and services, thereby contributing to a better global society and capitalizing on technological advances and knowledge gained through many years of experience. It is expected that businesses will continue to work with their stakeholders and community as a whole to allow a smooth and triumphant return to normalcy.
The highly efficient home appliances are essential to help consumers save money and energy, protect the environment, and enhance people’s lifestyles. Thus, the more energy-efficient home appliances you use, the lower your utility bills will be while protecting the environment from harmful gases such as carbon dioxide. 2021, a business should reduce GHG emissions by promoting additional projects, including reducing F-gases consumption and improvement of throughput, expanding renewable energy use, and reducing LNG use.
5. Eco-Package
Minimizing the use of raw materials by creating compact product designs and packaging and maximizing transportation efficiency is the need of hour. Every business must promote upcycling and eco-Package to encourage consumers to participate in building a sustainable future in their day-to-day lives. The use of sustainably sourced paper in packaging is a priority area of business. The use of recycled plastic may be another big plan for business. All businesses must develop sustainable materials to apply to products and packaging materials.
Businesses should gradually replace product packaging materials with sustainable materials such as paper instead of plastic, vinyl, and other disposable materials. The business also has to plan to fully convert paper for packaging and user manual into sustainably sourced paper years to come. Plastic containers and vinyl packaging used for product packaging need to be replaced by pulp mold and paper. Every business should have to gradually replace all vinyl packaging materials for home appliances with sustainable materials.
6. Privacy & Cybersecurity
As the damage and threats from various cyber-attacks have increased in recent years, cybersecurity and privacy have become more critical. Therefore, cybersecurity should be considered in the entire process, from product development to production. Moreover, a user’s personal information must be thoroughly protected regardless of the purpose and method of use in various products and services to prevent personal information misuse. Therefore, every business must develop and release its Data Protection Guidelines.
Businesses would need to establish a process of detection, analysis, prevention, and protection as the four core actions for cybersecurity. Businesses are required to design products and implement security solutions based on these four areas. Potential cybersecurity threats can be reduced through proactive detection. Businesses would require an AI-based cybersecurity threat analysis solution that continually scans for malicious and suspicious cyber activities. The solution collects and analyzes public security vulnerabilities and gives early warnings to relevant departments on potential security threats.
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(Rusen Kumar: Author is founder and CEO of India CSR and csrbooks.com)
