Introduction
A sustainable business satisfies the current requirements without infringing the capability of future generations to meet their desires. Doing so involves environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and economic viability. CSR is a concept that deals with a company’s responsibility to consider the societal implications of its activities and to be proactive in promoting the welfare of local communities. The current business environment, which is dynamic, is showing more recognition of the relevance and necessity of sustainability and CSR in business. Consumers, workers, investors, and other partners want businesses that make ethics and responsibility the pillars of their businesses. Firms that blend sustainable and CSR principles into their operations are most likely to acquire and retain the best talent and outdo their competitors and gain long-term success.
This report concentrates on Just Eat, an international corporation. Its goal is to examine how Just Eat’s sustainability is determined by its CSR behaviours, policies, and practices. The report commences with a general introduction about Just Eat, which elaborates on its global presence and the CSR policy that it subscribes to. It also gives illustrations of the fact that Just Eat’s CSR approaches help the company’s development towards a sustainable future. Moreover, it examines Just Eat’s CSR rating against other firms in the food delivery industry and evaluates the factors contributing to that ranking. Furthermore, the report reviews the corporate actions that have defined the company’s current CSR achievements. It finishes with a consideration of the problems Just Eat experiences in meeting people’s expectations towards CSR.
1.2 Overview of Just Eat Company Plus its CSR
Just Eat is one of those companies focused on providing online food delivery services, and its headquarters is in London, UK. It offers a way for customers to interact with local restaurants that provide diverse options through its online platform. As per existing literature, the company operates in 24 countries and has increased its market penetration to 580,000 restaurants globally (Kaur, 2021). Not only does this company make it easy for its clients to order fast and conveniently, but it also promotes responsible business behaviour through its CSR strategy.
The CSR policy that Just Eat is committed to promotes sustainability and ethics in its operations. As a company that is highly associated with the food industry, Just Eat appreciates the impact that its operations on the environment can have. Consequently, the company has initiated steps to cut down its carbon footprint through the use of electric bikes and bicycles for the delivery of food in specific restaurants and by encouraging the use of reusable packages (Just Eat, 2020). In the countries where it operates, Just Eat partners with local charities and NGOs. This aspect means providing volunteer services and financial support, which enables addressing some of the social problems in those communities.
Besides, Just Eats’s CSR policy is committed to diversity and inclusion. The firm regards diversity as an important tool in creating a joyful and diverse work environment and a good instrument in the marketplace (Just Eat Takeaway.com, 2021). Just Eat has rolled out a range of diversity initiatives, including the Women in Tech program, which aims to raise the number of women in technology positions within the organization. Also, the organization partners with organizations supporting underrepresented groups in the food industry.
Lastly, Just Eat’s CSR policy includes relationships with its collaborative restaurants. The company has developed a set of guidelines and training programs that are used to ensure its associated restaurants operate within ethical and responsible guidelines. Doing so involves promoting equitable handling of workers and certifying food security and quality for the clients (Just Eat, 2024). Besides, Just Eat supports its partner restaurants by giving them access to resources and supporting them to enhance their operations.
2.0 Explain How CSR Contributes to Just Eat Future Sustainability with Examples Where Appropriate
As related to CSR, Just Eat is a food delivery platform originating from the UK that links customers and local restaurants. Regarding Just Eat’s future sustainability, one way CSR contributes to that is through its efforts to mitigate adverse environmental effects. This organization has set itself high goals to get to net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2040. It uses eco-friendly packaging, and the restaurants it partners with are encouraged to do the same (Just Eat, 2020). Just Eat in Spain, for example, has worked with an organization that produces sugarcane-based biodegradable packaging. These attempts are aimed at reducing the company’s carbon footprint and contributing to the fight against climate change, which means that a sustainable future could be preserved.
Another major aspect of CSR that would help Just Eat as a company sustain itself is the fact that it pays keen attention to community development. Just Eat has a “ Meal Appeal campaign,” an initiative which encourages its clients to raise money for Just Eat’s charity partners to feed the needy in society. One example is where Just Eat worked with FoodCycle and Social Bite, a charity that channels food and other help to the needy (Just Eat Takeaway.com, 2023). Such an initiative ensures that food waste is reduced and assists in solving the issue of food insecurity, thereby helping to establish a more sustainable society.
Furthermore, Just Eat’s refusal to opt for any unethical business practice, including non-transparent activity, ensures its long-term sustainability. The company has a Code of Conduct document highlighting its expectations of workers and partners linked to human rights, health conditions, and natural sustainability (Just Eat Takeaway, 2023). Additionally, Just Eat regularly audits its suppliers to observe conformity with the standards set. Such an ethical approach ensures that the company’s reputation is appropriate and the client’s loyalty and trustfulness are maintained, hence achieving long-term sustainability.
