CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DRIVES MEANINGFUL CHANGE

At one time, corporate social responsibility (CS) was seen as a convenient way for corporations to atone for their sins. Today,

CSR programs have become purpose-driven, a way to drive meaningful charige. The COVID-19 pandemic served up numerous disruptions that exposed significant societal inequities--for example, racial biases and food insecurity. It also accelerated the need for transformational change. Companies responded with initiatives such as breweries and distilleries making hand sanitizer and selling it at cost, grocery stores offering pandemic pay for frontline workers, and big brands that donating ad space to smaller companies.

The Black Lives Matter movement highlighted the need for companies to address systemic racism. In Canada, over 200 companies pledged to do so by signing the BlackNorth initiative. A not-for-profit, BlackNorth's mission is to tackle systemic racism in corporate Canada, hire more Black people, and move Black employees into senior leadership roles. Other companies embraced the 15 Percent Pledge, committing to allocate 15 percent of shelf space to BIPOC-owned businesses.

Companies also took a more enlightened stand on environmental sustainability and increased their effort to fight climate change. Many consumer product goods companies had already pledged to reduce waste and eliminate plastic packaging that is difficult to recycle. In the past, this may have been enough, but today's consumers watch every move a brand makes.

Companies realized even more effort was required.

Canada Goose has been fighting to preserve polar bear habitats for almost two decades. It provides free sewing materials to Inuit who make its parkas and supports Northern communities through Project Atigi, which creates original parka collections.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it took a further step in releasing a Sustainable Impact Strategy and its first sustainabilty report. It brought sustainability and values-based initiatives together under a Humanature platform to keep "the planet cold and the people warm.

To reach the first objective, it committed to meet net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. The latter objective will address culture, the arts, as well as philanthropic and community needs. As part of its Humanature program, Canada Goose gave employees weekly one-hour passes to be used during business hours, encouraging them to get out into nature It was a creative approach to help employees deal with the stress of the pandemic.

The launch of the company's first Sustainability Report was in partnership with Bill Nye, often known as "the Science Guy." A leading environmental advocate and firm believer that action is needed now to fight climate change, Nye says the partnership can bring attention to the need for products that are manufactured sustainably. Canada Goose has done just that with the launch of its Standard Expedition Parka in early 2021. Billed as the company's most sustainable parka, it is made from recycled and undyed fabrics, uses 100 percent responsibly sourced dovin, and uses reclaimed coyote fur for the hood. The parka generates 30 percent less carbon than previous coats. Canada Goose says it is "the start of our journey to bring industry leading sustainability practices to all our products. 62 To that end, it has committed to having 90 percent of materials be recycled and organic, as well as having 100 percent of its packaging based on sustainable solutions, both by 2025.

No longer just platitudes, companies must demonstrate real movement on SR initiatives. Consumers demand that the companies they support show purpose-based commitment, serve a greater purpose, and take action that results in real change. That necessitates publicly taking a stand and putting deep stakes in the ground for social and environmental issues.

Question: discuss how the actions of canada goose outlined in the case address the needs of stakeholders, including employees, customers, society, and the environment.