Digital Tax & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

What is France’s Digital Tax Really All About?

The White House and France are headed towards trouble thanks to the French President Emmanuel Macron’s latest announcement to follow through with a so-called “digital tax”, which would impose a tax on some of America’s most well-known digital giants, like Facebook and Google. Although President Trump has warned against it, all signs point towards the tax becoming reality.

What does that mean?

According to President Trump, the digital tax is an “unfair trade practice”, but, according to France, it’s the only way to confront “the emergence of economic giants”, ones that, according to Macron, are creating a monopoly with data - and yet “escaping fair taxes”.

All of this, of course, is happening on the back of President Trump’s trade wars with China, making the current global market even more volatile.

France’s proposed digital tax would charge 3% on the “revenues companies earn from providing digital services to French users”. Of the dozens of American companies that would be impacted, Facebook, Google, and Amazon would top the list, although smaller companies could also be affected, especially as the tax firms its grasp.

What Is CSR and Where Does Your Company Fit?

CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, is becoming more and more popular - and not just because it’s good for business. As more entrepreneurs and profitable businesses emerge, more are feeling the pull to do something good with their money, something that truly makes a difference in the world. Whether a digital startup or an eco-friendly clothing brand, every company has the potential to develop positive CSR.

If your business isn’t adopting CSR, or struggling to see the big picture, here are a few reasons why it’s so important…

1. Trust. As more transactions move into the digital space, trust wanes. Not only do customers worry about who they are doing business with, they are becoming more aware of where their money is going. Adopting CSR is a powerful way to earn back trust from consumers, showing them that you are socially responsible and, therefore, a good company to do business with.

2. Competition. While wanting to do the right thing should be the biggest motivating factor, many businesses are choosing to use CSR as an opportunity to attract better workers. The more your business is committed to giving back, the more current and in-touch with the bigger picture it seems.

3. Passion. People want to be involved with a company, whether by being a consumer or an employee, that is doing good. And this kind of potential passion breeds loyalty - and incredible branding.

Adopting CSR doesn’t have to be costly or even complicated. Even simple acts of giving back to the local community can make all the difference - for your business and the world as a whole.

Giving Your Customers a Reason to Buy: A Case for Reforestation via Startups

If your business is looking for a compelling CSR strategy, then investing in trees and reforestation efforts might just be the best way to go. Not only is social responsibility trending in business, it’s making a major difference in the world.

And that’s no small win.

Right now, the earth really needs help. Trees, as we all know, are one of the best ways to help it.

Here are four reasons why committing your CSR strategy to reforestation is a great idea:

1. Trees are disappearing - fast. According to a 2018 report from the Global Forest Watch, “30 30 football fields of forests is disappearing every minute of every day”. Part of the problem is the fact that “4 out of 10 trees in existence are getting chopped down for everyday paper goods materials”. While stopping deforestation is great - it’s complicated. Reforestation, on the other hand, isn’t.

2. Reforestation improves your company’s success. If you want your business to have long-term success, then committing to a large social issue is crucial. Not only to your employees buy-in to your company, but its customers do too, making the overall ecosystem of your business happier and healthier.

3. Reforestation can be measured. While some CSR efforts are difficult to keep track of, reforestation is incredibly trackable. By gathering this data, you can show your business’s impact, helping people get excited and spread the word.

4. CSR is incredible for social media. Planting trees and helping the environment through reforestation helps your company build a positive brand identity online. Rather than being defined by your product or service, CSR helps people relate to you on a human level, seeing you and your brand as something so much bigger than a singular vision.