Answer

Corporate Social Responsibility

Businesses are incorporated to maximize profits for their shareholders.  However, there are instances where businesses, as good corporate citizens, engage in philanthropic activities to help the environment and society through the concept of corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility as the act of integration of both environmental and social philanthropic factors into the operations of business organizations, the central premise behind corporate social responsibility is for companies to give back to society. The success of the companies in the market stems from societal and environmental support.  Therefore, through CSR, companies get to give back to the same society and the environment that has kept them in operation.

 Despite CSR being a noble idea, it has been hijacked by companies who engage in it for marketing purposes and not for its altruistic objectives. Companies engaging in CSR activities in their core business line do so as a marketing strategy and not to give back to society. Hardware and home improvement stores that give materials to charity help in order to boost their brand name in the market.  Similarly, real estate agencies that allow their houses to occupied by the homeless during winter offer the services in order to boost their brand image. Leveraging the use of CSR for marketing is ethically wrong and should not be rewarded by customer loyalty or increased sales. Companies that give back to the society often fund ventures away from their core business model to eliminate conflict of interest. Therefore, those real estate companies and home improvement stores that donate goods in their line of business are, therefore doing so mainly for marketing reasons.

In conclusion, CSR is a noble action that should be fueled through altruism. Therefore, it is unethical for businesses to leverage CSR for marketing. Consumers should, therefore, not reward such unethical practices through customer loyalty and increased sales.