What does it mean to be responsible? OECD answers

For a lot of executives, the term corporate social responsibility sticks in the mouth, the way that loose cotton does. You can't swallow it, but you can't quite spit it out, either. For multinational enterprises, however, CSR has become, if nothing else, a cost of doing business. Various organisations – non-governmental, governmental and others – keep an eye out on corporate behaviour. The standards they judge by aren't nearly as precise as accounting rules, but it helps to know where you stand against certain standards. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has issued an update of its guidelines about what makes a responsible business. "Obeying domestic laws is the first obligation of enterprises," it declares. And if the OECD's guidelines conflict with local law, well, "enterprises should seek ways to honour such principles and standards to the fullest extent which does not place them in violation of domestic law". And what should they do? First is this:

1. Contribute to economic, environmental and social progress with a view to achieving sustainable development.
   
2. Respect the internationally recognised human rights of those affected by their activities.
   
3. Encourage local capacity building through close co-operation with the local community, including business interests, as well as developing the enterprise's activities in domestic and foreign markets, consistent with the need for sound commercial practice.

And more.

Source document: The OECD document "Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: Recommendations for responsible business conduct in a global context" is an 86-page pdf file.