KAS Shanghai, Business Ecology
KAS Shanghai, Business Ecology
In recent years, many Chinese companies have increasingly changed their business models to show their responsibility towards society. They value more about building their brands and begin to consider the sustainability of their business operations instead of only focusing on short-term profits. Therefore the concept corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly included in the philosophy of companies. Nevertheless it remains a decisive challenge for them, to implement their CSR strategies in a sustainable way?.
More than 80 participants from enterprises, non-profit organizations, representatives of media and academia took part in the workshop, illustrating the increasing importance of CSR in Chinese society.
In the first panel, Professor William VALENTINO, Professor for Health Communications at the Research Center for Health, Tsinghua University Beijing and working for 26 years in China, talked about the connection between innovation and CSR. The concept of CSR should be no longer limited to the sphere of doing good things or giving back to society. It rather becomes an integral part in the concept of society. He stressed that it needs innovation in many ways, such as markets, products or services. CSR can share the perceived value that makes customers and shareholders associating with it. Valentino concluded that game changers are very essential for CSR innovation because they can search for new possibilities, change attitudes and ideas as well as creating impact on larger scale.
Gordan LU, EHS manager of Miba Precision Components (China) Ltd. Co, shared the experience of including the social community through the case study of waste gas pollution control in his company. During the process of environmental governance in the factory, it is important to communicate with the community initiatively and regularly publicize the information to build trust between each other. He also introduced measures to increase transparency during the cooperation with the community, such as setting up publicity boards, having regular meetings with residents and inviting residents to visit the company.
Chiu Yieru, Associate professor of the General Education Center at Tzu-Chi University, introduced the concept of Permaculture: a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features that can be observed in natural ecosystems. Permaculture designs evolve over time by taking into account these relationships and elements and can become extremely complex systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input. It turns people from consumers into producers. Professor Chiu also introduced his recent case in Himalaya, helping local residents to establish a better water resource management system.
Nadav Ben Simon, general manager of Taicang Sino-German Handicapped Technology Co. Ltd, the first industrial factory in China for the inclusion of intellectually challenged people, told the audience that he employs handicapped people because he believes they are able to create value for the society. Different from the traditional opinions that handicapped people can only produce low-end product, in fact they can make very high-end products. Nadav showed great passion for his job, helping to foster the inclusion of the “other” back into society. He respects the staff in his company and serves them instead that the staff serves the employers. This is a crucial change and innovation in the concept of CSR.
During the following panel discussion, the experts discussed whether there is a turning point during the process of innovation and change and If yes what exactly it is? Prof. Chiu expressed that connection is the key point. Only when people have connection with the nature, they can understand the nature better and eventually become part of it. Prof. VALENTINO argued that there is no turning point in the process of innovation and change. Nadav Ben Simon agreed and stressed that innovation is proceeding in an orderly way and step by step.
As part of this CSR Learning day, SUN Haiyan, Chief Editor of the Business Ecology Magazine, launched the exhibition “500 Boxes”, which introduces numerous examples of CSR innovation and sustainable operation in China and abroad, aiming to spread the wisdom of CSR to the public. Cao Xuanwei, Deputy Director of FT MBA program at IBSS, XJTLU gave an opening speech at the exhibition. He teaches CSR related courses for undergraduate students in order to make the students familiar with ideas in regard to social responsibility. .
In the afternoon session, Sun Haiyan shared another concept of sustainable manufacturing and CSR operation from her 5 years’ experience with different firms. It can be grown with the environment, be designed from ecology and focus on the product life cycle. ”Sustainable Operation and Manufacture” not only brings the enterprises vitality, innovation and changes, but also forces them pay attention to the effect on environment and social welfare. However, “Sustainable Operation and Manufacture” faces the challenges from policy, technology, market competition and culture development.
Within the framework of the workshop two interactive group work sessions were conducted. More than 50 participants discussed standards and ways on how to create sustainable operated CSR projects in a chosen field and the challenges for sustainable operation in different fields. Facilitated by the team of Business Ecology, participants were asked to set up new CSR project ideas and introduce them to the other participants. An assessment and discussion with the CSR experts helped to further analyze key areas for future projects.