At its core, corporate social responsibility admits that businesses are an integral part of society and that their actions directly impact the community. Indirectly, a company’s fortunes can pivot on these results. This is particularly true in lower-income countries.

A simple scenario illustrates the connection. If a food services business allows dangerous chemicals into their products, they risk sickening and killing their customers. Deceased people no longer have buying power, and customers made ill aren’t likely to return. By ignoring their social responsibility, the company harms the community while simultaneously reducing its future prospects.

On the other hand, doing the right thing, producing safe, wholesome food products, helps guarantee a broad and growing customer base. In this way, social responsibility is a way for private industries to secure future profits by contributing to the common good.