What is the difference between corportae social responsibility and ESG
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focuses on a company’s voluntary efforts to contribute positively to society, often emphasizing philanthropy and ethical practices. ESG, on the other hand, uses measurable environmental, social, and governance criteria to assess a company’s sustainability performance and risk management, making it more data-driven and investment-focused than CSR.
Nicely explained, Krishna Priya. You’ve drawn out the key distinction well. CSR is more about voluntary, values-driven contributions, often tied to philanthropy, while ESG is structured around measurable criteria that investors and regulators can actually track. I would like to add that ESG shifts the conversation from “doing good” to “proving impact,” making it a core part of risk management and long-term business strategy rather than just a voluntary initiative.
CSR focuses on supporting social and environmental projects and giving back. ESG goes further by focusing on long-term commitment, with programs that improve social and environmental outcomes and make them sustainable over time.
Nice point, Aaditya. CSR is usually about giving back through projects or philanthropy, while ESG goes deeper, it’s about weaving sustainability into the way a business actually runs. ESG makes those commitments measurable and long-term, so it’s less about one-off initiatives and more about building resilience and accountability over time.