Irish public remain sceptical on companies’ CSR policies

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Irish public remain sceptical on companies’ CSR policies

I can make a difference: Over 4 in 5 Irish adults believe their personal actions can help improve the environment.
Our leaders can do more: Governments could do more for the environment, as just under half of Irish consumers feel governments are taking necessary action to take care of the environment
Doubt looms over CSR: A majority in Ireland feel companies are not taking CSR seriously and only doing it for appearances, if at all.

The Worldwide Independent Network of MR (WIN), the leading global association of independent market research and polling firms, has released its Worldviews Survey. This year’s survey captures the perspectives and beliefs of 35,515 individuals across 39 countries. WIN’s latest findings shed light on how the public view sustainability from a personal, public and business standpoint. The survey has tracked progress across all these markets over 6 years, since it began in 2019, and it assesses whether views on sustainability are improving worldwide.

HEADLINES – IRELAND
A new report from RED C and the WIN Network outlines that while consumers feel strongly about their positive impact on the environment, governments and the business world can also rise to the occasion.

The report shows that a significant number of adults in Ireland (81%) believe their personal actions can improve the environment. While this sentiment has seen a slight decline since 2020, belief on positive impact at a personal level remains consistent with the European average.

Confidence among Irish consumers in government efforts to protect the environment has grown since 2022 by 10 points, now at 49%. While this now surpasses the European average, Irish consumers are 6-points below the global benchmark in their belief governments are tackling the environmental crisis accordingly.

Public scepticism remains in Ireland on how companies are approaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A majority of adults (66%) believe that most companies either engage with CSR merely for optics or are solely commercially focused, with little concern over genuine impact. Ireland ranks 27^th globally on the belief most companies are taking CSR seriously, with just over 1 in 10 Irish adults confident with corporate commitment to sustainable practices.

Malcolm Sheil, Research Project Manager at RED C Research, said:
“The research shows that consumers are confident in their own contributions to addressing the climate crisis but there’s a clear disconnect when it comes to the impact of businesses and public institutions. The Irish public want to see companies go beyond surface-level CSR and take meaningful, transparent action – businesses have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to real environmental progress.”

HEADLINES WORLD
The Worldwide Independent Network of MR (WIN), the leading global association of independent market research and polling firms, has released a new wave of the Worldviews Survey; capturing the perspectives and beliefs of 35,515 individuals across 40 countries on pressing societal issues – including climate change. The findings highlight that despite growing awareness and engagement with environmental issues; public opinion remains divided on who is responsible for real impact. While more people recognize corporate and governmental efforts, scepticism about motives and effectiveness persists.

Corporate Sustainability: Perception Shifts, but Doubts Linger
A growing number of people globally see companies taking action on sustainability—65% in the latest survey, up from 58% in previous years. While this increase suggests progress, 43% still believe companies engage in sustainability efforts primarily for convenience rather than genuine commitment.

Notably, optimism is highest in China, India, and Vietnam, where more respondents believe companies are acting seriously. In contrast, scepticism is strongest in countries like Paraguay, Croatia, Serbia, Peru and Turkey, where many believe companies prioritize business over social responsibility.

Government Action: A Rising Trend with Persistent Criticism
Public confidence in government action on the environment has improved around the world, rising from 44% in 2021 to 55% today. However, nearly as many (45%) remain critical towards governments.

Results vary significantly by countries. In more than half of the countries surveyed more than half of the population is pessimistic. While governments in Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and China receive the most praise, strong criticism persists in Norway, Serbia, Croatia and France (70 % +). In the U.S., where 62% say the government is failing to take necessary action.

Individual Responsibility: Strong Belief, but Growing Climate Apathy
Personal responsibility remains a strong theme globally, with 85% believing their actions can positively impact the environment.

Notable minorities in countries like Sweden, Japan, Turkey, Poland and Germany express doubt, with up to 36% sceptical about individual impact; posing a potential threat to sustainability. This growing climate apathy could weaken support for sustainability policies and discourage eco-friendly habits, highlighting the need for stronger messaging around the real-world impact of individual action.

Richard Colwell, President of WIN Network notes
“While engagement with environmental issues is increasing, the data suggests that trust in both corporate and governmental efforts remains fragile. To drive meaningful change, companies and policymakers must not only act but also prove their sincerity and effectiveness in tackling climate challenges.”

ENDS-

Media enquiries:
IRELAND DATA
Ciara Reilly, MD, RED C Research
Derek Bell, Associate Director, RED C Research
+35318186316
[email protected]

WORLDWIDE DATA
Elena Crosilla, WIN Coordinator
+39 335.62.07.347
E-mail: [email protected]

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Methodology:
The survey was conducted in 39 countries using CAWI / CATI / F2F/ TAPI /online survey methods.

Sample Size and Mode of Field Work:
A total of 34,945 people were interviewed. See below for sample details. The fieldwork was conducted in December 2024, January 2025 and February 2025. The margin of error for the survey is between 4.4 and 2.5 at 95% confidence level.

The global average has been computed according to the covered adult population of the surveyed countries.

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