Furthermore, this food delivery company participates in diversity and inclusion as part of its CSR programs. The firm has a Diversity and Inclusion Council, which has set targets to raise the number of women and minority groups in senior positions. The culture of diversity reinforces an inclusive atmosphere in the workplace and creates a stronger and more sustainable organization in the long term (Just Eat Takeaway.com, 2021). Furthermore, Just Eat’s CSR initiatives stretch as far as responsible sourcing, particularly concerning food safety and quality. The firm has developed the Food Essentials Scheme, which trains restaurant partners in food safety, allergen management, and hygiene. Thus, Just Eat sets up a system of certifications that guarantees that the food delivered meets certain standards, bringing health and safety to its customers and helping it create a sustainable future.
ESG Ranking of Just Eat Company in Its Industry Against Competitors
Based on the available literature, the ESG rating methodology of Just Eat is 60, which puts it in a good position within its sector. This aspect shows that Just Eat has partial efficiency, and the ethical practices back this up, but it is still trailing behind its rivals regarding overall ESG performance (CSRHub, 2024). Thus, Just Eat’s ranking shows that it might need to improve its sustainability and ethical practices to keep up with the competition in the industry and attract environmentally conscious customers and investors.
3.1 Reasons Behind Ranking
Various factors contribute to the environmental, social and governance ranking of this company. Just Eat’s ranking as one of the highest in terms of environmental factors is due to its efforts towards waste reduction and investment in renewable energy. Through policies, Just Eat has reduced food waste in its supply chain, for instance, through partnerships with food-waste redistribution organizations that give surplus food to the needy. Doing so has a dual beneficial effect on the environment as less food gets wasted while greenhouse gas emissions are reduced (Just Eat, 2020). Also, such an initiative handles social issues, particularly food insecurity. Lastly, the company is committed to sourcing renewable energy for its function in the UK, helping lessen the greenhouse gases it produces.
On social factors, Just Eat adopted several policies and programs to attain diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being. The organization works to build a diverse community and has initiatives that assist with and promote gender and racial equity (Glassdoor, 2024). Just Eat offers flexible working schemes, mental health help, and employee wellness programs. These practices, when carried out, create a good work culture and enable the organization to attract and retain the right kind of staff. The ethical standards of Just Eat organization do not end within its boundaries of direct interaction with suppliers and partners. It supports fair and ethical practices throughout its supply chain.
From the perspective of governance factors, this organization can be described as a company with solid corporate governance and transparent reporting systems. The company provides stakeholders with information on its ESG performance and goals through the regular publication of comprehensive sustainability reports. In addition, Just Eat has a clear Code of Conduct that shows its dedication to honesty in business and, therefore, calls for the accountability of its employees and partners (Just Eat Takeaway, 2023). Just Eat’s dedication to good governance principles is demonstrated by this degree of accountability and openness, which also helps explain why the company has a high CSR ranking.
4.0 Description of Specific Examples of Corporate Actions Resulted in Just Eat Current CSR Performance
In the past few years, Just Eat has devoted itself to the realm of CSR to improve its performance. The current initiatives have been inspired by various corporate actions that have realized positive outcomes both for the company and for all its stakeholders. One such corporate action that helped to increase Just Eat’s CSR performance is the creation of its Sustainability Strategy. First introduced back in 2017, this strategy provides the company with the direction regarding minimizing its footprint on the environment and helping to establish an ecological approach in the food industry (Packaging Europe, 2023). As part of the strategy, the company has started initiatives to reduce its carbon footprints and promote a more environmentally friendly way of delivering food. These initiatives include electric vehicle fleets and reusable packaging options.
Additionally, diverse and inclusive cultures move this organization’s CSR on the way up. This commitment to diversification has been reflected in their workforce, with programs supporting their journey through the organization from recruitment to retention and development (Just Eat Takeaway.com, 2021). Doing so has led to the development of a more inclusive working environment within the firm.
In addition, Just Eat has demonstrated a commitment to fostering community relationships and supporting charitable causes. For instance, the company created the ‘Meal Appeal Campaign’, which was meant to offer support to vulnerable and needy individuals. Doing so involves programs like donating meals to food banks and collaborating with charities to provide front-line support to those in distress (Shutes, 2022). These efforts have given Just Eat a positive image as a socially responsible company.
