Small Business
Small businesses can also benefit through corporate responsibility, also called corporate social responsibility. Their good works can attract customers who may not have heard about them before, and customers may expect small businesses to be just as philanthropic and socially responsible as they do large corporations.
In many ways, it can be easier for small businesses to be responsible corporate citizens by reaching out to communities in ways that big chain stores may have difficulty with. Locally consumers may be more willing to spend their money in locally owned companies that give back.
Here are seven ways to be socially responsible as a business:
Recycle
Having paper and plastic recycling bins in a workplace isn’t enough if you want to be a good recycler. Other things that can be recycled include: Food waste, electronics, printer ink cartridges, batteries, and office equipment.
Give customers recycling bags for their purchases, and give them incentives for bringing their own bags so that the business and community can be green.
Lower Energy Consumption
This is something your customers may not see, unless they drive by at night and see that your company’s lights are off after normally being on. Having energy efficient light bulbs and turning off computers when not in use, among other things, will reduce costs and show you care about the environment.
Volunteer
Small businesses have the advantage of being more nimble and can volunteer for local projects quickly with workers that may have a closer connection to their community. Small businesses can volunteer for fundraisers, cleaning up neighborhoods or just about anything that their employees support.
Grants
Big companies can more easily afford to endow foundations to make donations to local nonprofits and social enterprises. Small businesses may not have such deep pockets, but they can usually afford to help somehow by establishing their own grant program to help local non-profits. Businesses of all sizes are often deluged with requests for donations, and a grant program can streamline the process.
Collaborate
Small businesses can work together through their Chamber of Commerce, networking groups, local branches of associations, or joining together on their own to be more involved in a community. For example, they could host a Fourth of July parade downtown or have a Halloween costume contest with booths set up to promote their businesses.
Go Global
If a natural disaster affects your community — either directly such as a local flood or internationally such as a major earthquake — your business can have a fundraiser to give a percentage of profits to a reputable relief fund for the disaster victims. There are also 501(c)(3) organizations in local communities that support local causes that businesses can donate money or supplies to.
Market Your Own Cause
A charity may be especially important to the neighborhood your business is in, or to you as a business owner. Small businesses can market their favorite cause with something as simple as a bulletin board or flier in the store window. They could also collect spare change, highlight it on their website, or give customers discounts if they support the charity.
As corporate social responsibility becomes more common, it will give small businesses a chance to collectively show that their impact can be just as great as a large corporation. In turn, their customers will likely appreciate it and will show their enthusiasm for corporate social responsibility by being regular customers.
