Corporate Social Responsibility- Philip Morris

Corporate Social Responsibility has always interested in me and after researching Phillip Morris' efforts to act socially I am impressed with their their initiatives even though I am do not support their product, I do support their CSR programs.

Philip Morris is the largest cigarette manufacturer in the United States. Their brands include Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, Basic and L&M. Since their product is addictive and causes a multitude of health problems, Philip Morris realizes the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility. On the PM website there is plenty of information on what they are doing to be socially responsible and I will highlight five of their seven initiatives: help reduce underage tobacco use, support cessation, invest in communities, reduce environmental impact and engage with business partners.

The effort I found most interesting was their initiative to prevent underage tobacco use and the creation the Youth Tobacco Prevention Department. The department focuses on three areas; parent communication, grant programs and youth access prevention. PM creates and provided resources for parents that assist them in talking to their kids about not using tobacco products. The grant programs of PM provide grants to schools, school districts and youth-serving organizations to support positive youth development and healthy alternatives for kids. PM also supports the “We Card” program in efforts to reduce underage tobacco use.

I think PM's take on CSR is summed up perfectly in this statement on their website, “There are some who believe that a company that makes a dangerous product cannot be responsible. We believe that responsibility is defined not only by the products a company makes but also the actions it takes.”

Check out their responsibility page here for more information on all 7 of their initiatives!