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Industrial firms in the EU have had to adapt over the past decades to face the increasing pressure of becoming more environmentally responsible. The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) has played a crucial role in this process, and its impact on participating firms is a matter of debate for researchers, corporate managers, and policy makers alike. Unfortunately, there are only a minimum of models that assess the impact of the EU ETS on individual firms, especially in the context of overall firm performance and dependencies on other (economic and social) factors. For the paper industry, such a study is completely lacking. The authors use the well-established framework of the CSR model and the DC-PROMETHEE method to explore the ranking of paper producing firms in the EU. DC-PROMETHEE considers the effect of the dependencies between criteria that can potentially distort the results. The study revealed that both the EU ETS itself and the links between the evaluating criteria have an impact on the final CSR ranking of the paper producing companies. [Display omitted] • First CSR ranking model for EU paper firms, including environmental factors. • Multi-criteria decision model including the effect of EU ETS at company level. • CSR decision model considering criteria dependencies for unbiased evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campaigns by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) pressuring companies to adopt sustainability standards have caught academic interest in recent years. Critics of this approach toward increasing biodiversity protection and social justice argue that campaign successes are often short-lived while proponents emphasize the potential of NGO campaigns to achieve positive environmental and social change in the absence of governmental legislation. Focusing on the recent forest conservation policy of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), a leading pulp and paper company operating in Southeast Asia, we analyze the challenges companies face in implementing sustainability commitments made as a result of NGO and market pressure. Drawing from research on policy implementation and corporate greening we identify key activities to help entrench APP's commitments in the company's operations. Furthermore, we suggest that a range of actions by different stakeholder groups can achieve broader effects of APP's commitments toward better environmental and social stewardship in the region's pulp and paper sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in mining-related social conflict around the globe can only be partly attributed to broader societal factors such as communities becoming more assertive, empowered and connected. The aggressive growth strategies of mining companies have also been a contributing factor, as this has taken them into areas which are socially and politically more challenging and has increased the potential for conflict with other land users. While mining companies may have embraced the language of ‘trust’, ‘shared value’ and ‘partnership’, they remain locked into a business model that periodically threatens these values. Given the constraints of this business model, there has to be a practical focus on creating stronger external, as well as internal, drivers for companies to improve how they engage with communities and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability leadership (SL) is a complex and relevant phenomenon that can contribute to several types of organisations during the process of becoming more sustainability-oriented. Over the past few years, a considerable number of publications have increased the level of knowledge in this field; however, on the other hand, it also has generated more complexity, literature dispersity and lack of complete understanding of the possible research avenues on SL. This paper aims to address this by complementing and building on previous qualitative and quantitative studies of SL by unveiling and exploring the landscape of the research field. This study differs from prior research in three main ways: (1) explores how the term SL evolved from the leadership theory, (2) explores the research streams that scholars have been conducting in the field by adopting a robust search string revised by specialists and considering a wide range of terms related to formal and informal leadership, as well as sustainability-related terms and (3) understands how the several leadership theories and styles are connected to sustainable development (SD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 1,813 well-cited papers published in top journals that directly tackle sustainability leadership were selected. This sample was then used for the bibliometric assessment based on the co-occurrence of terms technique. The results indicate the existence of four main clusters and twelve subclusters, which can be considered research strands. In addition, this study also explores how the selected studies build on several leadership theories in order to understand how leadership aspects can contribute to SD and CSR adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to facilitate small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt environmental management (EM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. The study reveals SMEs' motivation, pressure, targets and methods for EM and CSR practices. Additionally, the paper investigates how these variables relate to employee number, turnover and geographical locations. The outcomes of the research will add value to SMEs decision-making processes in both strategic and policy levels (e.g. supplier selection) and policymakers' initiatives to make SMEs environment and socially friendly. Although there are studies on EM and CSR practices of SMEs, they mainly focus on impact of EM and CSR practices on business performance, and SMEs' motivation for adopting EM and CSR practices in specific country. Studies that reveal SMEs' motivation, pressure, targets and methods for EM and CSR practices and their relationship with their characteristics (e.g. size, turn over, and geographical location) are scant. This research bridges this gap. Our data originates from 223 carefully selected representative SMEs in the West Midlands, UK (105) and Kolkata, India (118) covering manufacturing and process industries. The relevant data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) methods. The results reveal that perceptions of SMEs’ motivation, pressure, targets and methods of EM and CSR practices vary considerably with respect to size, turn over and geographical location. The findings are significant to policymakers, client organizations and individual SME for improving EM and CSR practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discussion in recent years about the sustainability of the mining industry has emphasized its commitment to social responsibility as an emerging topic. In this context, this article aims to develop a mapping of the literature on social responsibility in the mining industry. In accordance, a systematic literature review approach was adopted and, grounded on a rigorous screening processes, 72 significant papers were selected for analysis from the ISI Web of Knowledge database. The paper provides a bibliometric analysis regarding this specific field and, based on a content analysis approach, highlights a growing interest by the academic community and identifies two key research streams: i) Relationships with local communities, and ii) CSR reporting. Cluster 1 shows that relationships with stakeholders are important to mining companies in obtaining relevant social performance, and in acquiring local legitimacy from surrounding communities; cluster 2 highlights the importance of the elaboration, dissemination and quality of social reports, particularly concerning credibility. The review also points to shortcomings identified in literature, which correspond to potential significant opportunities for future research, either quantitative, qualitative, action research or mixed in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is one of the most important corporate social responsibility initiatives; its aim is to align companies’ strategies and operations with principles that involve human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. After approximately 15 years of research on the UNGC, we provide a systematic literature review on this topic. We start with a keyword search of 96 papers on the UNGC. We then code these papers based on a deductive–inductive approach and classify them by year of publication, publication outlet, research focus, methodology, and underpinning theory. We frame and summarize the debate on the five main topics of UNGC literature, namely motivations driving the companies toward UNGC adoption, weaknesses, impacts, contextual factors affecting adoption, and contextual factors affecting performance. For each of the five streams of research, we identify several factors or variables that enrich the knowledge of it. Building on these findings, we identify various research gaps and develop a set of hypotheses for future empirical validation that are grounded on prominent theoretical frameworks, such as the stakeholder theory (in combination with the Human Resource Management literature) and the signal theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defense agencies are increasingly identifying the benefits of environmentally benign solutions on multiple types of operations. Energy use, material use, and environmental damage are factors that influence military operations in both the short and the long term. In this paper, we examine the behavior of 81 military forces with regard to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the characteristics of