Which statement best differentiates CSR from sustainability?

• A. CSR encompasses stakeholder responsibilities beyond profit; sustainability focuses on long-term environmental and social impact
• B. CSR focuses on internal compliance; sustainability is about branding
• C. CSR is about donations; sustainability is about profits
• D. CSR and sustainability are identical concepts

Answer: (A)

The question is about how CSR differs from sustainability. CSR describes a company’s responsibilities to stakeholders beyond just making a profit—things like ethics, governance, community engagement, and social programs that go beyond legal requirements. Sustainability, meanwhile, is about ensuring long-term viability by focusing on enduring environmental and social outcomes and integrating those considerations into strategy and operations.

That’s why the best statement captures CSR as stakeholder responsibilities beyond profit and sustainability as concerned with long-term environmental and social impact. The other choices mischaracterize CSR as internal compliance or donations only, reduce sustainability to branding or profits, or imply the two concepts are identical.