The Cátedra de Empresa y Humanismo of the University of Valencia participated last October 10 in the ECOS Webinar for Promoting CSR in SMEs - What are SMEs talking about regarding sustainability?', an event organized by the Valencia Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Office and which was also attended by Club of Excellence in Sustainability.
Aimed at companies, self-employed individuals, and SMEs, the webinar was held with the aim of promoting and encouraging the adoption of Social Responsibility practices in the business world, through outreach activities that help encourage other companies to internalize CSR, focusing on the direct benefits to society.
"One of the main challenges in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility is convincing SMEs to view CSR as more than just compliance with a standard."
Tomás González
During his speech Tomás González, director of the Chair, spoke about the results of the study 'What do companies talk about in their sustainability reports?', research that has been funded by the Ministry of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade and Employment, through the granting of aid aimed at promoting a sustainable economy.
"One of the main challenges in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility is convincing SMEs to view CSR beyond mere compliance with a standard and that its application is linked to the company's competitiveness and future success," commented Tomás.
That's why the Chair is working to find a simpler way to implement CSR in SMEs through tools and reference models that are accessible, appropriate, and consistent with the company's activities, drawing on the experience of large companies that already implement these types of processes.
Elena Galante, director of the Club for Excellence in Sustainability, spoke about how large companies implement CSR based on the results of the 8th Multisector Study on the State of Corporate Responsibility in Large Companies in Spain.
“100% of leading companies have a CSR strategy aligned with their business strategy, the SDGs, and the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, the vast majority have certified quality management systems, which in turn facilitates sustainability management,” Elena concluded.