militaries with a CSR/sustainability strategy are identified. By using hierarchical cluster analysis and exploratory factor analysis, we locate characteristics of militaries with medium or strong connections to sustainable behavior. The results of the analysis demonstrate which militaries are likely to engage in improvements with regards to CSR and sustainability, particularly in relation to the environment. The findings of this paper demonstrate which militaries have a CSR or sustainability strategy and what the perceived benefits of such strategies are. Furthermore, we have identified militaries that are likely to implement such strategies in the future. Our findings indicate that countries with a strong regulatory environment, high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and medium to low military expenditures per capita seem to favor CSR and sustainability awareness within their militaries. For those countries, military CSR and sustainability strategies can demonstrate win-win situations, mainly due to lower energy and material costs on the one hand and reduced environmental impact on the other. However, countries with high military expenditures per capita but low GDP per capita and a loose regulatory environment seem to lack any CSR or sustainability commitment within their militaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote their public image, a growing number of companies have adopted corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects that benefit various social interests. As such, it is imperative to audit the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of CSR projects for their sustainable development. This paper presents an assessment of three CSR projects undertaken by the energy industry (renewable energy) and commercial sector (plastic waste recycling) in Thailand to transition towards the circular economy (CE) business model. A set of CE indicators were selected from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development: WBCSD 2018 European Commission 2018, and British Standard Institution 2017 and compared with the sustainability indicators listed in the ISO 26000:2010 (referenced in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): G4 Guidelines). These indicators were established to assess the readiness of companies to implement sustainable CSR projects. The assessment results showed that the CSR projects in the case study were conducive to the CE model, as most of the CE concepts evaluated by the performance indicators were already in place. This study aimed to support the implementation of CSR projects that contribute to adopting a CE business model and determine key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and monitor CSR projects in terms of their CE concepts. The sustainability KPIs proposed in this study can serve as a set of guidelines to drive CE strategy adoption and allow for the identification of sustainable CSR projects that can simultaneously offer more value creation and satisfaction for all stakeholders, including society and the companies, while reducing environmental impacts. This paper integrates CSR into a CE approach that results in business sustainability and contributes to Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) targets. [Display omitted] • KPIs were adopted for the comprehensive assessment of CSR projects. • CSR projects of renewable energy and plastic waste were evaluated in their ability to CE concepts. • The KPIs can identify sustainable level and contribute to CE and SDG targets of businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its increasing relevance, corporate social responsibility (CSR) remains hobbled by problems, variously charged as being chameleon, vacuous or an utterly meaningless concept. One reason is the absence of an agreed upon normative basis underpinning CSR. This is in large part due to the concept lacking a universally accepted definition. This paper explores how the concept of CSR has evolved over time drawing from 110 definitions of the construct. Using co-word analysis of definitions from 1953 to 2014, the study maps how the structure of the definitions has evolved during the field's historical development. The research uncovers the key terms underpinning the phenomenon, the centrality of these terms as well as mapping their interrelationships and evolution. The findings suggest that, despite the profusion and definitional heterogeneity over the six decades of the development of the field, there are six recurrent, enduring dimensions that underpin the CSR concept. These dimensions are economic, social, ethical, stakeholders, sustainability and voluntary. This paper makes several contributions to the academic literature. The systematic, quantitative analysis of definitions brings an objectivity that previous qualitative bibliometric analyses of CSR have lacked. The time period selected is substantially longer than previous analyses and captures the complete historical evolution of the concept. Moreover, the analysis provides the basis for the development of a new, comprehensive, yet concise, definition of CSR that captures all six of the recurring dimensions underpinning the concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many definitions for the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but it can broadly be understood as a commitment that an organization must have towards society, expressed through actions and attitudes that affect it positively. In Latin America, in particular, this field is still at an initial stage, and few companies have actually developed and integrated CSR practices as part of their management system. This paper aims to present a set of CSR initiatives and projects developed by a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, considered an example of best practice in sustainable management practices. The paper also verifies if these activities are integrated into the company's management model in a mature way, as proposed by the literature. The research method used here was a case study with semi-structured interviews with a set of employees responsible for CSR at the company. The results gathered allow the projects developed at the company to be clustered around six main areas: excellence in education, social partnership programmes, entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, volunteering and preservation of the history of the Brazilian aeronautics industry. All these projects are exemplary managed and critically analyzed in relation to aggregation of value they provide to society, thus ensuring suitable results. As a conclusion of the survey, it was observed that Embraer has integrated the CSR practices with other existing management systems in a harmonious and mature form. The scientific value of this research lies in the presentation of CSR practices developed by one of the most important companies in Brazil, with a management system directed to excellence. Other companies and researchers can use these practices as a benchmark, or as examples of good CSR practice leading to tangible results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to provide insights into the sustainability report assurance process by exploring how reporting firms and assurance providers work together to produce high-quality and credible assurance outcomes. In this literature review, the assurance process is conceptualised as a systematic procedure that incorporates the detail of assurance work along with associated barriers and ethical issues. Based on a review of 87 identified papers on this topic covering 2003–2021, this paper develops a conceptual framework of the assurance process by dividing it into five steps—assurance provider selection, identification, screening, validation and evaluation—and then explains the logic underlying these steps by synthesising the findings from the identified papers. Furthermore, barriers that impede the adoption of and issues that constrain the benefits of sustainability assurance are also identified, such as the absence of stakeholder engagement or independence of the assurance provider. Overall, this paper focuses on the assurance process for sustainability reports, contributing to the conceptual development of sustainability reporting and providing a comprehensive framework for future study in this emerging field. In addition, this paper also provides both assurance providers and reporting firms with a detailed roadmap for decision-making regarding sustainability assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socially responsible actions are increasingly required of companies and are seen as a valid response to new challenges in contemporary societies. These substantial challenges encourage the development of best practices within organisations, requiring extensive verification and analysis of these practices' influence and impact. The objective of this paper is to define and present the validation of a set of scales for the measurement of social responsibility, training practices and performance in companies. This approach facilitates a better understanding of the competitive advantages of implementing these practices. To achieve this objective, the scales of measurement were defined based on the adoption of responsible business behaviours and, concurrently, their observed relationship to training practices and business performance. The results obtained substantiate measurement scales with a total of 26 indicators, which were validated with companies from the Portuguese tourism industry. The discussion of the results shows that these agree with previous research in the literature on the importance of the topics under study. This paper's conclusions are in accordance with theoretical currents in this area, reinforcing findings of the benefits of companies' practices in training and other