Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study

Case Title:

Fairtrade: Social Responsibility Lessons for the Corporate

Abstract:
Fair trade has evolved over the years as an alternate trade model. Its main objective is to e radicate poverty by empowering the producers and workers who are deprived of profits. With non-profit organisations, other suppliers and traders forming fairtrade organisations, the entire supply chain is committed towards equity in international trade. Globalisation has created markets for fairly traded products across the globe. But, like conventional products, fair trade products experience the threats of market place such as competition, elasticity of demand and supply, etc. Corporate involvement in fairtrade is evident as more and more companies are introducing the concepts of fairtrade in their business. While corporates support an open international trade, fair trade supports equity in international trade. Whether fair trade will have an impact on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and bring in the balance between social responsibility and for-profit business – are to be seen.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To understand the concept of fairtrade
• To study the growing importance of CSR in the global business
• To determine the action plans to improve CSR initiatives and if fairtrade would succeed in making corporates socially responsible.

Keywords :  Fairtrade, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Fairtrade Premium, Community Solidarity, Case Study