Introduction:

           Corporate social responsibility of a business organization has the potentiality to manage the climate change challenges. To make the earth a better place for living, every business organization has the responsibility to address the challenges of climate change. Adidas, one of the largest business organizations of the world, has taken initiatives to address the challenges of the climate challenge. This article is relevant because this article discusses the actions made by Adidas Company to manage the climate change issue, which can influence other companies. The stakeholder of this company who will get benefit from this initiative is society, community. This initiative of Adidas will create an impact on its stakeholders. In this paper, the article published by Forbes will be analyzed to understand the CSR initiative of Adidas.

Discussion:

           ‘Adidas aims to eliminate virgin plastic use by 2024’ is published by Forbes in 2019, which addresses the negative impact of virgin plastic (Forbes India, 2019). This article has discussed the role of Adidas Company to manage the issues of ocean plastic pollution issue as a part of climate change. The report of Ellen McArthur, published in the World Economic Forum, was referred to in this article, developed by Forbes, which stated that by 2050, there would be more plastic in the ocean rather than fish (Forbes India, 2019). Dumping plastic in the sea is creating a complicated situation in the sea, as several incidents of dead whale are founded due to plastic. To manage climate change issues, eliminating single-use plastic is necessary. Adidas Company has taken initiatives to manage plastic pollution as a part of the CSR policy of the company. This organization is interested in eliminating the use of single-use plastic. To do that, this organization has taken several steps which are prohibiting the use of plastic in every outlet of the company, producing products through recycling. This article addresses the recycling initiatives of this company. Adidas Company launched UltraBoost Parley as an initiative to reduce ocean pollution. This program developed footwear from recycled ocean plastic. This organization enhances the global business by making the sale of one million sports shoes made from recycled ocean plastic. Matthias Amm, senior product director of this company, has clarified the approach of the company. This organization is interested in maximizing its production of footwear, made from recycled ocean plastic, to create a positive impact on the ecology. This initiative will help the company to reduce plastic through recycling and promote awareness of recycling. This initiative of Adidas is a different but positive approach to manage plastic pollution. Other business organizations can follow this type of plan to manage climate change.

           The stage of CSR of Adidas can be identified as strategic CSR. Through the strategic CSR approach, a business organization relates its primary business activities to manage its CSR responsibilities (Grayson & Hodges, 2017). Adidas is interested in following sustainable development through its CSR activities. Through recycled ocean plastic waste, this organization started producing footwear (adidas-group.com, 2019). This initiative is taken by the organization to manage ocean pollution issues and climate change issues. This organization modified its business operation strategically to control the climate change issue.

           Adidas Company modified its business operation to fight with climate change issues and ocean pollution issues. The values of this company are performance, passion, integrity, and diversity. The management team of this business organization ensures that the strategic approach of the company aligns with the mission, vision of the company. As a leading business organization, this company prioritizes the climate change problem and ocean pollution problem. After addressing the issue, the management team of this company taken initiatives like the reuse of recycled plastic, eliminate the usage of single-use plastic and take actions to prevent ocean plastic pollution (Crane, Matten & Spence, 2019).

           Based on this article and discussion, it can be said that becoming a customer or employee of this company will help a human being to contribute to the earth. Initiative taken by this company are prepared to resolve the climate change issue and ocean plastic pollution (Rahim, 2014). As an employee, a person can contribute to these initiatives. Alternatively, as a customer, a person can help with the development of the earth by using footwear made from recycled ocean plastic waste.

Conclusion:

           This discussion can be concluded in this way that this article discussed the approach of Adidas Company towards the climate change issue. Ocean plastic pollution is one of the most devastating pollutions of this world, which creates an adverse impact on the oceans, and the lives of the marines. This organization has addressed the ocean plastic pollution issues adequately, and innovatively, Adidas Company is trying to manage the problem.

References:

adidas-group.com. (2019). ADIDAS TO PRODUCE MORE SHOES USING RECYCLED PLASTIC WASTE IN 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019, from https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2019/adidas-to-produce-more-shoes-using-recycled-plastic-waste/

Crane, A., Matten, D., & Spence, L. (Eds.). (2019). Corporate social responsibility: Readings and cases in a global context. Routledge.

Forbes India. (2019). Adidas aims to eliminate virgin plastic use by 2024 | Forbes India. Retrieved 14 December 2019, from http://www.forbesindia.com/article/sustainability-special/adidas-aims-to-eliminate-virgin-plastic-use-by-2024/53969/1

Grayson, D., & Hodges, A. (2017). Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.

Rahim, M. M. (2014). The impact of corporate social responsibility on corporate governance: The rise of standardization of CSR principles. In Corporate social responsibility in the global business world (pp. 93-113). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.