Blog post
June 24, 2019

The growing momentum for environmental and social responsibility

Across Australia and New Zealand, companies are talking more than ever about their contribution to greater good – for people and the planet

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has moved considerably from ‘a nice to have’ to a ‘must have’. Where it was once a voluntary decision of individuals within a company now, we see greater emphasis on mandatory schemes at regional, national and even transnational levels. For those unfamiliar, CSR also includes social and environmental impact and requires companies to consider the interests of all stakeholders when going about day to day operation including investors, suppliers, consumers, employees and the community.

In the current climate, this presents an interesting question for companies who are going to have to strike the right balance across areas like shareholders priorities, the provision of jobs or saving the planet.

​There is no doubt that modern companies have realised the importance of operating and thinking in an ethical and sustainable way. Social impact has evolved from a PR play to an important part of a companies’ strategy. This trend is often in part to also attract top talent as new professionals’ value and even seek out companies where positive social and environmental initiatives are prioritised and social responsibility is part of the company’s ongoing strategy or culture.

​In Australia and New Zealand, CSR programs have become central for many companies. In the early 2000s, one of New Zealand’s largest banks announced its policy to move to triple bottom line reporting, which broadens a business’ reporting focus to include social and environmental impact as well as just the financial. Since then, it has pursued a large range of CSR activities including community contributions (company branded helicopters), as well as environmental initiatives. Recently, green growth lending targets have been set as well as the introduction of electric and hybrid cars – a partnership with Sir Peter Blake Trust which encourages environmental awareness and leadership development. And most recently, this bank has become a living wage employer.

​Seeking to be an industry leader in environmental sustainability, Australia’s largest airline recognises that the cost of inaction outweighs the cost of action. Determined to embed environmental performance and sustainability principles within all management systems, policy and practices, by 2020 they are striving to save 20 per cent on electricity and water consumption, reduce waste by 30 per cent, improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent each year and cut net emissions by 50 per cent come 2050. Having initiatives in the air and on the ground allows them to better achieve their goals of helping protect our environment for present and future generations.

​It has become evident New Zealanders increasingly care about climate change and their concern for the environment with the introduction of the new Climate Change Response Amendment Bill. Colmar Brunton’s Better Futures research (2019) shows us that 55 per cent of New Zealanders express high level of concern around the impact of climate change on New Zealand. This figure has increased a notable 31 per cent from 2010 and as it is argued New Zealand is a progressive country, there is a strong consensus emerging they could play as a global leader with this issue. The Bill means New Zealand will need to dramatically reduce their emissions, particularly from transport, energy and agriculture, and offset the ret through new forestry. If a country like New Zealand can’t do it, who can?

Interestingly, in the latest edition of Isentia’s Leadership Index released in March 2019, New Zealand leaders discussed CSR in 12% of the media coverage analysed, behind financial results at 57%. Potentially a good precursor to what might now be another impressive topical lead for New Zealand. 

​In another study conducted by Business Insider Australia, 77 per cent of consumers said they would choose to pay more to purchase from companies demonstrating community responsibility. This shift is a result of consumers expecting less of institutions and governments in particular. In an era of fake news and celebrity style politics, consumers are looking more to companies to do the right thing by society and are prepared to pay for the peace of mind.

​External-facing reputation isn’t the only thing that needs to be worried about. Engaging in positive social and environmental initiatives can have a big impact on companies, both internally and externally – some of these include:

Increase in company revenue

Boost in employee productivity

Reduced staff turnover

Protected brand value

Improved Research and Development

Controlled risk management

Nowadays, instead of using traditional accounting practices, it is encouraged for companies to look at its success from financial, environmental and social perspectives. Triple Bottom Line (TBL), also sometimes called people, planet and profit measures a company’s success by examining growth from an economic, social and ecological perspective.

Profit – the traditional measure of corporate profit, the ‘bottom line’

People – a measure in some shape or form of how socially responsible an organization has been throughout its operations.

Planet – a measure of how environmentally responsible it has been.

Using this method will continue the success for current and subsequent generations and help leaders build more sustainable and socially responsible companies.

