Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Days integrate social and environmental concerns into a company’s operations and interactions and are a great way to support local communities.
From an organisational perspective, CSR offers many benefits, including enhanced reputation, operational efficiency in sustainable practices, and possibly an increase in customer loyalty. It also has a positive impact on employees, improving morale, promoting well-being, and contributing to a more positive work environment.
At OSRL, our employees are given the opportunity to take two days per year to engage in environmental and social activities:
- Volunteering days
- Skills-based volunteering – share professional skills with local schools, community centres, etc
- Environmental initiatives – such as tree planting, beach clean-ups, etc
- Charity walk or run
- Book or clothing drive
CSR across the organisation
Many of our employees have already explored different ways to give back to their local communities through individual activities and team efforts.
Our Aberdeen team recently participated in an environmental activity to remove non-native invasive plants from the River Dee. Working together, the team acted to remove the beautiful but insidious Himalayan Balsam that spreads prolifically along the river banks of the lower Dee in Scotland.
This invasive plant grows in dense, shaded areas, crowding out many of the native species and adding no benefit to the stability of the riverbank. Tackling this issue requires a team of volunteers to remove the plant during the summer months and help prevent it from spreading.
Last year, our Marketing and Communications team took part in a beach clean-up on Weston Shore, near our Southampton offices in the UK, collecting several bags of litter from along the local shorelines.
The wind and rain on the day were challenging, but the team battled the elements, knowing that their efforts were crucial in protecting parts of the community in the area surrounding our Southampton Base. The amount of rubbish collected in a short time was a stark reminder of the global environmental issues that are present worldwide and closer to home.
This task wasn’t just about cleaning up a beach; it was about taking responsibility, setting an example for others to follow, and, importantly, doing something worthwhile together as a team to build strength and resilience.
Educating young people is an important part of CSR and another way our organisation can show connect with the local community. Another team of ours recently ventured out to visit Fair Oak Junior School, near our Southampton base in the UK, to explain to a group of enthusiastic 10 and 11 year-olds what we do at Oil Spill Response.
The day was spent teaching the children about oil spills, how they occur, and what we do to clean them up. The team visiting the school demonstrated some of the equipment and techniques that we use and got the children involved by allowing them to attempt to clean up their own oil spill - using vegetable oil. We hope the visit inspired a new wave of oil spill responders!
Laurie Buthfer from Response, recently attended the Royal Norfolk Show with a team of Environmental Scientist students from the University of East Anglia to demonstrate a game he had helped to develop, ‘Oil Spill Challenge’, designed to teach children how to clean-up an oil spill and the environmental impact it has.
CSR is more than a trend; it is a crucial aspect of modern business strategy that can drive positive change and create value for both companies and society. While challenges exist, the benefits of adopting robust CSR practices far outweigh the costs, contributing to sustainable development and long-term business success.