relevant areas. Finally, the study provides scales adapted to the day-to-day realities of businesses in their natural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this age of information, firms are losing control of their image. Perhaps this is one reason that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a buzzword among packaged food industry leaders – firms seem determined to show stakeholders that they have values and behave responsibly, and are driven by more than the prospect of financial gain. They produce elaborate annual sustainability reports in which they meticulously account for their CSR efforts. Nevertheless, according to the literature, it is unlikely that CSR is actually intrinsically motivated by the values of firms. This paper aims to uncover how self-reported motivations for different dimensions of CSR can be explained by distinct aspects of the organizational environment. We take a qualitative approach to accomplish this aim. First, we classify self-reported motivations for CSR according to the Triple Bottom Line (3BL). We then classify the same motivations according to the stakeholders and institutional pillars that comprise the organizational environment of the firms. We use a combination of Institutional Theory (IT) and Stakeholder Management (SM) to investigate how and to what extent different types of stakeholders and institutional pressures influence specific packaged food firm motivations. Our findings show that motivations that are framed as intrinsic or values-based can be explained by external pressures. We also conclude that in addition to legislation and normative obligations, social pressure is an effective driver for CSR. Overall, this paper shows that different types of institutions and stakeholders motivate different types of CSR, and that these motivators can be used to drive policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the literature concerning the separate areas of corporate social responsibility and corporate tax aggressiveness. However, comparatively little scholarly attention has been paid to the link between the two. This paper examines how the different activities of corporate social responsibility affect corporate tax aggressiveness. A structural model was tested using partial least squares regression to determine whether the relationships between corporate social responsibility dimensions and tax aggressiveness are positive or negative. Based on a sample of French publicly listed firms, the results indicate that a firm's tax aggressiveness depends on the nature of its corporate social responsibility activities. Notably, the study demonstrates that greater the activity in the social dimension of corporate social responsibility, the lower the level of corporate tax aggressiveness will be, whereas high activity in the economic dimension is associated with a high level of tax aggressiveness. These results extend the prior literature concerning the relationship between corporate social responsibility and tax aggressiveness and suggest that the nature of the relationship, whether negative or positive, tends to differ across the corporate social responsibility dimensions. Overall, the study provides unique insight into the association between CSR activities and corporate tax aggressiveness. Indeed, the paper strongly supports the current literature and argues that the dimensions of corporate social responsibility should not be aggregated into a single measure because interesting and explanatory information is lost when such a method is used, especially with regard to an issue like corporate tax aggressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the extent to which sustainability governance has been integrated into the literature on sustainable chains and networks. The analysis brings together four main approaches to chains and network studies – supply chain management (SCM), global commodity chains (GCC), global value chains (GVCs) and global production networks (GPNs) – to examine how and the extent to which sustainability and sustainability governance are conceptualised and incorporated into their analytical frameworks. The results point to a shift in this combined literature from conceptualising the formation of global chains and networks as sites of inequality under conditions of globalisation, towards a renewed vision on the potential of chains as a site for social and environmental reform. Overall, however, we conclude that the literature on global chains and networks has not adequately conceptualised distinct modes of sustainability governance. In response, we offer an amended typology for identifying how firm and non-firm actors govern sustainability in chains, of chains and through chains in globalised commodity production and consumption. The paper finishes with an exploration of the research frontiers, challenges and continuing potential of chain and network studies to understand the governance of sustainability and a call for further academic debate on the kinds of integrated governance arrangements necessary for future sustainability reform through hybridised public-private economic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained an increasing attention all over the world, but studies are mainly about developed countries. Developing countries have promoted CSR but concepts and approaches can be different from those in developed countries due to geographic, political, and economic contexts. In a unique developing country of China, the government has initially encouraged state-owned companies (SOCs) to implement CSR practices. However, no clear and commonly accepted CSR definition or concept exists. This paper develops items on CSR practices mainly based on the internationally accepted ISO26000 framework while integrating characteristics of Chinese SOCs. Statistical results of 146 usable questionnaires show that Chinese SOCs implement four types of CSR practices under the ISO26000 framework, they are those related to employee rights, consumer issues, fair operation and labor practices. Charity is a specific CSR dimension in China, but it is only implemented at the low level. Chinese SOCs have the high internal CSR values which promote most CSRs except those related to charity and employee rights. External institutional drivers for CSR practices are relatively low. Normative drivers motivate most CSR practices while competitive drivers only motivate consumer issues-related CSR practices. This paper contributes to extend previous studies mainly for developed countries to develop a CSR concept for Chinese SOCs by using both the international ISO26000 framework and considering the specific context. Statistic results identify how to motivate CSR practices among Chinese SOCs effectively, which can provide implications for not only the Chinese government, but also multi-national companies that do or plan to do business in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the latest developments in sustainability reporting in Spain, one of the leading countries worldwide in this field, and makes special emphasis on the recent governmental initiative entitled “Spanish strategy on companies’ corporate social responsibility practices 2014–2020” aimed at extending CSR practices not only to listed companies and state-owned enterprises but also to the rest of companies (including SMEs) and the Public Administrations. It is based on six principles, four strategic objectives, ten action lines and sixty proposed measures with the ultimate goal of supporting the development of responsible practices in the public and private sectors in order that they become a significant driver of the country's competitiveness and its transformation to a more productive, sustainable and inclusive economy. The most relevant initiatives set out in each of the main CSR pillars are highlighted and compared with similar actions adopted in other European countries. The paper concludes with a reflection on the main challenges ahead that need to be overcome through the joint efforts of all the actors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply of minerals and energy is critical to global society. However, this supply is associated with social and environmental impacts, leading to concerns of generational and intergenerational equity. In light of these concerns, a call for papers for a special volume on the mining industry was issued with the view that such academic work could assist in reducing the negative impacts associated with this industry. This paper introduces the Special Volume “The sustainability agenda of the minerals and energy supply and demand network: an integrative analysis of ecological, ethical, economic, and technological dimensions”. The Special Volume contains 84 articles, divided into several themes; sustainability accounting and reporting, corporate social responsibility, future mining challenges, integrative frameworks for sustainability, management aspects, mining in a developing context and new frontiers in the oil and gas industry. The Special Volume also includes two letters on contemporary issues with commentaries on these from experts in the fields, viz., community conflict and land rehabilitation. Insights obtained across these themes are summarized and recommendations are made of what is needed to build upon the findings of this Special volume. A research agenda is proposed for the future from the gaps and synergies identified. The overall contribution of this Special Volume is that it renews the debate on the sustainability challenges for the mining industry and provides transdisciplinary insights into resolving some of these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's business environment, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly significant factor for firms. This study is driven by the motivation to add to the