CSR IN SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS : Developing sustainability in companies that are using toxic chemicals

The objective of the study was to find out how companies had implemented sustainable development into their businesses, and whether they were using it as a competitive advantage in their marketing. A qualitative research method was used by interviewing six companies. The commissioner of the thesis was Pietarsaaren Mekano Oy Jakobstads Mekano Ab who ordered the survey to find out how their safety system could be improved. Mekano was also one of the interviewed companies. The aim with the study was to highlight the possibilities of saving time and money by having implemented electronical systems in companies for handling safety sheets of toxic chemicals. The theoretical part consists of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable development and what they stand for. The overall policy and basic idea of both definitions were covered and the balance between the economic, environmental and social aspects were looked upon. How sustainability and sustainable marketing can affect the company profit was shortly described. Subjects such as Fairtrade, ecological economics and green thinking were included in the theoretical part to give a better understanding of what sustainable development is for the individual, even though they are more associated with B2C market instead of B2B market. Since Occupational Safety, risk analysis and First Aid are important parts of the Finnish companies today and are connected to the topic, they are briefly explained. The conclusion of the survey was that sustainable development is well integrated into companies’ businesses today. The bigger the company is and the more they are using dangerous substances, the better their safety systems and their staff education are. This goes hand in hand with whether the companies are using sustainable development as a marketing method and a competitive advantage. The smaller companies were positive to the possibilities of implementing better safety systems but they did not have the resources to make too big investments for, as they said, an internal matter. The smaller companies did not all agree that sustainability could be used as a marketing method and improve their profits