1. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-1-
Corporate social responsibility is not only a practice that is found in almost
every organization and company worldwide, but it is expected. It is defined as “a
commitment to improve community well-being through discretionary business
practices and contributions of corporate resources.” (Kotler). Cross-culturally, it is a
practice that is very highly regarded. I have researched corporate social
responsibility programs for clothing manufacturing companies, car companies and
super centers in Sweden, Japan and the United States. I have found that out of these
three countries, and nine corporations, there is not one country that is more
charitable than another. I found that the practice of corporate social responsibility
that each of these corporations support is universal. They place an equal amount of
importance among the different categories of responsible practices such as
environmental conservation, education, philanthropic endeavors, and community
engagement.
There are many pertinent trends of corporate social responsibility. Among
these are increased reporting of efforts, increased giving, and supporting corporate
objectives into the strategy. (Kotler). It is apparent that all of the companies I have
reviewed, in all three countries, have capitalized on all three of these categories.
These companies have followed the trend of increased reporting of their
efforts of “doing good.” They all have media rooms where they post press releases

2. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-2-
about their current projects. However, this is most apparent in the companies from
the United States. From my findings, U.S. corporations are more likely to promote
their efforts than corporations in either Sweden or Japan. Corporate social
responsibility efforts are also much more publicized today than in previous years. It
is unclear whether this is due to increased technology, or if this is just a trend and
companies are just trying to promote themselves and their efforts. When reviewing
past years of responsibility efforts, not much could be found before the mid-2000s.
The second trend which all three countries and all nine companies have
capitalized on has been increased giving. When reviewing their social responsibility
efforts in previous years, it is apparent that they have been much more charitable in
recent years. This is in part due to the fact that customers expect that large
corporations give back.
The third major trend which companies have capitalized on has been
incorporating corporate objectives into their strategy. An example of this is how
companies support promotional campaigns that relate to their products, such as
safe driving campaigns seen in the instance of Ford (Around the World). Another
example is how Wacoal has a whole campaign about breast cancer awareness and
holds conferences about breast cancer screening awareness and importance.
(Holdings, Wacoal).

3. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-3-
The three car companies I evaluated were Saab of Sweden, Honda of Japan,
and the Ford Motor Company of the United States. They each uphold corporate
social responsibility in the areas of education, philanthropy and the environment.
However, Ford had an additional category of Driving Safety campaigns. Across the
board, the general efforts for environment were that of reducing carbon dioxide
emissions, reducing the use of hazardous substances, as well as water and energy
conservation and reduction methods. All three of these companies promote
education through their scholarship programs, and provide assistance to
underprivileged schools. Saab’s philanthropic projects are that of natural disaster
relief, as well as investing in military operations and civilian airplanes. (Back
Matter). Honda of Japan’s philanthropic efforts are focused on donations to UNICEF,
and having regional traffic safety blocks. (Honda CSR Report 2013). Ford has more
extensive philanthropic efforts, which include supporting food banks for the hungry,
fundraisers for causes such as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, donating
vehicles to the DAV Transportation Network, disaster relief, and community
volunteer programs. (Around the World).
The three clothing companies I evaluated were Bjorn Borg of Sweden,
Wacoal of Japan, and American Apparel of the United States. Bjorn Borg of Sweden
takes on an environmental approach that includes a focus on water conservation
efforts, up cycling efforts, and energy reduction efforts. It partakes in community

4. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-4-
engagement, as demonstrated in its support of children and young adults in need,
and its support of the platform of AIDS. Bjon Borg has created an enormous AIDS
platform and donates a significant amount of money towards research. In addition,
Bjon Borg has a fundraiser to ensure healthcare and education for children. (Bjorn
Borg’s Corporate Social Responsibility). Wacoal of Japan supports corporate social
responsibility in the categories of human rights, labor practices, environmental
practices, as well as through philanthropic endeavors. The “Wacoal Action Plan”
promotes counter measures in response to falling birth rates, and even rewards
employees who “do good” in their communities. Environmentally, Wacoal supports
conservation efforts and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, and participates in a
bra recycling campaign, where bras may be used as fuel. Philanthropically, some of
its efforts include holding an annual art event where proceeds are donated to the
Japan Red Cross Society, and a public relations campaign for awareness of breast
cancer. (Holdings, Wacoal) American Apparel of America takes on the role of
political activist, and help causes that are important to the corporation, such as
immigration and gay rights. It also donates in-kind products and monetary
contributions in times of disaster, and ensures that its products are organic.
Environmentally American Apparel supports the efforts of reducing energy and
water usage, and creating renewable energy. (American Apparel).

5. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-5-
The super centers I looked into were IKEA of Sweden, Muji of Japan, and
Walmart from the United States. IKEA of Sweden’s practices include environmental
efforts in the form of running its stores on renewable energy. IKEA’s philanthropic
efforts are in the form of donating products in times of disaster, and donating to
charitable causes such as UNICEF and Save the Children. IKEA also donates to the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is responsible for preserving and preventing the
destruction of forests by placing restrictions on illegal logging. Educationally, IKEA
builds schools and preschools in areas of need. (2.0, IKEA). Muji of Japan only
partakes in environmental efforts such as minimal packaging and only uses bags
made out of recycled paper. Walmart’s efforts include environmental sustainability,
employee volunteering, nutrition public relations campaigns, military assistance,
and in-kind donations and grants. (Walmart’s Global Responsibility Report 2013).
According to Kotler, companies can “do good” in the ways of cause
promotions, cause-related marketing, corporate social marketing, community
volunteering, and through socially responsible business practices. Many of these
companies take on these efforts – for example, American companies like Walmart
and Ford have community volunteering days. Almost all of the companies I have
reviewed take on corporate social marketing through their awareness campaigns,
such as how Bjorn Borg of Sweden has an AIDS awareness platform (Bjorn Borg’s
Global Responsibility Report), and how Honda of Japan has a Regional Traffic Safety

6. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-6-
Blocks program where it provides education about road safety. All of the companies
take on socially responsible business practices through respecting the consumer
and through having environmentally friendly practices. Socially responsibly
business practices include, but are not limited to, energy conservation, water
reduction, and ensuring that fair labor and working practices are occurring.
The United States does not have any formal guidelines for corporate social
responsibility practices, unlike Sweden and Japan. However, consumers place an
expectation on corporations that they have practices that adhere to corporate social
responsibility. Social responsibility is crucial for establishing trust among
stakeholders, as well as a company’s primary way to improve support and create a
good reputation among consumers. (Forbes).
This greatly differs from Sweden, where there are greater governmental
regulations when it comes to corporate social responsibility practices. The
government demands that corporations have certain responsibility practices set in
place. The Swedish government places extra emphasis on the importance of
environmental initiatives as well as on human rights. (CSR in Sweden). This is
similar to Japan, where the Japanese Business Federation published a Charter of
Corporate Behavior in 1991 which demands the establishment of certain corporate
social responsibilities. (Demise).

7. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-7-
From my research, I have concluded that corporate social responsibility
efforts are not only beneficial to communities, but also necessary in the long run for
consumer satisfaction. However, corporate social responsibility is a grey area. There
are no distinct rules when it comes to how much a company should donate, or what
their platforms should be. The most successful platforms are ones that are
continued annually, and have been in practice for a while. This continuity results in
consumers seeing a commitment to sustainably practice in the long run, instead of
just taking on a cause on a temporary basis to put on a show.
What I have found is that culturally, corporate social responsibility initiatives
often reflect ideals and values in one’s culture. In Japan, there is a big emphasis
placed on education, as well as disaster relief. Education is something that the
Japanese culture deems to be of high importance in their society. This is significantly
reflected in their social responsibility effort – the companies I examined in Japan
each has several education reforms, such as supporting and promoting educational
programs in schools as well as contests for children’s ideas. Since Japan has been
recently hit by many natural disasters, a lot of the companies’ philanthropic efforts
have reflected significant support for disaster relief. The Japanese companies I
reviewed are very committed to donating to Japanese Red Cross Society which aids
in disaster relief.

8. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-8-
Sweden places a big emphasis on environmental reforms as well as human
rights. All three Swedish corporations I have reviewed have sustainable
environmental practices. With regard to human rights, the companies I reviewed,
such as Bjorn Borg, have several philanthropic efforts, which include a fundraiser
for healthcare and education for children, as well as an AIDS awareness platform.
In the United States, we place a significant emphasis on volunteering and
lending a helping hand. It is deeply embedded in our culture and is reflected in the
corporate social responsibility efforts seen throughout the companies I reviewed.
Many different United States companies have employee volunteer days, where
employees are required to do volunteer work in the community. Many United States
corporations, such as American Express and AT&T, often provide incentives for
employees to volunteer their time by providing work place rewards, and even paid
time off to do volunteer service work.
Cross-culturally based on my research, I have found that it does not matter
what country a corporation is from – be it Japan, Sweden, or the United States:
corporate socially responsibility efforts are necessary and expected from
consumers. However, educational, environmental as well as philanthropic efforts
are of upmost importance across all three societies. Although these nine companies
vary greatly in their products, they share the common goal of working towards
making the world a better place, through their philanthropic efforts as well as

9. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-9-
through their environmental approaches. Despite vast cultural differences, all of
these corporations want to resonate very well with consumers and make the world
a better place, but at the end of the day, they are all in the business of making money
and corporate profits remain paramount.

10. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-10-
Works Cited
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Dec. 2014.
Holdings, Wacoal, and Integrated Report 201. REACHING OUT (n.d.): n. pag. Wacoal
Holdings Corp., 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.

11. Alex Kofsky
Intern Paper
ProfessorMorosoff
December 11, 2014
Hofstra University
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Comparing Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Cross Culturally
-11-
"Honda CSR Report 2013." (n.d.): n. pag. Honda CSR Report 2013. Honda CO., Ltd, Sept.
2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
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Dec. 2014.
Sheeny. ECONOMICS PROJECT MUJI (n.d.): n. pag. Economics Report- MUJI. 2013. Web. 2
Dec. 2014.
"Walmart's Global Responsibility Report." Walmart's Global Responsibility Report. Walmart
Stores, Inc., 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.