About CSR Asia

Philosophy Our Vision Definition of CSR Definition of Social Enterprise Our CSR Principles Company Brochure and Annual Report

CSR Asia is the leading provider of information, training, research and consultancy services on sustainable business practices in Asia. Operating as a dynamic social enterprise, CSR Asia occupies the unique middle ground between civil society organisations and fully commercial consultancies. This enables us to provide independent and cutting edge services and expert insight into the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues facing companies in Asia. Through our offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou and Singapore and our partnerships in Vietnam, Thailand and Bangladesh. CSR Asia builds capacity and promotes awareness of CSR in order to advance sustainable development across the region.

At CSR Asia we value the economic sustainability of organisations as well as their environmental and social sustainability, therefore we operate according to professional business principles in order to promote CSR across the Asia Pacific region. Our principal sources of funding come from our Strategic Partners, training and conferences, advisory services to companies and advertising.

CSR Asia was built on a vision; to provide companies and their stakeholders with timely and reliable information, training, research and consultancy services for sustainable business practices. We have stayed true to that vision by occupying the unique middle ground between civil society organisations and fully commercial consultancies. We have a simple definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a companys commitment to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainablemanner whilst balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders. We believe that stakeholder engagement is central to CSR.

CSR Asia is a social enterprise, a social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders. By straddling this traditional divide between non-profit and for-profit entities, we envisaged a financially sustainable organisation (without relying on donors or funding agencies that would support CSR one year but not the next) that would be able to survive in the market. In doing so, we aim to stay relevant to the real and practical needs of business.

We believe CSR Asia will help set agendas (rather than follow trends), promote good business practices (rather than help companies increase profits at the expense of people and the environment), and be a reliable source of information (rather than tell companies what they might want to hear).

Since our foundation in 2004 we have made it our business to recruit a mix of energetic and passionate people to work alongside our experienced CSR practitioners. Through high quality training, we aim to assist in the development of a local cohort of CSR experts who will, we hope, drive developments in the Asia Pacific Region.

CSR Asia works with a range of local partners to develop solutions and strategies that make sense in the region. We have a policy of not excluding any industry or company, irrespective of its business profile. Rather than exclude particular industries or companies, CSR Asia chooses to engage with companies and their stakeholders in order to promote corporate social responsibility in the Asia Pacific Region as widely as possible. We follow the same principle when it comes to regional governments. CSR Asia is committed to helping achieve positive change through constructive engagement with all stakeholders and interest groups.

Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in the Asia Pacific Region Providing information about CSR issues as they emerge Providing expert CSR knowledge to businesses and their stakeholders Contributing to the sustainable development of the region Incorporating Asian perspectives in the global CSR debate

There is as yet, no widely agreed definition of CSR. At CSR Asia, we believe CSR is a companys commitment to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner whilst balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders.

A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

For more information see www.socialenterprise.org.hk.

As a social enterprise that promotes CSR we seek to manage our own business activities in a way that benefits the environment and society. These CSR principles outline our ongoing commitment to make a positive contribution wherever we do business.

Business conduct: We are committed to ensuring that our business is managed in a way that obeys the law and goes further in adhering to rigorous ethical and professional standards. We strive for high levels of honesty, accountability and transparent decisionmaking in all our activities.

Clients: We seek to provide our clients with services of the highest quality. We communicate with our clients with integrity and care and seek to build long lasting relationships.

Human resources: We aim to be responsible in the way we treat our staff. We aim to provide fair employment and fair remuneration, free of discrimination. We treat our staff as an asset and seek to provide good promotion prospects and a work-life balance.

Stakeholders: We aim to be an open and transparent organisation, receptive to the demands and aspirations of a broad range of stakeholders. We regularly engage in dialogue with our stakeholders in order to help inform our policies and practices.

Health and safety: We provide a working environment which is secure and we make health and safety issues a priority for all business operations. We aim for ongoing improvement in health and safety performance and in peoples quality of life.

Community: We strive to be a good corporate citizen, recognising our responsibility to work in partnership with others to help develop the communities in which we operate.

Environment: We aim to make contributions to improving the environment which we all share and work in playing a full part in meeting our own responsibilities to protect nature and promote environmental education.

Human rights: We are committed to respecting the rights of our staff and aim to promote human rights within our sphere of influence.

Company Brochure