What is a major limitation of corporate social responsibility in certain industries like tobacco?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can face significant challenges in industries such as tobacco due to the inherent conflict between the products being sold and the principles of conscious marketing. Conscious marketing focuses on promoting ethical practices, transparency, and positive social impact. However, industries dealing with harmful products, like tobacco, often prioritize profit over societal well-being, which can make it difficult to align CSR initiatives with their core business activities.

In the tobacco industry, promotional efforts that fall under CSR may seem insincere or hypocritical, as the primary product is known to have harmful effects on health. This creates a fundamental tension between the nature of the products offered and the responsibility to engage in socially and ethically favorable practices. As a result, corporate social responsibility initiatives may appear disingenuous or may not effectively address the negative impacts associated with their products.

While the other options may present challenges in different contexts, they do not capture the core conflict faced by industries like tobacco when attempting to implement CSR strategies effectively. High profit margins, limited target markets, and excessive regulation may influence operational decisions, but they do not directly reflect the inherent dissonance between the industry's central activities and the principles of conscious marketing.