About This Guide
This guide serves as a resource for M109 Apparel Industries. Focusing on understanding the differences between what a company says it is doing socially and environmentally, and what the business is actually doing social and environmentally, this guides functions as a starting point for examining the social and environmental responsibilities in business.
Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. CSR is generally understood as being the way through which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line-Approach”), while at the same time addressing the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders. In this sense it is important to draw a distinction between CSR, which can be a strategic business management concept, and charity, sponsorships or philanthropy. Even though the latter can also make a valuable contribution to poverty reduction, will directly enhance the reputation of a company and strengthen its brand, the concept of CSR clearly goes beyond that (United Nations International Development Organization).