Another notion is that Just Eat has been actively seeking a way to be more sustainable and ethical towards society and the environment. Such an aspect involves initiatives encouraging responsible sourcing of ingredients and reducing food waste through cooperation with local food banks and charities (Just Eat, 2024). In addition, they have put in several controls to keep the safety and fair treatment of the gig economy workers in check. For example, distribution of personal protective equipment and collaboration with organizations to train and guide their delivery drivers.
5.0 Does Just Eat Approach to CSR Influence Your Purchasing Decisions? Why or Why Not?
The way Just Eat is supporting the CSR attitude does impact my purchasing decisions. As a socially responsible business, Just Eat understands and respects the impact that it makes on society and, therefore, puts in the effort to bring positive change through its practices (Just Eat, 2024). It has plans and activities associated with environmental sustainability, health and nutrition, and ethical business undertakings. One of the key reasons why Just Eat’s commitment to CSR affects the way I shop is that I think that companies are not only responsible for their profits, but they also must act morally and do good to society. Being an aware consumer, I will support a company that shares the same values and shows its commitment to social responsibility.
Regarding keeping the world environmentally sustainable, Just Eat has acted to lower its carbon footprint by supporting environment-friendly packaging solutions and clean energy (Just Eat, 2021). Such an aspect is important for me as I always seek out opportunities that allow me to negate my negative impact on the environment. I find it reassuring that by ordering from Just Eat, I am in a position where I can now support a company that is committed to green practices. In addition, Just Eat’s focus on healthy eating and nutrition affects my decision-making. Through implementing policies, the company takes care to promote healthier food options and provide nutrition information to people. Because of being health-conscious, my efforts to eat healthy food are made easier by the initiative taken by Just Eat to help me make informed choices about the types of food I order.
Finally, the ethical business approach of Just Eat is another reason affecting my choice of the place to purchase from. The organization has procedures to prevent the unfair treatment of its staff and associates, fight against inequalities and support diversity and inclusiveness. As a customer, I want to promote businesses that value treating partners and staff fairly and with respect (Workday BrandVoice, 2019).
6.0 Explain the Challenges of Just Eat in Meeting Societal Expectations for CSR
Just Eat organization has experienced various obstacles in meeting societal expectations for CSR. Lately, there has been a rise in social responsibility expectations from companies, and they are now meant to focus on issues such as sustainability, diversity, and community engagement, among others. Just Eat has attempted to address these worries, but the company has had issues meeting contemporary community standards.
Among these issues, the main challenge for Just Eat is that it hurts the environment. The company’s primary business model is food delivery to consumers’ homes, which results in higher emissions of greenhouse gasses and increases the amount of waste (Foodom, 2022). Even though Just Eat has introduced measures involving the implementation of recyclable packaging, the environmental impact of the volume of orders has become difficult to minimize. Such an issue has provoked complaints from green organizations and customers who view the company as being unthinking in its approach to sustainability. Just Eat has also been accused of food waste by some restaurants that work with them, which demonstrates the challenge it has in becoming an environmentally responsible entity.
Besides, the treatment of workers, especially drivers, is another challenge this organisation faces to meet its CSR’s societal expectations. The current model of the ‘gig economy’, which Just Eat is part of, is under criticism for the exploitation of workers and the job insecurity created (Jackson, 2023). Just Eat’s drivers have itched legal suits and protests because they receive scanty payments and have no access to employment benefits. These fears have put tremendous pressure on the company to improve the drivers’ working conditions and provide decent wages and benefits to them. However, its business model limits this aim, making it difficult for Just Eat to sort out.
Lastly, this organization has been experiencing some challenges in fulfilling the needs of society to engage in communities. The corporation has been criticized for its inadequate transparency and accountability in interaction with the local communities. Just Eat is sometimes accused of harming small businesses and destroying local economies in some contexts by making restaurants pay extra fees and taking most of their profits (Sullivan, 2017). This aspect has resulted in the call for greater compliance and ethical conduct from the business entity.
7.0 Conclusion
Just Eat is a multinational firm that has been quite successful in embedding sustainability and CSR in its framework. The company’s various initiatives and policies intend to mitigate environmental, social, and governance problems. Such efforts are one of the company’s means to longer-lasting sustainability and have a beneficial impact on its stakeholders. Nevertheless, Just Eat has encountered roadblocks from society regarding meeting the CSR requirements in environmental impact, worker treatment, and diversity and inclusion. Therefore, the company must continue solving this challenge and become a socially responsible and sustainable enterprise. Consequently, if Just Eat addresses those challenges, such action will contribute to better industry ranking, maintain its impact on society and build a more sustainable future.
Reference List
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