current literature by investigating the mediating elements that explain the relationship between CSR and forward default risk. In this paper, we attempt to identify the important mediators and give a more comprehensive explanation of this connection by a thorough assessment of the available literature and empirical research. This study explored the relationship between corporate social responsibility and forward default risk through financial performance and goodwill. The study sample consisted of constituents of Standard and Poor's (S&P) 500 index. It was found from the results of the study that corporate social responsibility has an effect on forward default risk through goodwill and financial performance. The direct and indirect effect of CSR on forward default risk is more enhanced in a 1-year period, as the effect on 3-year forward default risk is lower. Similar results are found during period of economic upswing; however, there is no mediation in CSR and 1-year forward default risk by goodwill. This study has some policy implications. Overall, the study adds to the growing body of literature (stakeholder theory and corporate finance theory) on the relationship between CSR and the financial aspect of firms and highlights the importance of considering CSR in financial decision-making and risk management. • This study finds that CSR has an indirect effect on forward default risk through financial performance and goodwill. • The (in)direct effects of CSR on forward default risk are more enhanced in short term (1-year) than in long term (3-year). • This study finds that validates the relationship between CSR and forward default risk in economic upswing. • The results of the study have important policy implications, highlighting the importance of CSR in financial management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical discussions and empirical studies on the nexus between corporate social responsibility/corporate social performance and corporate financial performance have never ceased since the origin of the concepts. The development trajectories of such studies should be articulated with a view to informing practical corporate social responsibility applications and theoretical studies in the future. This paper presents a critical review of relevant empirical research articles on the nexus between corporate social performance and corporate financial performance published during the ten-year period from 2002 to 2011. Using mixed-methods of content analyses and statistical analyses, the paper reviews 84 empirical studies of this kind published during the period. The results indicate that, despite the enormous amount of previous studies, the corporate social performance and corporate financial performance nexus is a line of inquiry that remains inconclusive. The pattern of corporate social performance-corporate financial performance relationship research in the decade examined has shifted towards exploring the linkages between specific aspects of the two constructs. The positive relationships between these specific aspects in dual directions are confirmed by most of the studies examined in this paper. The paper also examines the impact of time and space change on the corporate social performance-corporate financial performance nexus. The findings show that researchers have gradually recognized that the relationship is not static but changes over time. Furthermore, the paper finds that corporate social responsibility has been increasingly debated in developing countries and in specified industrial settings. The review concludes that to explore the corporate social performance-corporate financial performance nexus by contextualizing it in a specified community, and/or examine its dynamics is a promising research area that can yield significant academic and practical values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 1 [1] Based on a presentation at ANZAM 2011. McDonald, S., Young, S. 2011. Mapping the path of a sustainable cross-sector partnership, ANZAM 2011: 25th Annual Australian And New Zealand Academy of Management conference: the future of work and organisations, ANZAM, Wellington, N.Z. : Changing environmental conditions, heightened stakeholder expectations and resource demand pressures have forced the mining sector to continually improve their operational practices whilst engage in Corporate Social Responsibility practices. Closer inspection of these practices within the mining sector reveals a level of differentiation with regard to innovative practices which seek to improve operational practice, modify organizational behaviours and redress environmental impacts. This paper explores the 30-year journey taken by mining giant, Alcoa of Australia, as they addressed their social and environmental responsibilities. In particular, the focus is on the collaborative relationship between Alcoa of Australia and the environmental nonprofit organization, Greening Australia. Testing partnership lifecycle and continuum models, this paper offers a model of Corporate Social Responsibility enacted through cross-sector partnerships. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to identify the indicators that are currently disclosed in corporate sustainability reports. Canada is used as a case study in the paper. The indicators were identified based on a content analysis of 94 Canadian reports from 2008. The findings show that a total of 585 different indicators were used in the reports. Differences in the use of indicators between sectors were described. The use of indicators suggested by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was also investigated. It was found that 31 of the 94 reports included indicators explicitly identified as GRI indicators. The most reported GRI indicators appeared in 28 of the reports, while the least reported indicators appeared in 5 of the reports. This paper provides one of the first in-depth reviews of the indicators used in corporate sustainability reports. It is anticipated that the results will be of interest to practitioners and academics in corporate sustainability reporting and sustainability indicators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Existing empirical and theoretical literature provides excellent insight into many aspects of CEO-related phenomena. However, so far, no study has explored the interrelation between corporate governance and CEO ability in influencing corporate social responsibility practices. From resource-based view perspectives, this research examines the complementarities/substitutions that may exist between social responsibility oriented corporate governance mechanisms and CEO ability in affecting corporate social responsibility performance among United States firms. This research documents that CEO ability is a unique resource that can help firms reduce agency problem associated with social and environmental performance. The analysis of data for the period of 2006–2015 reveals several fact-based findings. This research finds strong complementarities between CEO ability and internal social responsibility oriented governance mechanisms (i.e., board independence, the presence of a sustainability committee, and social performance-related incentives for managers) in enhancing socially responsible performance within a firm. Conventionally, it is considered that CEOs are less likely to engage in socially responsible activities, while findings of this paper shed light on the brighter side of CEO ability. Highlights • CEO ability is a unique resource that can help firms manage agency problems. • CSR oriented governance mechanism deter the negative effect of lower CEO ability on CSR. • CSR oriented governance mechanisms substitute less able CEO and promote CSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Realization of value of remanufactured products through social donations is evident in practice. Many companies donate products to meet their corporate social responsibilities, reduce pressure on government resources and improve social welfare. Donation behavior has a positive impact and is supported by government's subsidy incentive. This paper introduces donation subsidy for remanufactured products and formulates a two-period dynamic model to investigate the impact of donation subsidy on production and pricing decisions. We explore whether and under what conditions introducing subsidy policy improves the environmental performance, whilst increasing the economic performance. The results showed that the remanufactured products only for sale is a special example of the remanufactured products available for both sale and donation, namely, donations of remanufactured products are absent when government subsidy incentive is invalid. Donation subsidy increases the second-period quantity of new products and donation quantity of remanufactured products and decreases sale quantity of remanufactured products. A sufficiently high subsidy increases the first-period quantity of new products. Overall, introducing donation subsidy of remanufactured products expands the demand for both the new and remanufactured products and leads to the premium effect of remanufactured products. When the cost of new products is low, introducing donation subsidy for remanufactured products is an economic and environmental "win-win" strategy. When the cost of new products is moderate, the government can adjust the subsidy price to achieve the desired economic and environmental performances. The above two situations exist a unique optimal subsidy price which improves the manufacturer's profit and achieves the best environment. For the high-cost products, the improvement of economic profit is at the expense of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Although corporate social responsibility in general and corporate water stewardship specifically are of increasing concern to businesses, investors are lagging behind in fostering water sustainable investment practices – despite the large impact their investment decisions have on the state and shape of tomorrow's water resources. This paper is the first-ever study to assess whether and how investors include water sustainability criteria in their investment decisions, by scrutinizing their publicly released policies on the topic. We hereto (1) developed an assessment framework using the water footprint concept, (2) applied it to twenty large investors in a case study for the Netherlands, and (3) ranked them accordingly. We found that, by and large, water sustainability is a blind spot to investors, resulting in disclosed policies being neither well-demarcated nor clearly formulated, especially regarding the supply chain of the activities invested in. There is a long way to go before investors can ensure efficient, sustainable and fair water use in their investment policy, but our framework helps investors direct their urgently needed improvement process, to transition toward water sustainable production systems in a circular economy. