What it means
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
CSR vs. ESG
CSR is what a company does for society. ESG is how investors evaluate a company's non-financial risks and performance. CSR is outward-facing and voluntary. ESG is increasingly regulated, standardized, and investor-driven. The communications strategies overlap but serve different audiences.
Communications Approach
Show, don't tell. Impact reports with measurable outcomes outperform press releases with aspirational language. Employee stories outperform executive quotes. Third-party validation (charity partners, impact certifications, independent audits) outperforms self-congratulation.
Risks
"CSR-washing" — publicizing small initiatives to distract from larger negative impacts — is a reputation risk that sophisticated stakeholders and journalists detect quickly. Authenticity is the bar: the CSR program should reflect the company's actual values and capabilities, not a public-relations exercise.
Employee Impact
CSR programs are increasingly important for talent acquisition and retention. Employees — especially younger professionals — choose employers partly based on social impact. Communicating CSR internally is as important as communicating it externally.