A Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Climate action and social justice are in the spotlight - and businesses have an exciting opportunity to create real change.

From cutting carbon to championing diversity, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives can boost your reputation and make a difference to your people and communities.

In this guide, we’ll break down what CSR is, why it matters, and how to create a strategy that reflects your values and makes a positive impact.

In this guide, we’ll talk through:

• What is corporate social responsibility (CSR)?
• Why is CSR important?
• Types of CSR Initiatives

CSR is all about businesses thinking beyond the bottom line and making a positive impact on the world. It's about integrating social and environmental concerns into how you operate and interact with your employees, customers, investors, and shareholders.

A good CSR strategy can include things like:

• Sustainability initiatives (reducing your environmental footprint)
• Ethical business practices (fair labour, diversity, and inclusion)
• Community support (volunteering, charitable donations)

In other words, CSR is about doing good - not because you have to, but because you want to. This is important because customers and employees can spot greenwashing (false claims about being environmentally friendly) a mile away. Real CSR is about genuine, meaningful action that creates an impact.

Not only is CSR the right thing to do, but it also makes great business sense. When you align your business with the values that matter to your customers, employees, and investors, you’ll build the kind of trust and loyalty that’s difficult to earn elsewhere.

A great CSR strategy can help you:

• Strengthen your reputation: Companies with strong CSR strategies are seen as forward-thinking, ethical and socially responsible.
• Engage your employees: Millennials are over 22 times more likely to stay with a company that cultivates high levels of trust in the workplace.
• Attract top talent: Almost half of UK employees and business leaders say a great culture is the most important factor when looking for a new job.
• Boost customer loyalty: UK customers are willing to pay 9.7% more for sustainably produced or sourced goods - even in a cost-of-living crisis.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to CSR. Different businesses can adopt different strategies depending on their size, industry, and customer base.

Here are four types of CSR initiatives that can work for any business:

It might sound obvious, but it all starts with supporting people. Creating a workplace that values fairness, wellbeing, and inclusivity is key - because when employees thrive, the business thrives too.

Over time, this benefits more than just teams - it also has a positive impact on:

• Suppliers and subcontractors
• Customers
• Shareholders
• Potential investors.

At its core, this is about sticking to strict labour laws and ensuring work practices that prevent child and forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking.

But it’s not just about ticking legal boxes. Most businesses comply with employment laws - but that doesn’t mean their people feel their wellbeing is prioritised. Going the extra mile means offering training and development, paying a living wage, and providing a safe, supportive workplace.

We've been dedicated to this approach since day one - earning our place as one of the UK's best places to work.

It’s not only big companies that can make a difference in the climate crisis. Small steps can have a huge impact on the carbon footprints of businesses of all sizes.

A great place to start is introducing green benefits. An EV salary sacrifice scheme or EV business leasing programme, for example, could help businesses save over 1.5 tonnes of carbon per employee each year. Plus, teams will appreciate the move towards becoming a more sustainable workplace.

Introducing an EV salary sacrifice scheme to your employee benefits package is easier than you might think. By partnering with a trusted provider, like Octopus EV, businesses can quickly set up a seamless, hassle-free process that benefits everyone.

Amtivo Group, for example, saved over 100 tonnes of CO2 (the equivalent of planting over 50,000 trees) by introducing Octopus EV’s salary sacrifice scheme.

Supporting charities is a great way for businesses to engage in CSR. Whether it’s donating products, services, or time, these initiatives can help employees feel empowered to give back, while making a real difference to causes that matter.

It might help to consider how your products or services could benefit a local cause. Could you support a sustainability initiative or partner with a nonprofit? By aligning CSR efforts with company values and goals, and encouraging employees to get involved, businesses can create a lasting impact while fostering a strong sense of pride within their teams.

CSR is all about making a positive impact - on your business, your employees and the planet. By introducing sustainable practices and ethical initiatives, you can help make a difference while boosting your brand and reputation.

Sounds complicated? Don’t worry - it doesn’t have to be. Start by evaluating your company's impact, setting clear goals, and aligning with what matters to your team and customers.

And if you’re ready to take the first step, why not explore how an EV salary sacrifice scheme could benefit your business? It’s an easy switch that can make a big impact on your CSR strategy and carbon footprint.