Corporate Sustainability & Green HRM: A Social & Environmental Approach to People Management

Informal Name: Planet; Core Focus: Limit environmental impact of operations; Examples: Renewable energy, carbon footprint, recycle/reuse, sustainable packaging, eliminate toxics, value-chain decarbonisation

Informal Name: People; Core Focus: Welfare of employees, customers, communities, supply chain; Examples: Safety culture, fair wages, no child labour, employee recognition, community wellbeing

Informal Name: Profit; Core Focus: Efficient and equitable use of socio-economic resources; Examples: Long-term profitability, green jobs, cost reduction via efficiency

Key Factor: Concept; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): More about compliance than business; Corporate Sustainability (CS): All about business but on ethical rudiments

Key Factor: Applicability; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Focuses on the present; Corporate Sustainability (CS): Focuses on the future — remains viable for years to come

Key Factor: Scale; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Much broader concept; Corporate Sustainability (CS): An integral part of CSR

Key Factor: Vision; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Looks backward — reflects on what the company has contributed; Corporate Sustainability (CS): Looks forward — develops strategy for the future

Key Factor: Target / Focus; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Opinion formation (media, politicians, pressure groups); Corporate Sustainability (CS): Whole value chain (end-consumers to all stakeholders)