Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged from buzz-word status and a growing trend in the workplace to its current standing as a common organizational adherence. It is a concept whereby an organization takes responsibility for the impact of its activities on employees, stakeholders, the local community, the environment, and society at large. CSR is no longer reserved for dogooder organizations with the resources to pour into sustainability practices. Instead, it is a necessary strategy for remaining competitive in the market, meeting industry best practices, and even attracting and retaining young talent.

In a September 2008 report, human capital research firm Catalyst identified "understanding corporate social responsibility" as one of the six workplace trends that organizations must adopt to succeed in the near future.

New CSR roads are being paved in 2009 in response to the tumultuous economy. Social action network change.org purports that clean technology may be the one recession-proof industry. The bulk of the government's proposed 2009 economic stimulus package will support electricity transmission and energy efficient infrastructure projects. Coined "The Green Recovery," this legislation will serve as a solution to, rather than victim of, the bleak economic outlook. Resources toward sustainability initiatives may be easier than ever for organizations to secure.

Terry Tamminen, former chief policy advisor for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and operating advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisors (which focuses on innovative clean-tech companies), forecasts that virtual meetings, zero waste, and sustainability labels will arise as the top sustainability trends in 2009.

Tamminen predicts that webinars will replace seminars, and phone and video conferences will eliminate the need for face-to-face meetings, or even some conferences and expos. Zero waste simply means no tolerance for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, which are known not only for their toxic effects on the environment, but also for their poisonous impact on an organization's reputation. Finally, sustainability labels will provide consumers with information on a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, materials used, and miles traveled. Wal-Mart and Tesco are among the organizations leading the way in the creation of these labels.

Additional high-profile organizations, many of them recognized for their leadership in learning, convened at the CFO Green Conference in March 2008. Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Dell, and Office Depot were among the organizations represented by the 60 executives who met to learn how corporate sustainability affects customers, shareholders, and employees, and what necessary CSR practices to implement in the future. "Our environmental stewardship is integral to the way we do business. It is not an aside, or an add-on; it is core to the way we behave," says Michael Monahan, chief financial officer of Pitney Bowes.

Join these executives in mastering corporate social responsibility behavior in 2009. This column is designed to keep you in tune with the CSR climate in the workplace. Check back bimonthly to read about the latest CSR standards, trends, and case studies, and to ensure that your learning organization is on the front lines of the sustainability movement.