1. Promoting peace through responsible corporate practices, such as by avoiding activities that may fuel conflict, adhering to human rights standards, and implementing policies to prevent corruption.

2. Engaging in peacebuilding initiatives, such as by supporting community development projects and investing in education and training programs.

3. Contributing to sustainable peacebuilding by creating economic opportunities and promoting economic development in conflict-affected areas, thus reducing the economic grievances that can lead to conflict.

4. Promoting peace by fostering cross-cultural understanding, building trust, and encouraging cooperation among different groups.

5. Promoting inclusive economic growth, which can help to reduce inequality and create opportunities for marginalized groups, thereby reducing the potential for conflict.

While initiatives explicitly aimed at peacebuilding are often seen as essential components of corporate social responsibility, it’s vital to recognize that a company’s day-to-day operations, even when not explicitly focused on peacebuilding, can exert a substantial influence on the sustainability of peace.  Ganson et al. (2022) suggests that a firm operating in a conflict-affected area plays a pivotal role in either contributing to peacebuilding or undermining it, primarily through its everyday decisions and actions. This is contrary to the common perception that these contributions are mainly made through extraordinary efforts to bring conflicting parties together. A company’s relational strategies and managerial decisions in various domains, including finance, marketing, human resources, and operations, can impact whether groups perceive each other as competitors for power, legitimacy, or resources (Bardouille-Crema et al., 2013, Ganson et al., 2022). Sometimes, even with good intentions, corporate resources can inadvertently heighten conflict risk if mutually acceptable settlements on the distribution of costs and benefits aren’t reached (Ganson et al., 2022). Hence, it is essential for managers to recognize how their everyday decisions may affect peace and conflict and take proactive steps to mitigate adverse effects.

Promoting sustainable peace is not merely an add-on to the CSR principle; it is an integral component of corporate sustainability, closely linked to other CSR aspects like environmental sustainability.  Voigt (2015) argues that protecting and preserving the natural environment and ecological systems is vitally important for sustainable peace. It highlights how conflicts can arise when resource scarcity intersects with severe discrimination and rebel mobilization, citing disputes over freshwater resources as a common trigger for conflicts worldwide. The paper emphasizes that addressing environmental security threats necessitates collaboration through state cooperation and multilateral procedures, with a focus on sustainable resource management and the preservation of vital ecological functions.

A significant endeavor in involving the private sector in global peace efforts is the United Nations (UN) Business for Peace initiative. This program aims to enhance private sector participation in fostering peace across workplaces, marketplaces, and local communities. It offers guidance to companies on adopting responsible business practices that align with the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, while also promoting actions aimed at peace. Organizations that join the Business for Peace initiative commit to implementing the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles in high-risk areas, actively promoting peace through individual or collaborative endeavors, and delivering annual progress reports.

For readers interested in the UN Global Compact Ten Principles, we refer you to read the original source: https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles/