STARBUCKS CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

Starbucks is one of the leading Fair Trade certified companies in the United States, as well as in the world. Their mission statement expresses high ethical values; one of their most respectable statements being: “It's our goal for all of our coffee to be grown under the highest standards of quality, using ethical trading and responsible growing practices. We think it's a better cup of coffee that also helps create a better future for farmers and a more stable climate for the planet.”

Starbucks raises relevant environmental concerns, and aspires to provide farmers with incentives to reduce the environmental impact of coffee production while simultaneously providing support centers and loan programs to their farmers in such countries as Costa Rica and Rwanda.

In addition, Starbucks is “committed to significantly reducing the waste [their] stores generate-especially when it comes to recycling”.

In 2010, 70% of Starbucks stores recycled at least one type of waste. Also, in 1997, they developed a recycled-content cup sleeve in order to prevent customers from “double-cupping” as well as to keep their hands from getting burned by their hot beverages. In 2006, they launched their first paper cups for hot beverages with 10% post-consumer fiber. Starbucks aspires to have recycling available in all of its stores as well as serve 25% of its beverages in reusable cups by 2015.

Seems like a realistic goal, judging by the company's previous accomplishments!
Apparently, Starbucks serves a great cup of coffee along with a strong commitment to maintaining corporate social responsibility- can't beat that!

http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility

Today’s Leader of Corporate Responsibility: McDonald's

Every day, large companies, such as McDonald’s, must make corporate decisions regarding corporate social responsible. As a multi-million dollar international company, it is McDonald’s responsibility to establish development economically, socially, and environmentally. McDonald’s believes that “corporate responsibility is about living our values each and every day. It’s about taking action, achieving results and always maintaining open lines of communication with our customers and other key stakeholders.”

So how does a major company like McDonald’s uphold their commitment to being socially responsible?

1. Most importantly, McDonald’s has a Code of Conduct for Suppliers that specifically explains how suppliers should treat their employees. Demonstrating respect and care for its employees proves that the company values employment standards in the workplace.

2. Being the leader of the fast-food industry, McDonalds must face decisions every day that affects the environment and sometimes the safety of their workers. Recently McDonald’s created a sustainability project in order to promote ethical environmental practices in agriculture. A common tomato farm supplier that McDonald's purchases from underwent specific adjustments that improved the conditions of the farm and its workers in order to create a more sustainable business.

3. In today’s global marketplace McDonald’s must find a source for raw materials, which is often an international supplier. This ties the company to many environmental, ethical, and social concerns within the international area. By generating a sustainability program called Sustainable Fisheries Program that partners with others around the world in order to create ethical standards for wildlife. Their focus is to correctly guide and influence all worldwide purchases of wild-caught fish that contributes to the making of Fillet-o-Fish.

4. Finally, a large part to McDonald’s CSR is the concern with how the company affects the surrounding community. McDonald often views charitable activity as a marketing investment that builds stronger relationships with the community. Therefore, McDonald’s makes an enormous impact on the Ronald McDonald House by donating charitable contributions in order to support the health and well-being of children.

McDonald’s strong representation of corporate social responsibility allows the company to serve the local and global community very well. It also benefits the corporation as a whole, forcing the company to balance their moral and ethical obligations to not only their but employees but also the consumers.

http://www.suite101.com/content/corporate-social-responsibility-at-mcdonalds-a211782

Bennigan’s Assisting Families in Need

In many situations around the world, people are in need of assistance both financially and medically. Certain businesses and franchises like to reach out to these people because they know that they can make a difference. Throughout the world, there are many businesses and organizations that demonstrate good corporate social responsibility. A popular restaurant, Bennigan’s, is an example of this type of franchise.

In Saginaw Township, there have been an abnormal amount of homicides in 2010. Bennigan’s decided to support a fundraiser by donating 20% of the food and alcohol sales to the Stennett family (one of the families who was impacted by a homicide). The manager asked the employees of the Bennigans to ask their customers if they would like to donate to the fundraiser, in an attempt to raise even more money. This business had no connection to the Stennett family, but offered to help a family in need in their community, which is admirable.

These types of actions help promote a strong corporate social responsibility across the business world as a whole. When organizations see other businesses donating to good causes, it often causes a ripple effect, and businesses give back to their communities when in need.

A business having a strong reputation of consistently helping others in need can benefit to a more successful business. There are also many other restaurants that donate extra food to salvation armies. It is important for businesses to realize that they do have a responsibility to serve the community, given the amount of money many of them seem to profit. In the end, it is an ethical decision to donate. Is it more important to make more money, or to help people in need? When businesses donate, it makes the community feel more close-knit, which can result in a strong relationship amongst a business and it’s customers.


http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/01/bennigans_restaurant_in_sagina.html

Corporate Social Integration of Macau's Casino

Corporate Social Responsibility grows out of the community's and social groups' expectations that companies should not only care about short-term profits but also care about social responsibilities that they are obliged to fulfill.

A good Corporate Social Responsibility model requires an operator to examine its internal and external environment. The external environment is much more vital for Macau’s casinos because Chinese governments are still trying to find a 'right' balance between economic growth and potential social disorders as a result of gaming legalization. Operators must realize that in operating a casino in Macau, they should find common values between themselves and the Chinese society. These values become essential for business sustainability.

Finding a balance between corporate resources, profit objectives, and social expectations is a key factor to a company. It is not just about social responsibility; it is about socially integrating the casino's values with societal values. Each operator must embrace a CSR concept and develop a special CSR vision. Operators in Macau have distinct resources that can be used best to integrate with its operating environment. They must examine its external environment like their customers, physical environment, competition and partners. They do so in order to determine the opportunities and threats relating to social values and order.

Together, operators can make a difference within the casino industry. By doing this, each casino plays up strengths, avoids weaknesses, and better benefits both the community and the government as a whole.

http://www.macaubusiness.com/news/opinion/corporate-social-integration-for-macau39s-casino-operators/1040/

Starbucks: The Struggle to Social Responsibility

The Starbucks Company brought something special to its consumers and employees recently. The company gives unique and personalized coffee orders to many of its customers daily. When it comes to serving their employees, Starbucks values their employees in a very high quality. For example, employees, both full-time and part-time, have benefits such as healthcare, stock options, tuition reimbursement and retirement savings accounts. It has been proven that often Starbucks invest more to its employees' healthcare, sometimes more than purchasing their raw materials.

Starbucks makes a good corporate image by consistently running companies ethically; therefore, they were recently recognized as a member of the top 100 ethically run companies in America. Indicators used to provide this award included environmental, social, governance, and controversial developments. Starbucks has made social responsibility as a major influence to their corporate goals.

The United States produces 6% of the total coffee beans, and it is an important industry for Ethiopia In order to boost its economy and growth. In 2006 the company guaranteed minimum wage to Ethiopians who have earned less than a dollar per day. Another important factor is the Starbucks Company built a supply chain to reduce the environmental impact. For example, they adopted the Environmental Mission Statement in 1992 to contribute to environmental protection. Lastly, Starbucks found the Starbucks Foundation in 1997 to invest in children and communities in order to produce more long term profits and improve children’s life.

In these activities, CSR has a more strategic and valuable significance when it is interconnected with the process and operating activities. In corporate activities, how to spend money is more important than how to make money because in these days international companies are interacted with a lot of stakeholders. Thus it is important that making sustainable communities such as relation with the supplier and planting area.

http://www.helium.com/items/1411478-starbucks-and-social-responsibility