Sustainability planning and implementation strategies

Sustainability Plan

Like many companies today, Cadbury Chocolate started issuing case studies in 2008 over concerns raised over chocolate picked in the Ivory Coast that made use of child slave labor. However, in addition to the issue of the child labor, it opened a wicket of other issues that many corporations have to deal with in terms of dealing with ethical issues, sustainable technology and taking into consideration the opinions of people who were not considered stakeholders previously (such as customers and employees).

To the outside observer, this may seem to have been unnecessary. However, one must examine the issues of sustainability and responsible corporate management to understand Cadbury's strategy.

Polling and incorporating those opinions is critical to establishing a basis for establishing and executing company plans. Without considerations of sustainability, it is now becoming impossible for companies to continue with anything resembling what could be considered normal. In such planning is considered a triad of economic justice, environmental responsibility and social justice considerations. In this structure, corporate sustainability is directly linked with sustainable development in the developing world.

Compliance with commitments made by a corporation shows commitment. The more compliance the better in capturing the moral high ground of the market in which a corporation is competing.

This type of moral capital allows companies to exercise more that just a moral high ground in the outside market. It also alters the corporate culture inside the corporation. It provides a need for less hierarchical approach to running a company. Instead, those in the company find themselves wanting to be a part of the organization because that feel good about the company that they work at. They feel that their company is responsible and this fuels this added employee commitment to the company and its profitability. However, this comes at a trade-off. With less hierarchical structure, it requires an increased level of training of employees.

These issues are less random than may appear to be the case at first glance. The International Organization on Standards is working on regulations that will standardize conditions on human rights, labor practices, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement and awareness. These standards translate into fair labor practices. Also, they highlight standards for human rights for all parties concerned in the corporation's dealings in a particular country. This includes corporate relations with the local government and society, especially with regard to anti-corruption issues, responsible involvement in the local politics, the promotion of social responsibility in the country in question, in the corporation's sphere of influence and respect for local property rights.

The ISO standards also translate into local consumer protections that promote fair trade, safety standards, sustainable consumption standards, consumer data and privacy standards, access to essential services to enjoy these rights and consumer awareness and education to empower local consumers. This builds local community awareness to bring about this reality. This includes the local community outside of government, non-governmental organizations and other associations in the local country. Individuals with no association are also covered by similar ISO standards.

All of this translates into the implementation of ISO standards that will help the company manage employees and other stakeholders including management of environmental, social responsibility energy management systems. This is so that the company's sustainability protocols can be carried out. In this way, the company's employees and business practices can be properly managed to support the sustainability plan and goals.