Search Results (348)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the B Impact Assessment (BIA) as a catalyst for integrating sustainability into industrial firms through a qualitative case study of LC Paper, the first B Corp-certified tissue manufacturer globally and a pioneer in applying BIA in the pulp and paper sector. Based on semi-structured interviews, organizational documents, and direct observation, this study examines how BIA influences corporate governance, environmental practices, and stakeholder engagement. The findings show that BIA fosters structured goal setting and the implementation of measurable actions aligned with environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience. Tangible outcomes include improved stakeholder trust, internal transparency, and employee development, while implementation challenges such as resource allocation and procedural complexity are also reported. Although the single-case design limits generalizability, this study identifies mechanisms transferable to other firms, particularly those in environmentally intensive sectors. The case studied also illustrates how leadership commitment, participatory governance, and data-driven tools facilitate the operationalization of sustainability. By integrating stakeholder and institutional theory, this study contributes conceptually to understanding certification frameworks as tools for embedding sustainability. This research offers both theoretical and practical insights into how firms can align strategy and impact, expanding the application of BIA beyond early adopters and into traditional industrial contexts. Full article

This study aims to explore how Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) influences Jordanian banks’ performance. It focuses on four CDR dimensions—“social, technological, economic, and environmental”—and examines the mediating role of firm size in these relationships. This study is the first to empirically test the mediating effect of firm size in the relationship between CDR and firm performance in the Jordanian banking sector, providing a novel perspective on how digital ethics shape organizational success. Data were collected through a structured survey from 299 bank employees in Jordan. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the direct and indirect effects of CDR dimensions on firm performance, with firm size tested as a mediating variable. All four dimensions of CDR significantly and positively affect firm performance. Additionally, firm size plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between CDR and firm performance, indicating that larger banks may better leverage digital responsibility initiatives to enhance performance. The study relies on self-reported data from a single country (Jordan), which may limit generalizability. Future studies could adopt a longitudinal design or expand to other MENA countries for comparative analysis and broader insights. The findings suggest that Jordanian banks should invest in and prioritize CDR strategies, especially in economic and technological domains, to improve their organizational outcomes and stakeholder relationships. Enhancing firm size may amplify the positive impact of CDR. The findings of this study are robust, as validated by further analysis utilizing data from a customer survey. The results derived from customer viewpoints correspond with staff data, substantiating the beneficial influence of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) on banking performance and affirming the substantial mediating effect of company size. Full article

This study investigates the impact of outsiders’ demand for more information (or transparency) on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Drawing on a dataset of U.S. companies from 2010 to 2023, CSR performance is measured using ASSET4 ratings, while CSR disclosure levels are captured through the number of words and sentences in reports. Utilizing within-industry and -firm OLS regressions, our analyses reveal a positive relationship between the demand for more information and future CSR investments, showing that firms with higher demand for information not only enhance their CSR performance but also expand the length of their CSR reports. These results suggest that increased pressures for information encourage organizations to engage more deeply with social responsibility, resulting in more robust CSR activities and more comprehensive reporting practices. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the strong predictive role of outsiders’ demand for more information in promoting CSR investment and disclosure, and by offering important insights for policymakers and practitioners on fostering corporate responsibility through enhanced transparency. Full article

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is experiencing a surge in demand. While this growth is essential for economic recovery, it also presents significant challenges in terms of sustainability. The tourism industry is under increasing pressure to adopt business practices that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a critical framework for addressing these challenges. This study seeks to understand how CSR can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs within the tourism industry, with a focus on identifying the best practices of management. A systematic literature review was conducted to address this research question. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed using Boolean operators in databases including Web of Science, ABI/Inform Collection, Business Source Complete, and Emerald Insight. After applying pre-determined inclusion criteria, the selected studies were analysed using the population/problem, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines to ensure the rigor and reliability of the findings. Full article

This study analyzes the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 15 (Life on Land) into the tourism development strategies of Lago Agrio Canton, Sucumbíos Province, Ecuador. The main objective is to assess how tourism can serve as a driver for sustainable infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and inclusive local growth, in alignment with the 2030 Agenda. A qualitative methodology was adopted, involving documentary analysis with exploratory and descriptive scopes. The sources included national development plans, regional policy frameworks, institutional reports, and the relevant academic literature. This study employed territorial indicators related to infrastructure quality, ecosystem protection, and stakeholder participation to evaluate SDG alignment. The results highlight that sustainable tourism practices—particularly those incorporating corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship—can stimulate innovation and enhance resilience in underdeveloped territories. Wetlands and forested areas emerge as key natural assets with strong potential for ecological tourism and sustainable investment. The findings suggest that collaborative actions between the public and private sectors, guided by SDGs 9 and 15, can generate long-term benefits, including biodiversity preservation, improved service infrastructure, and economic inclusion for local communities. Overall, the research underscores the potential of sustainable tourism as a practical mechanism for localizing the SDGs in fragile yet high-value ecological regions. Full article

