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Week 8: Why do you think CSR has become more popular in recent years?

Our class is just speeding right along! We are well into the last half of the semester and I am already looking forward to the break. Our lessons this week centered around Corporate Social Responsibility and B Corps. I had no idea that B Corps had such stringent requirements. They include legal accountability, transparency, assessments of their impact on the environment, community and both workers and customers. They must balance both profit and purpose while aspiring to benefit all and not to damage the world in any way. That does make me feel good though that when I do run across one, I can be assured that they are really working and making the impact they are aiming for. I appreciate that as a consumer because I often feel we are duped by companies looking to improve their self-image but not really making the change. I am also realistic that it is difficult to meet all the requirements and that there are plenty of companies doing all they can but still may not meet the right criteria. I don’t mean to discount all the good they are doing, because every bit will help bring the awareness to the causes. This brings me to our prompt for the week.
Week 8 Prompt: Why do you think CSR has become more popular in recent years?

I think that this has become more popular as science has been better able to quantify the damage we have done to the earth. We see that we are slowly and, in some cases, rapidly destroying the world with careless and neglectful practices. This awareness is making us take a good hard look at some things and considering what we are leaving for future generations. We can’t possibly look at the future science is showing us and not be worried. This causes us to look at ways we can solve this, and we certainly can’t rely on the poor to solve the situation. Changes must be made both on a personal level and a societal one. When we look at society, the players in there that have the most resources and ability to make changes are corporations that deal with millions of dollars and albeit are also major contributors in many cases. As we have become more aware, and we see that big corporations have quite the chance to benefit and change the course we are on, we are looking for this in whom we support. We want the change. When we see corporations that are not seeking to help the world, only make a profit, we tend to be a bit disenchanted and reluctant to support their companies. Big business knows this and they want our money so they see this as a sort of marketing part of a business to placate the people. What I have learned this week and throughout this semester is to take more of a look at what companies are really doing. Are their efforts just tokens thrown our way to make the ‘little people’ happy or are they really seeking a change and want to both better the world while making a bit of money to keep the doors open? Looking for this answer is important when considering where to put my money. 

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