Corporate Social Responsibility | How A Former NBA Star Is Building A Team Of Black Cannabis Entrepreneurs | Amazon’s $1 Billion Industrial Innovation Fund

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Corporate social responsibility isn’t new, but lately there’s been renewed interest in the subject. Many consumers believe that organizations should be conscious of their impact on society and the environment. In fact, some demand it from companies. 

More than half of small businesses in the U.S. and Canada have a social mission that they stand by, according to a recent survey from business networking platform UpCity. Nearly 30% say they don’t have a social mission but plan to create one this year. 

In partnership with Pollfish, UpCity surveyed 600 respondents in the U.S. and Canada about their takes on small business social awareness policies, practices and benefits in 2022. Some 18% of respondents focus on or plan to focus on a 2022 social mission related to health and wellness, including mental health support, while 14% are focused on human rights, racial and gender equality, and 13% are focused on environmental sustainability. Organizations typically align their missions to match their business interests, goals and priorities, writes Forbes Senior Contributor Edward Segal. Here, he discusses how small businesses are implementing corporate social responsibility missions. 

For those who don’t yet have a mission, it’s not too late to start. “Business leaders who don’t currently have a social mission should really consider the added benefits of implementing one beyond social responsibility: a social mission can help brand reputation through PR, and can also improve employee satisfaction and retention,” said Upcity CEO Dan Olson. 

Small business owners and entrepreneurs are putting more value and stock into the social missions their organizations commit to. It’s important that they follow through, but many companies fail to meet their sustainability targets. That’s why it’s important to create a sustainability roadmap. 

As organizations’ role in societal changes continues to rise, so too will consumers’ expectations of how companies approach sustainability, writes Forbes Contributor Rhett Power. Here are steps that entrepreneurs are taking to create a greener world for the next generation. 

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