3 ways to leverage CSR

Choose your social and environmental initiatives based on the fit with your company’s strategy and develop long-term relationships with social causes. Use employee volunteer programs, product donations and advocacy support, however, be modest in promoting CSR to gain customer goodwill and third-party promotion as this can detract from the CSR initiative. The key here is it has to be authentic or be perceived as authentic by you key audiences.

Here’s what we know: CEOs, CMO’s and Chief Communications Officers who support corporate social responsibility lead their companies to greater success in comparison to those who do not. Society is demanding companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show it makes a positive contribution to society. With this, reputation, talent and incentives are the 3 key areas we feel need to be nurtured when undertaking a CSR initiative.

1.       Reputation

The benefits of corporate social responsibility are not limited to dollars and cents. Such policies confer other benefits as well, such as a better company reputation. Some companies enhance their reputation through philanthropic actions, supporting charitable causes, arts organisations, education programs and other initiatives in the communities where they conduct business. However, socially responsible policies related to health, safety and the environment also improve companies’ public images which also assists with protecting companies’ brands and intellectual property. A lack of such policies can result in negative media attention, harming a company’s reputation.

Companies operate in a market of opinion. How companies are judged by customers, suppliers and the broader community will have an impact on profitability and success. Corporate social responsibility offers a means by which companies can manage and influence the attitudes and perceptions of their stakeholders, building trust and enabling benefits of positive relationships to deliver business advantage.

2.       Talent

A meaningful and well-executed CSR strategy can help attract and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive human capital market, especially in industries with a large number of customer-facing employees.

With exponentially more choices, candidates judge potential employers on more than just the standard set of benefits. Millennials in particular look to be part of something ‘bigger.’ They want to be inspired, to feel good about their employment choice and to join an organization that fits with their values. This often means seeking potential employers that support causes they are passionate about, or more broadly, that share their views on the importance of giving back. Working at a company where employees view their CSR efforts as positive, has a significant and favourable impact on how they rate their pride in the organisation, their overall satisfaction, their willingness to recommend it as a place to work and their intention to stay.

3.       Incentive

How far do the effects of CSR reach? Can it impact the way customers perceive a company and their products? Companies can incentivise their customers with CSR initiatives to enable a stronger and more passionate and loyal customer base.

​Knowing a company has behaved ethically can cause customers to perceive a company’s product as performing better, known as the “benevolent halo.” Moreover, consumers must believe the company’s motives to be authentically benevolent, rather than merely self-beneficial for the company, and the halo effect is strongest for consumers who believe companies have a desire to act charitably. 

In case there is no CSR strategy currently implemented in your workplace, you can start with some small changes that can have a larger impact on the wider environment.  Start with recycling old tech products, such as old computer parts, old mobile phones, cords and cables and all manner of e-waste that is no longer needed. Recycling paper and printer cartridges are also easy and effective ways to implement positive change around the workplace and is a step in the right direction to making a positive difference.

​​Thankfully, whatever the outcome it looks like the future may be a bit greener.

Share

Similar articles

object(WP_Post)#8436 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(1379) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "36" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2019-05-15 04:06:01" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-05-15 04:06:01" ["post_content"]=> string(3062) "

15th May 2019 

UN Women National Committee Australia and Isentia Media Intelligence Announce Partnership

UN Women National Committee (NC) Australia is pleased to announce their partnership with media intelligence company Isentia in a joint effort to accelerate gender equality. 

Isentia, in support of the world’s women and girls, are proud to be able to provide valuable media intelligence and reporting to strengthen UN Women NC Australia’s fundraising activities and events throughout the year, including their inaugural International Women’s Day events across Australia.

UN Women NC Australia are pleased to stand alongside a company that aligns with UN Women’s commitment to gender inclusion and equality. Isentia is committed to diversity and inclusion through their policy and practices across the group. Chief Human Resources Officer for Isentia Kelly Young notes, “We believe diversity is our strength. Working together as one team is a core value to who we are and how we deliver to our clients. We continually strive to be a workplace that embraces and values diversity, taking opportunities to share and celebrate our uniqueness.”