This research investigates the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the business practices of the Portuguese energy giant EDP Group. We analyse the company’s annual reports, sustainability reports, and public statements to explore the motivations, challenges, and key organisational dimensions involved in this process. Our findings reveal that EDP Group’s strong commitment to sustainability, external pressures, and stakeholder expectations have driven the integration of the SDGs into its strategic and operational plans. The company’s cultural emphasis on environmental and social responsibility and formal management control systems has facilitated this integration. However, challenges such as the lack of standardised metrics to measure social and environmental impacts and the evolving regulatory landscape hinder progress. This study contributes to understanding how large corporations can effectively integrate the SDGs into their business models, providing valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers. Full article

Corporate social responsibility and its communication are practices that have been developed for several years in developed and emerging countries, which have aroused great interest around the world and particularly in Morocco. Therefore, our main objective is to study the impact of ESG disclosure imposed by the market regulator on the extent of corporate commitment. This paper aims to understand one of the factors explaining the CSR commitment of Moroccan companies, namely the regulatory environment. Its main strength lies in the in-depth examination of the current regulatory environment and its real impact on corporate social responsibility strategies and actions. To answer our research question, we conducted an empirical study based on a single hypothesis tested through secondary data processing. The results show that engagement, under institutional pressure, has a positive impact on the annual publication of ESG reports on the CSR engagement of Moroccan companies. Full article

This study employs a critical perspective: aiming to provide a subjective and socially constructed view on the impact of corporate governance and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) choices on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in terms of CO₂ emissions in Brazil. This research paper bridges the gap in the literature on the EKC by toeing a qualitative approach to what has been presented using quantitative methods, and offers insights on how the trends shape organisational policies. Furthermore, it enumerates the relationship between CSR, CO₂ choices, and EKC in the Brazilian aviation industry using one particular airline as a case study. It aims to provoke further conversation on decarbonisation. It seeks to show how EKC has been treated and to contextualise the impact of the airline sector’s CSR and corporate governance on EKC. A combination of a content analysis of the narratives of sustainability reports and a semi-structured interview with a sustainability expert from the aviation sector was used in data gathering, while critical discourse analysis (CDA) was employed in demonstrating the ideological and social contexts that shape organisational narratives and decisions in practices and governance structures that are driving CO₂ reduction strategies. The findings not only confirmed the crucial role that corporate governance plays in the implementation and monitoring of CSR practices within the sector but also shows the impact of integrating sustainability goals into corporate strategies. The policies nurtured by CSR are supported by the company’s ESG and Social Responsibility Committees. In the context of the case study, the corporate decision to transit to biofuels is contributing not only to the reduction in CO₂ emissions but is also seen as an economically viable strategy with public policies and regulatory frameworks. This paper further explains the impact of geopolitical factors and the need for international cooperation because the traditional U-shaped EKC is not supported in the context of the Brazilian aviation sector. Finally, this spurs the need for collaboration among various stakeholder companies, policymakers, and nations in the global context for sustainable development to have a lasting impact. Full article

This study investigates the moderating role of independent directors on corporate boards in raising the ESG reporting for non-financial listed firms in Pakistan to strive for a greener revolution around the economy. A sample of 369 firms listed and operated on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for a period covering 2012–2023 (both inclusive) have been taken out of a target population of 456 non-financial listed firms. The results are investigated using bivariate, multiple, and hierarchical regression analyses. This study has significant findings in the context of Pakistan and can be generalized to struggling economies around the globe. The interventional role of independent directors has significant findings for the full model. Findings from the Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy Score (CSRSS) are inconclusive irrespective of the measurement method used, i.e., environmental innovation score (EIS) or environmental pillar score (EPS). Environmental, Social, Governance Score (ESGS) has revealed a positive and significant impact when EIS is used as a performance variable, whereas when EPS is taken as a performance measure, the results are significant and negative. Under the lens of stakeholders’ theory, upper echelon theory, and agency theory, this study contributes to the corporate governance domain and the literature on environmental improvisation and ESG reporting. Researchers, statutory authorities, and academicians can benefit from it. The vital role of independent directors is the key to developing economies to strive for a sustained greener environment. This study is the first in the Asian and, specifically, Pakistani context to take on the interventional role of independent directors in promoting ESG reporting requirements for corporate greener revolution efforts. Full article

In the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) context, organizations must increasingly integrate non-financial indicators into their reporting structures. The role of accounting information in establishing a comprehensive model for measuring corporate social responsibility (CSR) is critical due to its inherent characteristics. This study proposes a structured model for measuring CSR performance using accounting information systems (AIS) as an analytical and operational support tool. The research investigates the extent to which financial analysts and auditors use AIS to evaluate specific CSR indicators related to employee satisfaction, environmental impact, and customer relations and how these contribute to a global CSR index. The study is based on a quantitative survey conducted among accounting professionals in Romania using a structured questionnaire, analyzed through correlation-based models. The findings reveal a statistically significant association between AIS usage and the capacity to quantify CSR performance, with clear distinctions based on professional roles and areas of expertise. This article contributes to the literature by demonstrating how AIS can operationalize sustainability reporting frameworks and support the transition toward evidence-based CSR assessments. The proposed model offers a practical tool for organizations to improve transparency, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment with sustainability objectives. Full article