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • How do investors include water sustainability criteria in investment decisions? • A framework is proposed to assess water sustainability of prospective investments. • Large Dutch investors' publicly released policies are scrutinized and ranked. • We find disclosed policy is unclear on water aspects, especially in supply chains. • First step to ensure efficient, sustainable and fair water use in investment policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence that the extractive industry adheres to corporate social responsibility (CSR), companies developing such activities still attract negative attention because of their frequent involvement in crises. The adoption of CSR practices to respond to crises is particularly important for the postcrisis, for which the literature has been extensive in documenting the mechanisms mobilized by organizations for damage control and for learning from crisis events. However, the previous literature has been less prolific in investigating the recovery phase of crises, which involves a series of actions that organizations might undertake between the phases of damage control and learning. By employing an inductive and qualitative approach, this paper examines the use of CSR practices during the recovery phase of crises in the oil industry context by investigating three cases involving the Brazilian company Petrobras. Our findings indicate that four mechanisms are mobilized in the recovery phase of the different crises: penance, deference, renaissance and insurance. With the adoption of a processual perspective, our paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the processes underlying these four mechanisms and how they shape the actions of organizations in high-risk activities such as the extractive industry. • This paper examines the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of recovery of crises. • Through a multiple case approach, it examines three CSR-based crises related to a multinational oil company. • The findings indicate that four mechanisms (penance, deference, renaissance and insurance) are mobilized. • It contributes to understanding the processes underlying these mechanisms within organizations in high-risk activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyzes the practices adopted and difficulties experienced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to transfer socially responsible behaviors to suppliers that operate in developing countries. In particular, a multiple case study was conducted on five Italian socially responsible SMEs. It was found that companies use different strategies as well as diverse management systems and tools to address Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues along their supply chains (SCs). The paper is innovative mainly since few are the existing studies that investigate the CSR practices adopted by SMEs in the SC. Furthermore, it is argued that our research can be helpful to SME managers willing to deal with CSR issues along their SCs, especially when developing countries are involved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper introduces the special issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production on “Sustainability and Supply Chain Management”. This special issue mirrors the increasing relevance of this topic for both practitioners in companies, and academics. The purpose of this special issue is to serve as a catalyst to this important topic. Environmental and social problems and challenges do not stop at the gates of single companies, but have to be considered along the supply chains as the entities across which related material and information flows are organized. The aims of the paper are to introduce current research topics and provide an overview of the single papers. The papers cover supply chain strength of regions and regional activities as well as actions taken by small- and medium-sized manufacturing and public organizations. The papers in this issue also take a look at performance indicators and closed-loop supply chain aspects. Amongst these topics, four papers incorporate social aspects, which have been relatively and significantly less researched than environmental issues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The revolution that Fintech has represented in recent years has allowed it to take advantage of the challenges posed by new technologies and big data. In this context, the present paper analyses the sustainable profile of current FinTech and InsurTech companies based on a group of determinants defined from three dimensions: CO 2 emissions; obtaining green certificates and sustainability rankings; alignment with sustainable development goals (SDG). Using the KBW and Nasdaq FinTech Index and the NASDAQ Insurance Index (IXIS), we composed a panel of 95 companies over a 10-year period (2010–2019) with economic-financial variables, and data about green certificates and sustainability indices. The applied methodology is based on dynamic (GMM-SYS) and static (PCSE) panel data models. The results show that the fintech companies that are larger, more profitable, less indebted and younger report on CSR and encourage volunteering and have a more sustainable profile. • The size of Fintech companies positively influences the sustainable profile. • Fintech companies more likely behave responsibly and sustainably vs. Insurtech firms. • The most profitable and least indebted Fintech companies behave more sustainably. • Older companies have a less sustainable profile, particularly with SDG. • CSR reports and volunteering promotion are the most relevant ESG factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the background of economic globalization, the rapid development of information technology and the individualization of customer demand make it difficult for a single enterprise to cope with the increasingly complex market competition. The traditional competition mode between enterprises is difficult to continue. Instead, it is the competition between one supply chain and another supply chain that becomes important. To obtain a sustainable competitive advantage, corporate social responsibility has gradually become the focus of supply chain management. In reality, enterprises in supply chains generally have a long-term, dynamic and stable cooperative relationship, and their corporate social responsibilities have complexity characteristics, which would change with time. Therefore, it is more practical to conduct a dynamic research on the social responsibility decision-making in competitive supply chains under the continuous time background. This study contributes a new approach to the literatures on competitive supply chains and corporate social responsibilities in supply chains by extending the static perspective to a dynamic one, so as to analyze the application of corporate social responsibilities in competitive supply chains. By constructing competition models with two two-echelon supply chains, this paper uses differential game theory to study the decision-making related to corporate social responsibility in supply chains in three situations: decentralized decision-making, centralized decision-making and combined decision-making. This paper determine and contrast the optimal price and corporate social responsibility decision-making in each situation, and analyze the impacts of corporate social responsibility, supply chain reputation and supply chain competition on supply chain revenues. Through simulation analysis, this paper find that corporate social responsibility is an effective tool to realize sustainable supply chain. The corporate social responsibility effect of the centralized supply chain is the greatest. Consumer social responsibility preference, corporate social responsibility efficiency and competition intensity are positively correlated with corporate social responsibility effort. Discount rate and CSR cost coefficient are negatively correlated with corporate social responsibility effort. Finally, some managerial implications are put forward based on the research results. • This paper studies the social responsibility decision-making of supply chain enterprises in the competitive environment from the dynamic perspective. • The supply chain decision-making models under different supply chain structures are constructed by using the differential game theory. • The corporate social responsibility effect is greater in centralized supply chains. • Corporate social responsibility has a great contribution in promoting supply chains' reputation and therefore brings higher profit. • This paper gives suggestions to improve the level of supply chain corporate social responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry has a major social, cultural, environmental and economic impact on the environment in which it operates. While corporate social responsibility (CSR) research in construction is growing, it is highly UK-centric and there has been no comparative research of construction industry CSR practices between different countries. Addressing the need for such research in an increasingly globalised construction industry, and adopting a cultural relativist perspective which recognises the contextuality of CSR practices, this paper presents a comparative study of CSR practices in the construction supply chains of the Singapore, Australia and New Zealand construction industries. Analysis of CSR data collected via an on-line survey of 137 firms in the construction supply chains of these countries using the Kruskal Wallis H-test and Relative Prevalence Indexing results indicate a compliance-based approach to CSR in all three countries and a common focus on environmental and safety issues. The social dimension of CSR is yet to mature, particularly in the areas of community interaction, disability, wellness, childcare and ageing. There is also significant reluctance to interfere with supply chains to achieve CSR objectives. Outside these similarities, numerous differences in CSR practices are found between these countries adding to our understanding of the influence of differing regulatory imperatives, institutional factors, workforce structures and demographics and cultural factors. The findings also add to our understanding of the interactions between formal and informal CSR policies and practices in different cultural contexts and the potential value of New Institutionalist Theory as a new conceptual lens to explore this issue further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether employees attribute different motives to corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of the organization and if these motives predict employee creativity. In addition, the study aims to explore the underlying psychological mechanism by proposing work engagement as a mediator of the relationship between CSR attributions and creativity. Sample for the study consisted of 219 employees from various IT organizations in India known for their CSR engagement. Exploratory factor analysis, CFA and SEM bootstrapping procedures were used to test the study hypotheses with the help of SPSS AMOS 24. Results indicate that employees differentiate the motives behind organizational CSR engagement as intrinsic and extrinsic. These motives were found to differentially impact work engagement and creativity. Intrinsic CSR attributions related positively and significantly with creativity, and work engagement fully mediated the relationship. However, extrinsic CSR attributions failed to show any significant relationship with both work engagement and creativity. By highlighting the role of the attributions in the context of CSR, this research provides important information on why organizational CSR involvement may not always yield positive results for the organization. The study identifies managing employees’ skepticism as a critical success factor in the implementation of CSR to optimize the returns on CSR investments. The findings also carry significant implications for managers and policy makers of Indian IT industry in terms of how they devise, implement and communicate CSR plans and strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the link between macro (country-level) corporate social responsibility penetration and innovative capacity presenting new findings on the potential influence that various elements shaping innovation have on the endorsement of social responsibility among national business systems. Relying on cross-sectional data, a composite index for quantifying the proliferation of corporate social responsibility is employed and well-established innovation metrics are utilized. Findings do not contradict the preceding but limited evidence on corporate social responsibility practices considering innovation, nevertheless, the negative relationships found in our empirically supported and internally consistent proposed models merit supplementary consideration and examination. The paper offers new insights to innovation theorists and political economy researchers for more detailed investigations of critical drivers, such as innovation, which shape country-level corporate social responsibility specificities of and potentially encapsulate a critical parameter in the self-regulation agenda-setting of business entities. In these lines the study indicates that innovation, as moderator of corporate social responsibility adoption, has to be included in empirical models where measures of corporate social responsibility penetration and innovative potential are employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Cleaner Production“(CP) is about less and more efficient energy and materials use and the substitution of more harmful products (for the environment and health) by less dangerous ones. CP was the reply of the industry to the call for sustainable development as launched by the WCED (1987) and further elaborated in Rio's Agenda 21 (UN, 1992). During the past 25 years, the concept was put in practice. During this period it changed in scope, methods, and application area. This provided a deeper socio-economic impact to an idea that was originally launched to awaken industry on its environmental responsibilities. This paper provides a review of essentials that contributed to the fundamental changes in CP during the most recent quarter of a century. It takes off with a review of CP definitions illustrating the changes of the content. Changes in scope are exemplified with the increasing importance of “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR). This includes that post-modern companies have not only responsibilities on their economic performance and the environment, but should also act on issues including human rights and resources, business ethics, and community involvement. The links between CP and green and circular economy are indicated. The CP approach is increasingly applied outside the industry. CP for sustainable tourism is discussed in more detail but is only an example of the wider application in e.g. agriculture or health services. This widening of contents necessitates more and better-adapted methods supporting the measurement of the CP components. Indicators, assessment strategies, and green accounting are increasingly improved and used more specifically and frequently. This evolution is discussed in a context of a dilution of the original environmental targets in a wider, more societal scope and the transition towards a more responsible, proactive and reliable management of the sectors applying CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a methodological tool that assesses a company's commitment to sustainability by analysing its business model (which is defined here as a description of processes through which organizations implement their competitive strategies and create value). Insofar as they are considered a key driver for long-term profitability, sustainability strategies should involve a company's value creation processes — that is, a company's business model. This paper specifically examines the extent to which mining companies engage in sustainability by performing content analyses of their business model disclosures. Our empirical analysis focuses on the UK mining industry because this sector often struggles with a host of societal, organizational, and environmental issues, and because UK mining companies are obliged to describe their business model in their strategic reports. In order to determine whether (and how) companies implement sustainability strategies in their business model, we perform a content analysis of the business model disclosures of 16 FTSE All-share index UK mining companies, for a total of 1048 text units. Our results suggest that mining companies have opted for a selective and soft approach to sustainability. Although Air, Energy, Water, Local community engagement, Environmental protection, and Labour conditions are often addressed in the business models of UK mining companies, there is very little evidence to suggest that concrete initiatives were actually implemented in other areas. In fact, some topics are completely ignored (Raw materials), almost completely ignored (Waste, Corruption and Lobbying, Local employment), or discussed in a predominantly descriptive manner (Human rights, Opportunity and equality, Recruitment and bargaining, Training). The practical implications of this study are twofold. First, we offer a new means of investigating how companies engage in sustainability by performing content analyses of their business model disclosures. Secondly, we offer a detailed discussion of how sustainability affects value creation processes in the UK mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies are called by institutional organizations to assess their impacts on biodiversity and to take actions to achieve collectively conservation objectives. This paper presents a method to assess whether the pressures exerted by a business and its value chain on biodiversity are compatible with biodiversity conservation. The absolute environmental sustainability assessment framework is used to compare relevant life cycle assessment midpoint and endpoint indicators to the ecological budgets assigned to the company. This approach is illustrated based on the case study of a mass-market retailer with a focus on the pressures exerted by its food portfolio at the agricultural production step. The results indicate that several pressures driving biodiversity loss are not sustainable. The study also highlights the prominent weight of a few