Like UN Women’s efforts to promote gender equality, nurturing diversity and inclusion is at the heart of Isentia’s work. “We see the benefits of diversity and inclusion from its contribution in achieving our strategic objectives and enhances our reputation,” continues Ms Young. “It enables us to make more informed and innovative decisions, drawing on the wide range of ideas, experiences, approaches and perspectives that our people from diverse backgrounds, with differing skill sets, bring to their roles. A diverse workplace gives us a better representation of our stakeholders and markets.”

UN Women NC Australia Executive Director Janelle Weissman said of the partnership,

“We are delighted to have Isentia’s support on the path to achieving parity. Gender equality can only be achieved by working together. It is fantastic to have the incredible support of organisations like Isentia, standing with us to empower the world’s women and girls.”


-ENDS-

UN WOMEN NC AUSTRALIA MEDIA CONTACT:
Leisa Quinn (02) 6185 0010, leisa.quinn@unwomen.org.au
UN Women is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their rights worldwide.

UN Women National Committee Australia is the fundraising and advocacy arm of the United Nations agency for gender equality, here in Australia.

" ["post_title"]=> string(61) "UN Women National Committee Australia and Isentia Partnership" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(89) "UN Women National Committee Australia and Isentia Media Intelligence Announce Partnership" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(61) "un-women-national-committee-australia-and-isentia-partnership" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2019-07-17 00:26:57" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-07-17 00:26:57" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(36) "https://isentia.wpengine.com/?p=1379" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" }
Media Release
UN Women National Committee Australia and Isentia Partnership

UN Women National Committee Australia and Isentia Media Intelligence Announce Partnership

object(WP_Post)#8211 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(40160) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "36" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-05-26 02:54:37" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-26 02:54:37" ["post_content"]=> string(3706) "

Across the communications landscape, teams are being asked to do more with less, while staying aligned, responsive and compliant in the face of complex and often shifting stakeholder demands. In that environment, how we track, report and manage our relationships really matters.

In too many organisations, relationship management is still built around tools designed for customer sales. CRM systems, built for structured pipelines and linear user journeys, have long been the default for managing contact databases. They work well for sales and customer service functions. But for communications professionals managing journalists, political offices, internal leaders and external advocates, these tools often fall short.

Stakeholder relationships don’t follow a straight line. They change depending on context, shaped by policy shifts, public sentiment, media narratives or crisis response. A stakeholder may be supportive one week and critical the next. They often hold more than one role, and their influence doesn’t fit neatly into a funnel or metric.

Managing these relationships requires more than contact management. It requires context. The ability to see not just who you spoke to, but why, and what happened next. Communications teams need shared visibility across issues and departments. As reporting expectations grow, that information must be searchable, secure and aligned with wider organisational goals.

What’s often missing is infrastructure. Without the right systems, strategic relationship management becomes fragmented or reactive. Sometimes it becomes invisible altogether.

This is where Stakeholder Relationship Management (SRM) enters the conversation. Not as a new acronym, but as a different way of thinking about influence.

At Isentia, we’ve seen how a purpose-built SRM platform can help communications teams navigate complexity more confidently. Ours offers a secure, centralised space to log and track every interaction, whether it’s a media enquiry, a ministerial meeting, or a community update, and link it to your team’s broader communications activity.

The aim isn’t to automate relationships. It’s to make them easier to manage, measure and maintain. It’s about creating internal coordination before the external message goes out.

Because in today’s communications environment, stakeholder engagement is not just a support function. It is a strategic capability.

Interested in how other teams are managing their stakeholder relationships? Get in touch at nbt@isentia.com or submit an enquiry.

" ["post_title"]=> string(52) "SRM vs CRM: which is right for PR & Comms teams?" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(44) "srm-vs-crm-which-is-right-for-pr-comms-teams" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-06-02 02:39:21" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-06-02 02:39:21" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(32) "https://www.isentia.com/?p=40160" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" }
Blog
SRM vs CRM: which is right for PR & Comms teams?

