Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons Learned documents the experience of companies that have developed programs or activities that address elements of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study was part of a larger federal Policy Research Initiative (PRI) on sustainable development, being undertaken to look at key policy issues facing Canada in the short and long term. The steering committee for the project was comprised of representatives from Natural Resources Canada, Industry Canada, Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Transport Canada and the Policy Research Initiative.

This study was an attempt to provide Canadian decision-makers with some insights into the drivers and challenges that organizations face as they strive to implement and advance corporate social responsibility (CSR). The objectives of the study were to:

• identify CSR best practices among the case study companies;
• provide insight on how to utilize these examples of best practice to promote actions within Canadian companies that are not actively engaged in CSR; and
• provide recommendations on the role of government in working cooperatively with industry to facilitate CSR with Canadian industry.

The report consists of two parts:

1) the CSR: Lessons Learned summary report; and

2) ten company CSR case studies.