product categories in the ecological burden. These findings have implications for mass-market retailers as well as their food value chains and open research perspectives to make such an approach fully operational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulating enterprises to implement environmental management system certification (EMSC, that is to say ISO14001 certification) to the greatest extent and resolving their obstacles in time are the basis for promoting green development of enterprises. Using the full samples of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed industrial enterprises from 2010 to 2019, and employing the Logit model and Propensity Score Matching method (PSM), this paper empirically analyzes the motivations and obstacles for Chinese enterprises to implement EMSC certification, further explores the transformation between advantages and disadvantages under certain conditions, and the differentiation characteristics among enterprises under different social responsibility, property rights and enterprise size. The results show that: ① There is a "U"-shaped relationship between corporate social responsibility and EMSC, and the social responsibility of non-state-owned enterprises could realize the transformation from obstacle to motivation earlier than that of state-owned enterprises. ② There is an inverted "U"-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and EMSC, precisely speaking, this inverted "U"-shaped relationship only exists in non-state-owned enterprises, large-scale enterprises and enterprises with high social responsibility. ③ The public environmental awareness could promote enterprises to implement EMSC, and would strengthen the impact of environmental regulations on enterprises' implementation of EMSC. ④ Based on Propensity Score Matching method, it is concluded that Chinese enterprises indeed improve their environmental performance rather than their financial performance by EMSC. The conclusions provide helpful practical guidance for comprehensively revealing the motivations and obstacles for China's enterprises to implement EMSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As companies increasingly disclose Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-related information, they are expected to establish internal mechanisms within the organization that lead towards more sustainable behavior, such as integrating CSR-related aspects into existing management control systems. This paper examines the drivers of the existence of such CSR-related management control components and corresponding performance effects of German companies. Based on legitimacy theory, it argues that top-level managers' perceived importance of CSR, stakeholder expectations and proactiveness influence the existence of CSR-related formal and informal controls. Top-level managers participated in the study by completing an online questionnaire. Using structural equation modelling, the paper finds that – as hypothesized – perceived importance of CSR, stakeholder expectations and proactiveness of the company is positively associated with the existence of CSR-related management controls. Moreover, it finds that the existence of CSR-related controls as well as proactiveness are positively associated with firm performance with regard to ensuring long-term survival. Based on the results, the paper suggests that companies should have a positive manner with regard to CSR and should proactively integrate corresponding aspects into their internal control mechanisms. Furthermore, by integrating CSR-related aspects into their management control systems, that comprise both formal and informal controls, companies can direct their CSR-related actions and achieve positive performance effects. • We add to the growing but limited body of empirical studies on CSR-related MCSs. • Our results are based on a sample of German companies. • CSR's perceived importance positively influences the existence of CSR-related MCSs. • The existence of CSR-related MCSs can ensure long-term survival of the firm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty in real-world situations disrupts operations, including the collection process in closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs). A collection disruption is more critical in the pharmaceutical sector since pharmaceutical leftovers contain chemicals that threaten the environment and human health. This paper revolves around the challenges of a real pharmaceutical case that implements circular economy principles through a closed-loop system design, takes sustainability issues into account, and seeks for effective management of collection disruption. The case includes a manufacturer, who invests in green research and development (R&D), and two retailers competing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts to boost the collection amount and market demand. This competitive environment raises conflict of interests and complicates the interactions between members, which need to be neutralized by an appropriate coordination plan. This paper proposes an analytical scenario-based coordination model that resolves channel conflicts and pays dividends to the involving members through augmenting their social, economic, and environmental performance. We show that the coordination plan could be a practical policy to increase the system's adaptability to disruption. Under the coordinated model, by increasing a retailer's collection disruption, the other one invests more in CSR efforts to compensate for its competitor's lower collection, preventing loss for the whole channel. We also demonstrate that the proposed model maintains the chain's balance and prevents loss in case of a highly competitive CSR-based collection and boosts the collection amount, market demand, and the whole chain's profitability simultaneously. • The paper coordinates a two-echelon pharmaceutical closed-loop supply chain. • The collection process of the retailers may be subject to disruptions. • Two retailers compete on exerting corporate social responsibility. • Scenario-based decentralized and centralized decision-making models are proposed. • Profit-sharing coordination contract and Nash-bargaining model are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in supply chain management (SCM) has gained an increasing research attention in recent years. Extant studies have discussed stakeholder interests, performance evaluation, ethical sourcing, and sustainable production. The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic study quantitatively depicting the knowledge structure and the intellectual progress of CSR for SCM. This research adopts bibliometric analysis in conjunction with network analysis to systematically evaluate the CSR-related publications for SCM. The analysis involves 628 peer-reviewed articles identified with careful selection of influential work. Data analytic techniques including citation analysis, co-citation analysis and co-word analysis are used. Key findings for researchers include (1) an analytical discussion of the five sub-fields that constitute the intellectual structure of CSR for SCM; (2) Theoretical and conceptual research significantly dominate in this field; (3) The topics of sustainable development and economic and social effects are more frequently discussed among scholars; (4) Key research gaps include lacking of practical and normative modeling research, and considering from the supplier perspectives in emerging economies. The findings suggest that future research would emerge a greater depth of practical and modeling analysis to enrich the theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential to transfer big data algorithms developed for ‘predictive policing’ to the field of corporate sustainability. To do so the paper starts with the thought experiment asking if major corporate scandals with disastrous environmental (BP Oil spill) or social (Rana Plaza building collapse) consequences, or global warming and floods could be prevented if big data driven predictive algorithms were in place. The article reviews first efforts to utilize big data for promoting sustainability and for reducing harm. By analogy the concept of ‘predictive policing’ is identified to be transferred to a concept called “Predictive Sustainability Control”. A systematic literature review on predictive policing is conducted. In a next step all parameters, characteristics, functional areas and processes, as well as legal and ethical issues of predictive policing were clustered and presented. Subsequently the concept is developed out of the clustered themes and criteria (Table 1) and a definition is provided: Predictive Sustainability Control is the use of analytical techniques to identify subjects for mutual deliberation, supervision and intervention with the goal of preventing future harm related to environmental, social and governance issues, solving past scandals, and identifying potential actors/corporations of unsustainable activities and their stakeholders in the near future. Furthermore three functional areas ( sustainability management, stakeholder partnership and regulatory integration ) are defined and the concept is operationalized in a big data driven environment (Fig. 1). In the operationalization the concept of a digital ‘planetary nervous system’ is proposed and eXtensible Business Reporting Language data repositories used in corporate data management and Corporate Social Responsibility reporting were integrated to arrive at a data set, where predictive analytics could be applied to prevent future harm and reduce current unsustainability. In conclusion the question of governance, data protection and privacy is discussed critically and future research avenues for theory advancement and empirical testing are presented. In closing limitations of legality and