Across the communications landscape, teams are being asked to do more with less, while staying aligned, responsive and compliant in the face of complex and often shifting stakeholder demands. In that environment, how we track, report and manage our relationships really matters. In too many organisations, relationship management is still built around tools designed for […]

object(WP_Post)#10842 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(39805) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "75" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 03:06:42" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 03:06:42" ["post_content"]=> string(8501) "

The Singapore general election was quick and felt like more of a touch-and-go event, but a lot was observed and could be learnt from media and audience reactions to the event.

We analysed, using Pulsar TRAC, more than 270k mentions across online news, podcasts, TV, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, X, forums and blogs in Singapore between March 28th - May 7th 2025, to see how the conversation was moving and being influenced by media and audiences. Based on this, we listed what we’ve learnt from this year’s election.



Which industries gained the most spotlight?

Chee Hong Tat’s defence of the GST hike shows the PAP leaning heavily on long-term fiscal planning. This was mainly covered by media outlets like the CNA, mentioning how these hikes were to eventually work on providing benefits to the seniors of society and that it wouldn’t be possible if these hikes weren’t in place. Audiences across X and Facebook expressed their concerns around this, but were equally appreciative of open dialogue with the public.

The US and UK covered the election when their media focus was majorly on Trump’s tariffs

The peak in the US mentions were partly a consequence of Trump’s trade tariffs that wasn’t received particularly well by the rest of the world. PM Wong expressed his opinions on how Singapore continues to be a partner to the US but would expect a fair tariff rate in return. Big foreign peaks were tracked by Reuters and The Guardian that framed the election poll as a barometer of regional politics. Many of the foreign media talk about the opposition parties in Singapore and express that a healthy opposition makes for important parliamentary debate on essential matters like rising living concerns and jobs in Singapore.

Social saw the most audience discourse

The Straits Times leads the election coverage with many of its articles being linked or reposted around social media, mostly Instagram, Facebook and Reddit with audiences giving timely updates on speeches, election street campaigning or their favourite candidates, intending to start conversation. CNA and Mothership show the same pattern, each pulling far larger numbers once clips hit Facebook, X, TikTok and Reddit.



Which hashtags saw the most engagement online?

#ge2025 sat far above every other tag, yet party tags #pap and #rp still drove thousands of mentions. On keywords, PM Lawrence Wong outranked party names with the most mentioned on social posts. It’s important to note that these mentions are by audiences on social media like TikTok, X, Reddit, Instagram and Facebook. Lately, even short clips from podcasts around elections are becoming viral, not just on Instagram or TikTok, but even on Facebook that generally hosts long-ish format videos, second to YouTube.

Podcasts become new medium for election content for younger audiences

Yah Lah BUT logged more than a hundred election clips, nearly double its nearest podcaster, The Daily Ketchup. Audio hosts mixed humour, policy, and hot‑takes that travelled into short‑form video. These podcasts have been a growing trend in Singapore, hosted by youngsters who often invite political candidates onto their shows and pose questions that a young Singaporean would like to ask their leaders. These podcasters have seen their content travel fast on TikTok and Instagram reels for quick insights, but still have most of their audience engagement on YouTube.

Singapore’s GE2025 didn’t just offer political drama—it showed how media, both old and new, shape what people see and feel. From viral videos to policy debates, from mainstream reports to TikTok podcast clips, every format played a role. 




Interested in learning more? Email us at info@isentia.com

" ["post_title"]=> string(59) "5 things we learnt from the Singapore general election 2025" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(59) "5-things-we-learnt-from-the-singapore-general-election-2025" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 03:06:48" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 03:06:48" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(32) "https://www.isentia.com/?p=39805" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" }
Blog
5 things we learnt from the Singapore general election 2025

The Singapore general election was quick and felt like more of a touch-and-go event, but a lot was observed and could be learnt from media and audience reactions to the event. We analysed, using Pulsar TRAC, more than 270k mentions across online news, podcasts, TV, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, X, forums and blogs in Singapore […]

object(WP_Post)#8515 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(39776) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "36" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 01:03:57" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 01:03:57" ["post_content"]=> string(8358) "

This was not an election won or lost on policy alone. While political parties released detailed plans around cost-of-living relief, energy, healthcare and education, the battle for attention played out across a different terrain. One shaped by identity, digital influencers and polarised media narratives.

