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today. At the present stage of human society development, a consumer‘s
consumption is no longer a simply individual act, but one that may have influence on
the whole society. Sending a signal by responsible consumption to a corporation,
consumers may refuse to buy products from a corporation that violates the law,
infringes employees‘ rights or causes pollution, even if that corporation provides
products with good quality and attractive prices. The consumers could in this way
force that corporation to perform its CSR.
Chinese consumers are more and more aware of self-protection in recent years.
Under the efforts made by various consumers‘ associations, a change is seen in the
consumption of Chinese consumers. For example, consumers are lodging different
complaints, and the claims for consumers‘ rights have also changed, with higher
CSR standards for corporations. According to an analysis by the China Consumers‘
Association on filed complaints received in 2006, there were more cases related to
personal dignity than in 2005, while the number of complaints about quality, prices,
quantity, safety, advertisements and counterfeit products was lowered. This is an
indication that consumers are becoming more right-oriented and having higher
standards for corporations. The consumers‘ CSR standards have been shifted from
―quality and quantity guarantee, genuine goods at a fair price‖ to ―trade of equality,
consumer‘s dignity‖. This, again, has pushed the CSR drive a great step forward.
China Reading Weekly: What role are corporations supposed to play in other links of
CSR chain (e.g. industrial associations) for a shared goal?
Liu Peng: Industrial organizations are indispensable in undertaking CSR, as is
proved in practices in other countries. Industrial organizations are well developed in
China. They are also playing an important role in propelling the undertaking of CSR
by corporations, mainly in the following aspects: helping corporations to establish an
orientation of social responsibility and advocating an active fulfillment; focusing on
legal and trust-based operation, continuous profit growth, quality, safety and
healthfulness of products and services, resource-saving and environmental
protection, technological advancement and independent innovation, safety
production, protection of employees‘ legal rights, and participation in social welfare
promotion. At the same time, the industrial organizations are also actively engaged
in formulating guidelines for social responsibilities of the industry and technical
principles, building the platform for undertaking CSR, carrying out related training
and publicity campaign, and supervising the writing and releasing of CSR reports.
Judged by practices from other countries, employers‘ or corporations‘ organizations
are also an important participant in promoting CSR fulfillment. Due to the special
status of employers‘ or corporations‘ organizations, they could be of great
importance in promoting CSR fulfillment and sustainable development.
Business partners also count. A business partner can be a supplier, a purchaser or a
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