Unfortunately, many profit sector organizations expect that their social responsibility ends with depositing a donation into a charity's account or even by handing a "check" to a representative of that charity or volunteer team!

But social responsibility is much bigger than that; it starts with your interest in saving on office lighting and the amount of paper used. I also remember that in one of my meetings with (the sustainability manager of a holding company), they told me that the company implements sustainability and social responsibility standards comprehensively. They mentioned an example that still lingers in my mind: they have a company specialized in ready-mix concrete that had a contract with one of the large construction projects to supply concrete, and there were dozens of concrete trucks heading to the project, sometimes waiting for hours with the engine running and the driver inside, causing pollution. The sustainability department, which handles social responsibility in the company, intervened and provided the drivers with ready-made air-conditioned rooms as a waiting area until it's their turn to unload the concrete. This approach provides them with comfort, saves the company fuel costs when the driver waits in the truck, and reduces the pollution that might occur from the exhaust of the concrete trucks!

In this practice, the company successfully protected three parties: the driver, the environment, and its expenses!

How much we need such a comprehensive and integrated mindset in social responsibility to shift from cashing "checks" to quality projects that achieve sustainability and save profit sector organizations financially.

Hilal bin Hussein Al-Qurashi

Editor-in-Chief of the Third Bank