1. Policy set the agenda, but didn’t hold it

At the start of the campaign, traditional media focused on familiar priorities. The Labor government’s May budget led with cost-of-living relief, fuel excise changes and increased rental support. The Liberals responded with proposals for nuclear energy and a plan to cut 40,000 public service jobs. While these issues framed the early weeks, they were quickly overtaken in online discussions by stories with more cultural weight.

On social media, a video comparing Peter Dutton to Donald Trump circulated widely, while Anthony Albanese’s “delulu with no solulu” moment during a Happy Hour podcast interview was picked up by national outlets and widely shared on social platforms. Personality often generated more interest than policy.

2. Messaging strategy went beyond the platforms

Both major parties tried to engage younger voters where they spend their time. Albanese’s appearance on podcasts and his interviews with influencers like Abbie Chatfield reflected a values-driven approach. Dutton’s appearance on Sam Fricker’s podcast targeted young men through a more casual, conversational format.

Mainstream media covered these appearances but often through the lens of political tactics rather than substance. When Abbie Chatfield’s pro-Greens posts attracted AEC scrutiny in early April, the story became more about influencer regulation than her political message.

3. Polarisation dominated public debate

The second leaders’ debate on 10 April marked a turning point, with stark contrasts on energy, education and immigration. Dutton's focus on crime and border control drew backlash, while Albanese was seen as calm but cautious. Instead of clarifying party differences, the debate intensified existing divides.

Online commentary quickly split along ideological lines. Audiences did not just debate the leaders’ points but used the debate to reinforce partisan views, highlighting how polarised public discourse has become.

4. Influencers reshaped election storytelling

Influencers became central to election storytelling. Abbie Chatfield faced strong support and criticism after posting about the Greens and questioning the Liberal Party’s media strategy. The Juice Media released satirical videos targeting defence and energy policies, resonating with disillusioned younger audiences.

Even incidents unrelated to official campaigns became flashpoints. In February, a video from an Israeli influencer alleging antisemitic comments by NSW nurses went viral, triggering political statements and shifting media attention to broader issues of hate speech and accountability online.

5. Culture wars outpaced policy in the final stretch

As the election neared, cultural tensions gained traction. On 12 April, media attention turned to Peter Dutton after reports emerged that his Labor opponent Ali France was leading in Dickson. Around the same time local authorities dismantled a tent encampment in the area while Dutton was campaigning in Perth. This raised questions about leadership and visibility on local issues.

Across social and news media, themes like Gaza, curriculum debates and identity politics took centre stage. Slogans such as “Get Australia back on track” were interpreted as echoes of US political rhetoric. Jacinta Price and Clive Palmer were both linked to similar messaging, fuelling memes and commentary about the Americanisation of Australian politics.

Rather than rallying around shared policy concerns, audiences engaged with content that reflected deeper anxieties about national identity and international influence.

What stood out the most wasn’t necessarily the policy itself, but the moments, memes, and messages that tapped into cultural tensions. The freedom for media and social media users to connect with and amplify these narratives created an arena where some politicians struggled to engage effectively. While some stuck to party lines without fully understanding the patterns driving media and social discourse, others embraced the shift, adapting to the rhetoric that was emerging online. The lesson is clear: in today’s media environment, ignoring what people are saying or the patterns of conversation isn’t an option.

" ["post_title"]=> string(59) "Media and social highlights from the election campaign 2025" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(58) "media-and-social-highlight-from-the-election-campaign-2025" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 15:58:16" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-08 15:58:16" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(32) "https://www.isentia.com/?p=39776" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" }
Blog
Media and social highlights from the election campaign 2025

This was not an election won or lost on policy alone. While political parties released detailed plans around cost-of-living relief, energy, healthcare and education, the battle for attention played out across a different terrain. One shaped by identity, digital influencers and polarised media narratives. 1. Policy set the agenda, but didn’t hold it At the […]

Ready to get started?

Get in touch or request a demo.