TRADA Technology has published an Introduction to corporate social responsibility, tailored to the needs of the timber, construction and furniture industries. The guide aims to dispel the confusion which surrounds the term itself as corporate social responsibility (CSR) comes under several labels, including sustainable development, responsible business, ethical business and corporate responsibility – all with the same goal.

CSR has been defined by Business in the Community as: “The process by which a company manages, measures and reports on its commitment to improve its positive impact on society and the environment.”

It focuses on the three pillars:
• The economy
• Society
• The environment.

The TRADA Technology guide includes a section on issues specific to the timber, construction and furniture industries, including a sustainable procurement checklist for guidance. It also provides a handy table identifying ‘CSR issues, actions and measures’ – including waste and transport management, sustainable purchasing and packaging use – to help companies develop their own CSR plan.
Introduction to corporate social responsibility is available from the TRADA bookshop and costs £15.00 plus p&p for TRADA members and £25.00 plus p&p for non-members; visit www.trada.co.uk/Bookshop.

For more information on developing a CSR plan contact BM TRADA Certification; email enquiries@bmtrada.com.