Apple declared its goal to have a zero carbon footprint in all of its product manufacturing by 2030. In the same vein, Amazon says it will make half of its product deliveries carbon neutral by 2030.

We live in an era of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Now, companies are not just worried about making profits, but are also conscious that their customers are also looking at what voluntary activities and environmental actions are behind the products they purchase. Many companies are keenly aware of their social role, and environmental activities have become one of the major pillars of their CSR activities.

Corporate environmental activities range from introducing energy-saving equipment and prioritizing green energy, to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from factories and product transportation, as well as environmental protection activities to conserve forests and water. Clothing manufacturers recycle clothing collected from their stores and deliver them to refugee camps and disaster areas for reuse. A food manufacturer may go into forests to plant trees and cut underbrush to conserve forests and protect water sources. These activities can be considered CSR activities linked to their core business. On the other hand, activities by home electronics manufacturers to reduce marine plastic waste are not directly related to their core business. However, there is no doubt that taking a stand on environmental issues as a corporate stance will enhance corporate loyalty.

A company's CSR activities can be found by looking into each company's website. It will become very important for us to know how a company is tackling environmental issues as a criterion for selecting a company’s products.

episode 13
Choose Companies and Products that are Proactive on Environmental Issues