CSR management: how to manage it internally?

In the business world, CSR is now a central subject, which responds to major challenges. To guarantee the sustainability of CSR commitments, rigorous management of the actions carried out internally is essential.

Here are some tips for implementing a real CSR management system, in a coherent, impactful and sustainable way.

 

 

CSR: definition and implementation

CSR, or corporate social responsibility, corresponds to the actions deployed by an organization, with the aim of meeting the challenges of sustainable development. CSR can therefore be linked to social, environmental or economic issues.

Implementing a CSR approach is therefore a major ethical and social initiative, but it is also a very strategic decision for the company. CSR has multiple benefits for the organization. This one promotes cost reduction and risk management, enhances brand image and employer branding, improves workplace well-being, sense of belonging, productivity and team engagement, and strengthens the organization’s competitive advantage.

To learn more about the definition of CSR, see our article What is CSR? Definition, principles and regulations .

 

 

How to manage CSR in your company?

Very often, the implementation of a CSR approach is limited to vague, distant commitments, difficult to implement and poorly integrated into the daily life of the company. Many organizations are struggling to achieve tangible results in CSR.

To manage CSR well internally and set up a real ” CSR management “, here are some tips to apply:

 

Define SMART objectives for your CSR actions

According to a study conducted by Bpifrance Le Lab in 2018, only a quarter of managers who have initiated a CSR approach have done so based on a structured action plan.

To guarantee the sustainability of your CSR actions, it is essential to follow a rigorous action plan, organized around SMART objectives (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and defined in time), key steps, success indicators (KPIs) and control tools.

To do this, it is important to clearly target the commitments chosen. Here are some examples of social, economic and environmental commitments to adopt as part of a CSR approach:

• Call on local partners and promote short circuits to support the local economy and reduce the carbon impact;
• Improve the energy performance of its production sites and company premises;
• Use a clean energy supplier;
• Reduce waste generation and waste;
• Implement strict rules regarding recycling;
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain by optimizing each step of the production chain;
• Strengthen rules on hygiene, health and safety at work;
• Propose the implementation of partial or full-time teleworking;
• Improve well-being at work (organize corporate events, increase comfort in workspaces, adapt your management style, etc.);

 

The choice of CSR commitments will depend on several criteria, such as the company’s sector of activity (digital, retail, industry, banks, etc.), but also the company’s values and the expectations of stakeholders (customers, employees, local authorities, business partners, etc.).

It will therefore be necessary to define a realistic number of commitments, list clear and time-limited actions and target the human, material and financial resources necessary to achieve the desired objectives.

 

Carry out rigorous monitoring

Managing social responsibility practices well means making CSR part of a continuous improvement process. To do this, it is imperative to carry out rigorous monitoring on a regular basis:

• What actions have been taken?
• What was their impact?
• What have been the economic, social and environmental benefits?
• What were the costs generated to implement these actions?
• Has the commitment of the teams been there?
• What are the obstacles, flaws and points for improvement?
• What corrective actions can be put in place?

This detailed audit will provide an overview of the CSR approach and adjust its strategy in a progressive and relevant way.

 

Appointing a CSR project manager

If you have the necessary staff, it will be very beneficial to appoint a manager dedicated to CSR management. For example, you can appoint a manager, or a key employee who is very committed to sustainable development issues.

The latter will be responsible for assessing needs, defining the CSR strategy and objectives, carrying out regular reporting, federating the teams and supervising all the actions implemented within the company.

 

Mobilizing, raising awareness and training employees in CSR

The buy-in of managers and employees is essential to the success of a CSR project. It is therefore fundamental to Involve the teams, from the reflection phase.

This will include close and transparent communication on actions and results.

It is the responsibility of the manager, or the CSR project manager, to mobilise and raise awareness among all employees of the importance of social responsibility.

This involves the development of CSR skills specific to each business: HR, marketing, supply chain, etc. It will also be very beneficial to carry out surveys, questionnaires and to set up think tanks to solicit collective intelligence.

 

Call on a CSR interim manager

Managing CSR internally is a time-consuming, complex and long-term task, which requires very specialized know-how.

To save time and maximize the impact of social responsibility measures, the company can call on an external CSR consultant, such as an interim CSR manager. At WAYDEN, we provide you with interim managers specialising in social responsibility, with an average of twenty years of professional experience in high-ranking positions. These seasoned experts take care of manage CSR internally and implement sustainable actions to ensure the success and sustainability of your CSR approach.