Hi! Thanks for the question. The role of CSR in Multinational corporations is of course dealing with the impacts the company has on society, the environment and the economics. Only when recognizing and dealing with these impacts the MNC will be able to improve its performance and maybe find new ways to deal with things, be it technological, be it in process, be it in its supply chain etc. Most important is also to take the expectations of stakeholders into account - if the MNC does not meet the expectations it will loose its license to operate, and then we are really talking money.

So, this is not a side thing one does if somebody is underchallenged in his job, but core management responsibility, as it secures income of the company. Wal Mart is a good example, greening their supply chain saved them 200 Million USD in reduced transport costs, that is a lot of money, even for Wal Mart, and has nothing to do with a spleen of some tree  hugger manager at the company but is core business. Improving the financial bottom line!