Background

A business has a legal and ethical responsibility to act in a responsible way. The term corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate citizenship are often used to describe the broad social, economic and environmental responsibilities a business has to the wider environment.

Organisations need to examine day-to-day operations for opportunities to improve the conservation of resources. This means not only considering the immediate impact of business operations, but the long-term impact that its systems and processes have on the natural world. A sustainability policy needs a scope, framework and clearly defined actions, etc., but how do the frameworks, standards and legal requirements all fit together?

Frameworks

To help with policy development and work out what your policy needs in it, you can use a framework. Typically, large companies such as those that are publicly listed will use a framework. 

Tasks

This assessment requires you to research BHP Billiton ‘s sustainability policy and identify the framework used from the list below: 

• GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)

• TBL (Triple bottom line)

• CERES

• Natural Step.

Research and discuss which framework BHP Billiton uses. Discuss the positive and negative points of using such framework by BHP Billiton. How does it help Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of BHP Billiton? What is the policy development challenges of BHP Billiton using such framework? If BHP Billiton uses other sustainability frameworks, what would be the possible positive and negative points. 

Criteria

Ensure you (discuss):

- Provide a clear Introduction where you state your point of view.

- Use the Body of the essay to identify and apply relevant management theories and address your point of view.

o Be sure to address all aspects of the criteria within your essay. You must sequence the flow of ideas/arguments to present a coherent and justified opinion.

o Research sustainability framework of the example company. Ensure you define the key parts of the framework.

o Why would a company use this framework and how does it help policy development of the company?

o Use the list of sustainability frameworks provided and discuss if the example company uses other sustainability frameworks, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of using such framework (include theoretical justification of the arguments you make).

o Use at least 3 academic sources to justify the arguments included within the essay (you are encouraged to use as many as possible).

- Provide a clear Conclusion restating your key arguments and point of view.

- Full 'in-text' referencing citing at least five academic sources and a Reference list using the Harvard referencing style.