Dealing with the management of CSR internally

In today’s business world, CSR is a pivotal issue that meets major challenges. Guaranteeing the sustainability of CSR commitments means rigorously managing internal actions. Here are our tips for setting up a veritable CSR management system in a logical, impactful and sustainable way.  

CSR: definition and implementation

CSR, or corporate social responsibility, refers to all the actions deployed by an organisation to meet the challenges of sustainable development. CSR can be linked to social, environmental or economic issues. Implementing a CSR policy is both a major ethical and social initiative, and a highly strategic decision for a company. CSR offers multiple advantages for an organisation. It helps reduce costs and manage risks; it enhances brand image and employer brand; it improves well-being at work, the feeling of belonging, productivity and team commitment; it strengthens the organisation's competitive edge. To learn more about the definition of CSR, see our article: “What is CSR? Definition, key principles and regulations”.  

Managing CSR in your company

Very often, the implementation of a CSR initiative is limited to vague, distant commitments that are difficult to implement and poorly integrated into the company's daily operations. Many organisations therefore struggle to obtain tangible results in CSR. Here are our tips for managing CSR internally and implementing veritable CSR management:

Define SMART objectives for CSR actions

According to a study conducted by Bpifrance Le Lab in 2018, only a quarter of executives who have initiated a CSR approach have done so based on a structured action plan. Yet ensuring the sustainability of CSR measures means adhering to a rigorous action plan, organised around SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound), key milestones, performance indicators (KPIs) and monitoring tools. It is therefore important to choose your commitments carefully. Here are some examples of social, economic and environmental commitments that can be adopted as part of a CSR approach:

• Favour local partners and promote short circuits to support the local economy and reduce carbon impact.
• Improve the energy performance of production sites and company premises.
• Use a clean energy supplier.
• Reduce waste production and waste.
• Implement strict recycling policies.
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain by optimising each step of the production chain.
• Reinforce rules relating to hygiene, health and safety at work.
• Propose the implementation of partial or full-time teleworking.
• Improve well-being at work (organise company events, improve comfort in the workplace, adapt management style, etc.).

The choice of CSR commitments depends on several criteria, including the company's sector of activity (digital, retail, industry, banking, etc.), its values, and the expectations of its stakeholders (customers, employees, local authorities, business partners, etc.). It is therefore necessary to define a realistic number of commitments, list clear and time-bound actions and target the human, material and financial resources needed to achieve the targeted objectives.

Conduct rigorous monitoring 

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

• What actions have been taken?
• What was their impact?
• What were the economic, social and environmental benefits?
• What were the costs of implementing these actions?
• Was the commitment of the teams there?
• What are the obstacles, weaknesses and areas for improvement?
• What corrective actions can be taken?

This detailed audit will give you an overview of your CSR strategy, allowing you to adjust it in a progressive and appropriate way.

Appoint a CSR Project Manager

If you have the necessary manpower, it is definitely worthwhile appointing an individual dedicated to CSR management. This individual could be a manager or a key employee who is particularly committed to sustainable development issues. The CSR manager will be in charge of assessing needs, defining the CSR strategy and objectives, carrying out regular reporting, uniting teams and supervising all CSR actions implemented within the company.

Mobilise, raise awareness and train employees in CSR

The support of managers and employees is essential to the success of a CSR project. It is therefore fundamental to involve the teams, right from the reflection phase. In particular, it is important to ensure close and transparent communication on the actions taken and the results obtained. It is the responsibility of the CSR manager or project leader to mobilise and raise awareness among all employees of the importance of social responsibility. This requires the development of CSR skills specific to each business line: HR, marketing, supply chain, etc. Conducting surveys and questionnaires and setting up focus groups to solicit collective intelligence are also very beneficial.  

Call on a CSR interim manager

Managing CSR internally is a time-consuming, complex and lengthy task that requires highly specialised know-how. To save time and maximise the impact of CSR measures, you could hire an external CSR consultant, such as an interim CSR manager. At WAYDEN, we provide interim managers specialised in social responsibility, with an average of 20 years of professional experience in high-level positions. These seasoned experts take charge of your internal CSR management and implement sustainable actions to ensure the success and sustainability of your CSR policy.