CSR in Practice: From Risk to Resilience and Value Creation

In a world where “business as usual” is no longer a viable strategy, companies are being called to lead with purpose. Impact experts Cécile Sevrain and Hedda Pahlson-Moller from TIIME delivered a powerful workshop exploring how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can evolve from a checkbox exercise into a transformative force for value creation.

The webinar opened with a stark reminder: according to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report, our planet is pressing against ecological and social boundaries. Against this backdrop, CSR is no longer a "nice to have", it's a survival imperative. Businesses must align their strategies with sustainability and impact principles, addressing not only environmental and economic factors, but also deep social responsibilities.

What Is CSR Today?

CSR is defined as the integration of social and environmental concerns into a company’s business operations and interactions with stakeholders. It is about moving from short-term profits to long-term value creation, balancing people, planet, and prosperity.

When done right, CSR leads to:

• Stronger stakeholder relationships
• Employee attraction and retention, especially among purpose-driven generations
• Operational efficiencies through resource optimisation
• Access to funding through ESG-aligned investments
• Resilience in the face of socio-environmental crises

Cécile presented some powerful examples like the one of Patagonia, which stands out as a purpose-led business: they’ve embedded environmental activism into their mission, pioneered fair labour practices, and restructured their ownership to ensure that profits combat climate change.

Similarly,the Laudes Foundation, emerging from C&A Foundation roots, has pushed boundaries in the fashion industry by championing ethical sourcing and sustainability throughout its history.

The TIIME Team laid out a clear, practical CSR roadmap for businesses of any size:

1. Engage: Identify key stakeholders (beyond shareholders) and initiate open communication.
2. Audit: Assess material risks and gaps; understand the regulatory and competitive landscape.
3. Plan: Set priorities with timelines, clear ownership, and strategic targets.
4. Monitor: Use data and KPIs to track impact and adapt as needed.

The toolkit includes practical steps across:

• Environmental action (e.g., carbon footprint assessments, energy efficiency)
• Social responsibility (e.g., DEI initiatives, employee well-being)
• Ethics and governance (e.g., whistleblower policies, anti-corruption measures)
• Responsible sourcing (e.g., supplier assessments, CSR contract clauses)

Participants were reminded that the journey begins with leadership commitment and a cultural shift. Companies must avoid falling into the traps of greenwashing, pinkwashing, or rainbow-washing. Authenticity, transparency, and humility are non-negotiables.

Later in the workshop, Attendees worked together to draft or improve CSR strategies for real or fictional organisations, identifying risks, setting priorities, and outlining actionable steps. This hands-on element turned theory into practice, emphasising that CSR is not just a department or a report, but a shared responsibility.

Download the presentation to have access to all the resources shared during the workshop.