Retail and Consumer Goods

Retail and consumer goods are mature and highly competitive industries, which operate on relatively low margins. Important considerations include brand and company reputation, product sourcing and safety, employee and customer loyalty, and cost containment. As consumer facing organizations, retail and consumer goods companies are often subject to intense scrutiny in the areas of environmental and social performance. 

Key CSR issues include: 

• Brand and reputation management
• Product safety and security
• Ethical sourcing and sustainable supply chain practices
• Waste management – packaging, manufacturing waste, recycling
• Employee engagement
• Health and wellness, nutrition
• Resource conservation and efficiency (water, energy, GHG footprint)
• Responsible sales and marketing practices

How CBSR Can Help

CBSR helps member companies to anticipate, identify and respond to stakeholder concerns relevant in the Canadian context.  For our retail and consumer goods companies, these concerns are generally driven by consumers, but can also be in response to specific regulatory changes, protest campaigns or shareholder demands.

CSR work in this sector generally focuses on managing stakeholder relations and increasing employee engagement through corporate responsibility reporting, ethical management of the supply chain and carbon footprint measurement, reduction and mitigation. 

To learn more about Advisory Services contact:

Steven Fish, Business Development Manager

T. 416.703.7435 ext. 225

steven@cbsr.ca