Thomas Donaldson, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics and of Philosophy, defines corporate social responsibility as a concern for the well being of non-owners and a commitment to integrity, fairness and respect for people in communities. Studies have shown that a sound ethical reputation helps companies hire and retain better employees who are loyal to the company; customers and suppliers are also drawn to companies with strong ethical reputations (Donaldson, 2005). Companies who do the right thing, because it is the right thing, gain the most benefit financially (Donaldson, 2005). It is no surprise to find that Ethisphere's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies is full of powerful and successful companies all over the world (2013). .
Does the company have a stated CSR policy?.
Starbucks was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2012 (Ethisphere, 2013). In a nation where corporate social responsibility is becoming the expectation of consumers, Starbucks is striving to enact its own CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, guidelines for bettering stakeholders in its communities (Starbucks, 2013). The company has been working with NGOs, non-governmental organizations, since the early 1990's, and it made great progress in social responsibility when it teamed with Global Exchange in 2000 to start selling Fair Trade coffee (Reis, 2009). The company has a long, documented history of social responsibility; Starbucks published its first Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report in 2002 (Reis, 2009). This report highlights the company's progress toward its goals that are set the year before. .
Starbucks has created its own policy for corporate social responsibility, and it entails many aspects of caring for stakeholders. The company's slogan, "One person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time, "envelops the ideas of Starbucks' corporate social responsibility policy (2013).