Taking cognisance of the need and importance of CSR, many companies have already started implementing CSR in their respective entities. Critics though are not very impressed with the aims and objectives of this very exercise in many cases, with some even pointing out that CSR as practised by a lot of companies are actually completely divorced from reality, aimed more at gaining PR and brand building, rather than to address the core issues that really matter. The lack of transparency in absence of independent third-party audits in some cases and question mark on the true evaluation of the CSR and its impact in absence of the same, lends credibility to the critics’ observations.
Besides, some CSR activities aimed at employee welfare like medical facilities, day-care centre, etc. are perhaps outcome of necessity rather than responsibility as no entrepreneur would like to see day-to-day issues that can be taken care of easily, hampering smooth business operations. Such initiatives working towards furthering the goal of compliance, while also lending a helping hand to impress upon prospective buyers who are increasingly getting inclined towards ethical sourcing and workers’ welfare are definitely some of the motivating factors.
Nevertheless, there are companies that have taken considerable steps in the field of CSR ahead of the realms of ‘common’ and ‘obvious’, that deserves mentioning; a few of them are mentioned below for their commitments that are beyond the obvious:
VIYELLATEX Group : A multi-dimensional business conglomerate with spinning, knitting, dyeing, accessories and printing facilities, VIYELLATEX Group (helmed by David Hasanat as the Chairman ) and catering to brands such as Calvin Klein, Puma, Esprit, Hugo Boss, NEXT, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, s.Oliver, M&S and many more in wide range of apparels, is one of the prominent names in the apparel industry to actively implement CSR. For them working to improve the environment is also an important element of CSR activities.
Their passion for the same has resulted in reduction of carbon foot print by 25 per cent with plans to be a carbon neutral company by 2018, keeping with its commitment towards United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The company has a Carbon Offsetting project wherein it has planted 6 million trees in 1720-acre area at Juri, Sylhet under this programme. Further, it has used more than 14.5 million litres of rain water in 2015, which has helped in saving 50.5 million litres of ground water resources/year. An important effort is also in Waste Management, wherein waste like food residue, kitchen waste from lunch leftovers and micro-cotton dust is recycled and reused as natural fertilizer through composting and part of it distributed to neighbouring farmers free of cost.
The company is also attached to a programme with M&S since 2004 under which 25 workers have been recruited from the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) and seven locally. Having a special heart for the differently abled the company runs Bikash School, a special school for physically challenged and underprivileged children. The school also runs a physiotherapy centre for physically challenged students.
Crony Group : A prominent name in knit garments since 1994, Crony Group is spearheaded by A H Aslam (Sunny) as the Managing Director . The company employs over 12,000 skilled workers in its eight concerns and clocked annual revenue earning of more than US $ 106 million in 2014-15. The company is working in the area of health and nutrition. It runs HIV/AIDS & TB awareness programme and test for better treatment. As part of Calorie Contribution Programme, Crony Group has spent a total of BDT 25,000,000 (US $ 321,000) in 2014 alone. The initiatives of Crony Group in this regard has been awarded and accredited by the International Development Organization, Ministry of Labour, Government of Bangladesh, BGMEA and BKMEA.
DBL Group : DBL Group is a diversified business entity which has vertically integrated textile and apparel manufacturing facilities, with concerns in ICT & Telecommunications and Ceramic Tiles. The Group has a dedicated and skilled workforce of more than 24,295 employees and had an annual turnover of US $ 365 million in the year 2015-16. Education is among the focus areas for DBL, which has a Future Leaders Development Program (FLDP). Under this initiative fresh graduates from reputed universities across the nation are recruited, trained and groomed to become the future leaders of the organization in a period of 5 years. Further, as part of endorsing the need for quality education in Bangladesh, DBL-funded education support to Hatimara College by building a four-storeyed building; computers with audio-visual systems installed to equip the college auditorium with latest classroom facilities, project to create a laboratory as well.
The environment effort includes Konabari Cluster Engagement to create awareness among other factories in local cluster about prevention of ground water depletion and saving for next generation; Sustainable Action and Vision for a better Environment (SAVE), which is Co-financed by DEG and Puma and in partnership with H&M and ASSIST, programme aimed at reducing GHG emission, energy consumption, water consumption, and waste by 25 per cent.
The company received CPI2 top factory award in 2013-14 for excellent efforts in reducing energy consumption in factory operations.Carbon Performance Improvement Initiative (CPI2) is an Initiative by German-based retailer and supported by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment and the German Investment and Development Company. DBL is also committed to Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical (ZDHC) to help lead the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020. A Four-member team has been formed at dyeing facility for optimizing energy usage; reduce carbon dioxide emission by 15 per cent in the next 3 years; benchmark and regulate energy consumption; reduce diesel consumption in generators by 10 per cent; train employees on energy and environmental aspects within the industry.
Ananta Group : Started in 1991 by Late Humayun Zahir, Ananta Group has grown to be one of the leading apparel solution providers in Bangladesh, engaged in marketing, development and manufacturing of apparels and employs 20,000 people across the company and has an annual turnover of over US $ 200 million. Ananta is deeply conscious of the needs of the communities it operates in and hopes to create strong goodwill among its neighbours. Some of its social initiatives include – Training centre for underprivileged minorities; Disaster rescue and aid for victims of annual floods and cyclones; and Biannual tree plantation programmes to help offset carbon footprint.
Mohammadi Group : Headed by multi-faceted Rubana Huq as the Managing Director , the Group is a diversified conglomerate with interests in real estate, power generation, media, IT, software, besides its core business of garment manufacturing. It employs a workforce of over 10,000 people. Feeling very strongly for Women Empowerment, Mohammadi Group has tied up with Asian University of Women (AUW), Chittagong, to help uplift the socio-economic status of the women workforce through higher studies learning. Another unique initiative is a Housing Project (rent-to-own concept), under which, the Group in association with global development network UNDP, is building 600-strong housing units to relocate a large number of the workers and their families.
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