The Role of Businesses in Solving Social and Environmental Problems

Abstract Businesses play a crucial role in addressing social and environmental issues. Through corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, businesses address challenges such as climate change, social inequality and resource depletion. These include reducing carbon emissions through green technology, renewable energy and waste management (e.g., Tata and Reliance’s net-zero strategy), initiatives for education, health, skill development and gender equality (e.g., Infosys Foundation, HUL’s Project Shakti), job creation and promotion of micro-entrepreneurs (e.g., Amazon’s Saheli programme). These have been hampered by lack of funding, regulatory loopholes and greenwashing, which have raised questions of credibility.