Corporate social responsibility

Successful enterprises constitute a fundamental driver of economic development, employment creation, competitiveness, and overall social welfare. Sustainable economic growth and social progress are closely linked to the capacity of companies to operate responsibly, innovate, and create long-term value. As key actors within modern societies, businesses significantly influence economic stability, labour market dynamics, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is understood as the voluntary integration of social, environmental, ethical, and governance considerations into business operations and stakeholder interactions. A socially responsible company goes beyond compliance with statutory requirements and actively contributes to sustainable development objectives. It engages transparently with stakeholders, promotes fair labour practices, strengthens community ties, and seeks to generate long-term value not only for shareholders but also for employees, consumers, and society at large.
Public authorities, social partners, and civil society organizations play a strategic role in promoting CSR principles. Through coordinated policy measures, recognition mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks, they create an enabling environment that encourages responsible business conduct and enhances trust between the private sector and society.
One of the key national instruments promoting CSR is the National Responsible Business Awards. Established in 2013, the Awards serve as a public recognition mechanism for companies demonstrating exemplary performance in the field of corporate social responsibility. For activities carried out in 2025, companies were recognized in six categories:
•    Workplace of the Year
•    Most Community-Oriented Company of the Year
•    Most Environmentally Friendly Company
•    Workplace Promoting Safety and a Positive Emotional Environment
•    Company Promoting Transparency and Corruption Prevention
•    Company Promoting Diversity
Companies compete within three categories: micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; large enterprises; and international enterprises or their subsidiaries/representative offices operating in Lithuania. Each year, one company is granted the principal distinction — “Socially Responsible Company of the Year.” The Awards contribute to the dissemination of best practices and reinforce national CSR policy objectives.
Public procurement policy represents a significant lever for advancing corporate social responsibility. In this context, the Public Procurement Office, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and its subordinate institutions, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, and the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, developed the Guidelines on Socially Responsible Public Procurement.
The objective of the Guidelines is to support contracting authorities in integrating social considerations into procurement planning and implementation processes conducted in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement. By embedding social criteria into procurement procedures, public authorities can contribute directly to addressing key social challenges and advancing sustainable development goals.
The Law on Public Procurement establishes that contracting authorities must seek, when procuring goods, services, or works, to contribute to the resolution of social issues. These may include:
•    promoting the employment of disadvantaged or vulnerable persons;
•    ensuring the payment of fair and adequate wages;
•    implementing gender equality and non-discrimination principles;
•    preventing psychological violence in the workplace and ensuring support mechanisms for affected individuals.
To operationalize these objectives, the Guidelines provide recommended criteria and practical tools that enable contracting authorities to incorporate social responsibility elements into procurement documentation and evaluation processes. While the criteria are not mandatory, they are strongly encouraged and increasingly applied in practice. Their implementation enhances the likelihood that socially responsible companies will succeed in public tenders, thereby aligning public expenditure with broader social policy goals.
The Guidelines are subject to continuous review and updating in response to legislative amendments, evolving European Union policy frameworks, and changes in market conditions. This ensures policy coherence and the effective integration of social responsibility principles into national public procurement systems.