Teenage environmentalist Greta Thunberg has donated her recent one-million-euro prize for winning the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity to various environmental groups. The well-known campaigner is staying true to her aims and doing everything she can to help the cause she believes in. 

But, while it might seem like the most natural thing in the world for Thunberg to donate such a considerable sum to the cause she has become so well-known for, it’s not always so easy for businesses to make the right choices in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) choices.

Help is at hand for CSR policy development

The idea of a social conscience comes across as relatively new in the world of business. Still, it’s been around for longer than you might think. Some few firms took a stance on social responsibility in the 1970s. Then, from the 1990s more firms began to feel the pull of giving back, until the present day where awards are given for well developed and executed CSR policies and global forums discuss how big business can do more.

While Euromoney’s annual awards now commend financial institutions who have worthy CSR’s, Forbes runs philanthropy in business summit every year. Although the 2020 event took place online due to Covid-19 restrictions, it remained a hotbed of ideas on how firms could move ahead with their social responsibilities, including different communities who would benefit from some targeted support.

Аccording to IBTimes, international business investor and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Finstar Financial Group, Oleg Boyko, was among the 200 invited philanthropist attendees of the recent Forbes 400 summit.

Oleg Boyko is well-known for his shrewd investment decisions and also, for his philanthropic tendencies. The investor founded the Parasport Foundation in 2006 and through it, provides financial assistance for the physical rehabilitation, social adaptation and equal opportunities for para-athletes and non-athletes suffering from physical and sensory impairments.

Businessman Boyko’s passion for CSR through his foundation has not faded. In 2020, 14 years after beginning the foundation, he helped provide much-needed support for over 2,000 para-athletes, representing 28 different sports, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the Parasport Foundation, Boyko provided medical-grade masks and gloves along with other forms of targeted assistance for those in need across 35 regions of Russia.

“The idea of giving back to communities in need has always appealed to me and as soon as I was in a position to do that I founded the Parasport Foundation and have continued supporting it for over a decade,” Oleg Boyko said. “I am pleased to see more and more companies and business leaders are also taking steps into developing real CSR programs which will bring many benefits to communities around the world.”

Growing appetite for CSR among big businesses

Since 2006, there have been a lot of businesses around the world who have understood the need to give back and acted upon it. In 2015, BNP Paribas rebooted its CSR policy and embedded the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across its business. That’s something that was recognized in the 2020 Euromoney awards for excellence.

Meanwhile, tech giant Apple has a wide-ranging approach to CSR. It has been supporting education initiatives for almost 20 years while also regularly upgrading its environmental targets including recently working towards becoming a carbon-neutral business by 2023 – and also helping and encouraging its entire supply chain to do the same.

For businesses who often think about developing their CSR policies but don’t feel as though they can do enough to help just yet, stop putting it off. There are so many communities who need help and support and a plethora of ways to give it to them. Seize the day and take that first step. The communities you choose to help will benefit, as will your business.  

One of the largest areas of the health and wellness market is the supplement industry. These days, there is a supplement for almost anything. Whether you want to maintain your health, improve your sleep, feel more energised or manage certain health conditions, you will most likely be able to find a supplement to help you. Taking supplements is an easy and affordable fix to supporting the health of individuals, which is why they are so popular. 

The popularity and versatility of the supplement industry tempt many people to start their own business in this field. Before starting any business, market research is key, so if you are thinking about going into the supplement industry, here are 4 things you need to know and understand before you get started. 

Your Potential Audience

Identifying your potential audience is crucial for any business to succeed and is something you should do before setting yours up in the supplement industry. First, you need to know which generations take supplements the most. This will help you to market your business correctly. If you are planning on selling certain types of supplements, you need to know who takes what supplement and how much money it makes in order to succeed. While many people re tempted to target their business towards younger generations, older generations usually need and use supplements more, so it is worth doing what you can to market to those individuals too. 

Most Popular Supplements

If you are choosing to sell particular supplements, then stocking at least one popular supplement is a good idea, as this will get people interested in your business. The most popular supplement category is by far vitamins and minerals. These supplements are simple, easily accessible and uncomplicated. People know that taking these supplements will fill vital gaps in their nutrition and support their health, which can appear in the most healthy and balanced diets. The top five supplements in this category include B complex, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D and the most popular, multivitamins. 

Understanding Specialty Supplements

As well as knowing the most popular supplement category, making yourself aware of the top specialty supplements is important too. This is important because specialty supplements are the next most popular category after vitamins and minerals. Just like vitamins and minerals, specialty supplements are fairly straightforward and accessible; however, when it comes to achieving certain goals and levels of health, specialty supplements are more specific and give you that extra support that you know you need to improve your health. The top five specialty supplements are omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, probiotics, CoQ10 and digestive enzymes. 

Types of Capsules 

Knowing the different supplements that people want is the first step, but in order to make a product people want and to be successful, you need to understand the different types of capsules. Both capsules and tablets are very popular and they both work by transporting the supplement to your body via your digestive tract. However, they both have pros and cons. If you choose to distribute your supplements in capsules, then you should go for empty capsules in the most popular sizes. You should also look into gelatin-free capsules, as this will encourage those with specific diets to purchase supplements from your business instead of others. 

There are many aspects of the supplement industry that you need to know before you start up a business in this area. Having a basic understanding and a passion for the industry will make it easier for your business to stand out and succeed in this competitive field, which is the ultimate goal for any entrepreneur.