This study explores the key factors driving corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSR_DISC) by Takaful insurance companies (TKIs) in Saudi Arabia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We use content analysis and follow an unweighted scoring method to score the CSR_DISC index. Based on a sample of 26 Saudi-listed TKIs, for the period 2020–2024, we employ Poisson panel and negative binomial panel models to examine the interdependent relationships between CSR_DISCs and a set of corporate governance factors. We find that Saudi TKIs increased their CSR_DISCs in their financial reporting during and after the COVID-19 crisis. These findings confirm that board and firm size have a significant and negative effect on corporate CSR_DISC. However, the number of independent board members and female directors positively affect the extent of CSR_DISCs. Finally, the size of the audit committee and the Shariah supervisory board, frequency of board meetings, and profitability do not affect CSR_DISCs. Full article

Natural gas (NG) is a key transitional energy source for clean energy transition. Against the backdrop of a grim climate change situation, the sustainable development of the Chinese NG industry is emphasized. Climate change disclosure (CCD) has become an important way for corporations to fulfill their social responsibility and demonstrate their capacity for sustainable development. In order to understand the current status of CCD in the Chinese NG industry and to improve the deficiencies, this paper assesses the quality of CCD in the Chinese NG industry. Climate change information is not fully covered by the existing quality evaluation systems. This study establishes a highly applicable system for evaluating the quality of CCD based on the theory pillar perspective. It includes the following five dimensions: completeness, balance, reliability, comparability, and understandability. This study evaluates the quality of CCD of 58 NG corporations using content analysis and quality evaluation index methods, incorporating Skip-Gram and CRITIC models. The evaluation results indicate that the quality of climate reports in the Chinese NG industry has shown general improvement over time; however, inconsistencies remain, making comparisons challenging. There are differences in the level of quality of CCD in the Chinese NG industry. Policy incentives with clear guidance and regional economic development conditions have a notable impact on the quality of CCD. For Chinese NG corporations themselves, disclosing climate change information related to risk management is the focus of narrowing the reporting gap. The CCD quality evaluation system constructed in this paper provides a theoretical reference for all industries to accurately promote disclosure quality. It also provides practical guidelines for corporations to identify weak links in CCD. Full article

We investigate the association between voluntary assurance of a firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) report and earnings management. A concern with CSR reports is they are used to promote a socially responsible image without a meaningful commitment to CSR activities, referred to as “greenwashing”. To credibly signal the CSR report is reliable, a firm can incur the additional costs to voluntarily obtain assurance. Our results show that strong corporate governance plays a crucial role in limiting earnings management. The most consistent improvements in earnings quality occur when firms combine strong governance with CSR assurance from a non-accounting provider (NonACCT). The combination of strong governance and NonACCT assurance appears to be mutually reinforcing, suggesting a symbolic legitimacy strategy that is also substantively effective. Full article

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its sustainability-focused communications are now recognized as essential corporate activities. As society increasingly holds firms accountable for their social, environmental, and sustainability impacts, academic interest in CSR communications has similarly grown, with scholars exploring how CSR communication influences stakeholder engagement and corporate strategies. In response to this growing interest, we conducted a systematic literature review utilizing bibliometric analysis to identify and examine publication trends and patterns in CSR and CSR-associated communications, drawing from a robust dataset of 3513 documents extracted from Scopus and Web of Science. The analysis was conducted using the Biblioshiny R package and Excel to ensure methodological precision and analytical depth. We explored the characteristics of publications related to topics such as business, authorship, and journals over a four-decade period spanning from 1984 to 2024. Our results reveal four strategic clusters of CSR disclosure, reflecting a shift from symbolic to strategic and stakeholder-focused communication. Thematic evolution highlights the growing integration of ESG frameworks and digital reporting practices. This study is significant not only in its methodological rigor but also in its timely contribution to the intersection of CSR, sustainability, and strategic communication. Also, this study introduces a new theoretical framework through the CSR strategic disclosure indicator metric, which connects the level of disclosure maturity with the focus on different stakeholder groups. We discuss the implications of our findings not only for future scholarly research in CSR but also for corporate sustainability practitioners who look to academia for insights on emerging trends in CSR and CSR reporting. Full article

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability have proliferated the corporate boardroom agenda and companies’ leadership teams are trying to find ways to improve their social and environmental performance and enhance their corporate governance management systems. This paper investigates the main CSR and sustainability-related standards that modern corporations use. To do so, it uses a sample of the 60 companies listed in the ATHEX ESG index. Firstly, a content analysis of those companies’ sustainability reports is conducted. The 60 companies are categorized into sectors according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The sustainability standards used by each sector are grouped into four categories, namely environmental, social, governance, and reporting. Furthermore, an attempt is made to establish a link between the standards used and both the sectors they belong to and the material topics of each sector as they emerge from each company’s materiality analysis. Our research shows that our sample companies predominantly utilize reporting standards regardless of their sector. We did not establish a definitive relation between the prioritized material topics and the relative standards employed by the companies. We may have recognized certain pairings such as environmental material topics with relative environmental management systems, but not in a rigid manner or across all material topic categories. Full article