Corporations usually think in terms of facts, figures and clear categories, and as a result they often see the people around them in terms of groups as well — employees, neighbors, clients and, last but not least, consumers. Each one of these groups has different expectations for the corporation and what they feel the corporation should do for them. One thing is clear, however: There are values that matter to companies. And there are values that matter to people. And these two sets of values can be very divergent.
If there is one common denominator, it is the mindset towards the world we live in. The environment is the basis of our existence, both as individuals and as a corporation, and we want — and need — to protect it. This is why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just something we pay lip service to. Instead, it is a logical and concrete strategy to secure our ability to survive.
The same is true for our clients. They are as dependent on the demands of the market as we are, and consumers are the ones who steer these demands. Consumer confidence in many companies has fallen over the past several years, and parallel to that, people‘s desire for health, safety and sustainably manufactured products has increased dramatically. Ecological and social considerations now play a major role in consumers‘ willingness to buy a product.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to trust. Trust is a value that consumers have to be able to offer manufacturers freely. It is a value that must be apparent throughout the entire supply chain if a company is to be considered credible. Here too, our personal commitment to CSR is not just a response to our clients‘ preferences; it is an intelligent step towards safeguarding our success in business — and by extension, safeguarding the future of the company and all of its employees.
As a manufacturer of fragrances and flavorings, we are under especially close scrutiny from the outside world. This is why in 2007 we decided to take a critical look at ourselves to see what we could improve. We had our corporation and our four most important products assessed by a neutral third party to review our sustainability. This gave us many new insights which we are using to develop concrete strategic goals, both this year and in the future — we want to put our new insights into practice.
Think on a large scale, but act on the details – this is our buzzword when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility. Join us as we take a closer look.
Sincerely, Dr Gerold Linzbach, CEO Symrise
