GEF

Unit 10  |  Toward a Sustainable Future 224 Still, there are businesses that have corporate social respon- sibility (CSR) as a core principle. These companies define their success beyond just their monetary return to sharehold- ers and CEOs. These businesses value responsibility toward employees, communities, and the environment in addition to traditional profit-making. Even shareholders are pushing publicly-traded companies to improve their environmental and social performance through socially responsible investing (SRI) . SRI is an investment strat- egy in which individuals, organizations, and governments invest in socially screened funds that promote environmental and social ethics. According to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, SRI investing grew 929 percent—a 13.1 percent com- pounded annual growth rate—between 1995 and 2014. Businesses will continue to employ differing strategies with regards to sustainability. At times, some companies will find it advantageous to continue destructive but profitable behavior, while others will center their activities on sustainable practices. Frequently, businesses will employ a mix of strategies that enable them to meet their core goal of profit making while also keeping an eye on improving their public image and anticipat- ing future developments in sustainability. Many businesses value responsibility toward employees, communities, and the environment in addition to traditional profit making. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) A form of corporate self-regulation in which businesses strive to meet environmental or social goals beyond their primary mission to earn profits. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING (SRI) A set of investment strate- gies that promote desirable outcomes beyond monetary return on investment, such as investing in renewable energy.