functionality are discussed. The overall scientific value can be seen in the potential, which big data and algorithms have also for promoting and enforcing sustainable development based on rigorous data management leading to the predictive identification of likely unsustainable events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies and addresses the challenges of implementing the corporate responsibility to respect human rights in practice at project sites. To support on-ground operational staff, we offer the Human Rights Sphere (HRS), a practical tool we developed from empirical research in three large-scale projects and from an analytical literature review. The tool is consistent with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). The HRS comprises seven steps through which the understanding and addressing of the social and human rights impacts of projects and corporate human rights due diligence procedures can be enhanced. The HRS describes the various groups of rights-holders to be considered, the social and environmental impacts they may experience, and how these impacts can be linked to actual or potential human rights impacts. The HRS shows how corporate mitigation and compensation practices have to be improved to prevent human rights harm to workers and communities. The HRS presents a comprehensive picture of the human rights side of projects and is presented as a practical tool that can be utilized by operational staff at all project phases. By utilising the HRS, multinational corporations will be better equipped to address the adverse human rights impacts of large projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between CSR and business value has been investigated, but a significant research gap remains when considering the relationship between CSR and innovation. The paper assesses its relationship with organizational innovation and firm performance in a single integrative model by using structural equation modelling on a data set of 552 Spanish firms. Our results supports a partial mediation effect of innovation performance on the relationship between CSR and firm performance, since the effect of CSR on firm performance shrinks upon the addition of innovation performance to the model. The findings may help to understand how CSR is an important driver mechanism for companies to be more innovative, efficient and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disclosure of information on the exercise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the mean most frequently used by companies to facilitate understanding of the social and environmental performance of an organisation and to improve relationships with stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role that the board of directors plays in relation to the disclosure of socially responsible information, with a focus on the application of the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines related to CSR. The composition and characteristics of the board of directors is crucial to corporate transparency, especially in an institutional environment where other corporate control mechanisms that guarantee rights for different participants are less developed. We analyse a sample of 98 non-financial Spanish companies quoted on the Madrid Stock Exchange for the period 2004–2010, which provide a data panel with 686 observations. In contrast to previous evidence for other institutional settings, our results show that corporate transparency regarding sustainability is directly linked to the independence and diversity of the directors and to the specialisation of functions through the creation of a specific CSR committee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores channel coordination and profit division in a socially responsible manufacturer-retailer chain through sub-game perfect equilibrium and extended alternative offer bargaining. The channel members jointly intend to swell stakeholder's welfare by exhibiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a proportion. It is found that (i) the channel's non-profit maximizing motive through CSR practice generates higher profit margin than would the profit maximizing objective, (ii) the manufacturer's wholesale price is below its marginal cost or negative above some thresholds of CSR and CSR sharing fraction, (iii) the CSR and CSR sharing fractions are key determining factors for the pure profits of the channel members because variations in choosing these two factors can lead to increment or decrement, even negative pure profits. On the other hand, for the CSR manufacturer, the wholesale price is less than the marginal cost for CSR practice above a threshold and is negative for heavy CSR practice though always larger than the marginal cost for the CSR retailer. So, the manufacturer's pure profit may be negative. Moreover, a channel member always prefers the other's CSR practice. Thus, in cooperative environment, equitable share of CSR may be a compromise solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assurance of sustainability reports is a relatively new service offered by different providers such as accounting firms and consultants. The percentage of sustainability reports assured and the weight of the four largest accounting firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PWC) in this new market are evolving in time. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the role each one of the four major accounting firms (Big4) play in this assurance market. Using a generalized linear mixed model in an international sample, our results confirm that each Big4 accounting firm leverages its network of financial audit clients to enter the sustainability assurance market. Despite the global context in which Big4 operate, the choice of a specific Big4 as assurance provider depends on country level factors. We also find significant differences in the industry distribution for each major accounting firm. These results suggest a potential competitive advantage for the Big4 to enter the sustainability assurance market when they are also auditors of the financial statements. Our findings suggest that each Big4 does not act uniquely at a global level when they assure sustainability reports as there are characteristics in the geographical environment which affect this market. Additionally, the differences in market share of each Big4 by industry, may enforce the idea of the connection between financial auditor (a market highly specialized by industry) and the sustainability assuror. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays companies operate in a context in which communicating environmental and sustainability issues are gaining an increasing and strategic importance. Numerous studies reveal the continuous improvement of both the amount of Corporate Social Disclosure and the different channels used (e.g., Internet, sustainability reports, annual reports, and codes of ethics). In this study a legitimacy theory framework has been adopted to understand the extent to which listed companies incorporate sustainability information in a coherent and unique framework. Departing from previous literature, a content analysis on the corporate websites and main documents was performed to develop a Corporate Social Disclosure Index and an Integration Index aimed at identifying the correlation between the quality of disclosure and the integration among documents. From the analysis, it emerges that just a few leading companies that show a high level of Corporate Social Disclosure have an equally high level of content integration. The results show that, although listed companies employ different means to convey social responsibility issues, such instruments are not always aligned among themselves. Given the lack of coherence resulted among documents, this paper calls for the need to enhance the process of integrating reports, as it has an important value in strengthening the integration of sustainability in organizations' culture and identity. It also makes an appeal to managers proposing a matrix useful for evaluating companies' performances in terms of both disclosure practices and integration of produced documents, and driving their efforts towards the maximization of their results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emphasis on the role of stakeholder dialogue in managerial systems has recently increased in the extant literature, but empirical evidence on the determinants of stakeholder dialogue initiatives is still fragmented. This paper applies institutional theory to analyze the stakeholder dialogue practices realized by companies. It proposes a broader perspective on its pattern of development. The study is based on an analysis of 2797 SD initiatives realized by 418 companies listed in the FTSE4Good Global index on December 31st 2011 from 20 different countries (in Europe, North America, and Asia). The findings confirm the existence of distinctions among the stakeholder dialogue realized by companies in different national institutional contexts. Thus, it is suggested that SD should not be intended only as a voluntary, but firms should recognize it as a necessary managerial practice to build a broad information base useful to align sustainability performance and managerial systems to the institutional context where the company operates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a creative safety campaign introduced by a Belgian scaffolding firm to align employee behaviour at different organizational levels. Our main objective is to examine how a package of control systems can enhance safety performance. More specifically, we show how the firm's control package was configured at different organizational levels and how a safety culture was created through symbols, rituals and ceremonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]