INTRODUCTION

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is currently one of the key research areas of management. The status of CSR is proven not only by the impressive number of scientific publications in prestigious literature and magazines but also by general interest demonstrated by companies of various sizes. In the present paper the question of CSR is regarded in terms of possibilities of utilizing CSR practices in shaping relations between companies with status of client and supplier on the B2B market.

Among the fundamental goals of the paper the following ones can be distinguished:

1. • review of leading present theoretical stands regarding the stakeholder theory,

2. • identification of relations between the stakeholder theory and CSR,

3. • identification of relations between macro-level and micro-level of creating and undertaking CSR initiatives,

4. • review of the CSR standards,

5. • specification of possibilities of using CSR practices and tools in shaping company relations on the B2B market,

6. • exemplification of the CSR practices and tools in shaping relations between global smelting company (Arcelor Mittal) and its suppliers including formulating requirements and adaptation practices.

1. MAIN ASPECTS OF STAKEHOLDERS THEORY

In opposition to an exclusive focus on a firm's stockholders, stakeholder theory makes serving the interests of those groups and individuals identified as “stakeholders” the primary purpose of an organization [Kaler 2003; Phillips 2003; Reed 1999].