Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing Business with Purpose

🏢 What Is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, is a company’s effort to have a positive impact on society, the environment, and the economy. It’s about doing business responsibly—not just making profits, but also supporting people and the planet.

CSR can include things like:

• Reducing pollution and waste

• Supporting local communities

• Creating ethical supply chains

• Donating to charities

• Ensuring fair working conditions

• Promoting diversity and inclusion

Many companies now see CSR as part of their brand identity and long-term success.

Key Vocabulary for Talking About CSR

Term	Meaning
Sustainability	Meeting present needs without harming future generations
Ethical sourcing	Buying goods from responsible and fair suppliers
Carbon footprint	The amount of CO₂ a company produces
Stakeholders	Anyone affected by a company’s actions (customers, employees, etc.)
Philanthropy	Giving money or resources to good causes
Transparency	Being open and honest in business practices
Community outreach	Programs that support or involve the local community
Environmental impact	The effect a company has on nature
Social initiatives	Programs aimed at helping people or solving social problems
Responsible leadership	Leading in a way that considers long-term ethical consequences

A Short Story: “The Coffee Company That Cared”

EcoBrew was a small coffee company with a big vision: to sell great coffee while taking care of the planet. At first, they used regular suppliers, plastic cups, and offered no recycling options. But one day, a customer left a note: “Great coffee, but what about the environment?”

The founders took it seriously. Within a year, they changed suppliers to fair trade farms, introduced biodegradable cups, and partnered with a local recycling center. They even gave 1% of profits to education programs in coffee-growing regions.

Sales grew, not just because of the coffee—but because customers felt proud to support a company that cared. EcoBrew became a brand known for purpose and people—not just products.

Role-play: Talking About CSR in a Meeting

Context: You and a colleague are discussing how your company could improve its CSR efforts.

Ana: Have you seen the new sustainability report? Our carbon footprint went down this year.

Luca: That’s great news. But I think we can still do more in terms of ethical sourcing. Some of our suppliers don’t meet international labor standards.

Ana: True. Maybe we can audit our supply chain and look for better partners.

Luca: And what about a community outreach project? We could support local schools or organize a clean-up event.

Ana: I love that idea. If we combine environmental and social impact, our CSR will be much stronger.

Luca: Let’s bring these ideas to the next board meeting.

Discussion Questions

1. What does CSR mean to you?

2. Does your company have a CSR strategy? If not, what could they do?

3. Do you think customers care about how responsible a company is?

4. Can CSR help a company’s reputation and sales?

5. What’s more important in your opinion: social impact or environmental action?

Tips for Building English Confidence with CSR Topics

• Read company sustainability reports in English. These are great sources of vocabulary.

• Practice summarizing social initiatives using short, clear sentences.

• Watch short documentaries or TED Talks on business and ethics.

• Role-play interviews or team meetings where CSR is a focus.

Practice Activity

Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about a company you admire for its CSR. Describe what they do and why you think it’s important.

CSR is not just a trend—it’s the future of responsible business. Learning how to talk about it in English will not only grow your vocabulary, but also show your awareness as a global professional.