Eco-labeling as a Tool to Implement the Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility: The Results of a Pilot Study

Author(s):  
Dorota Teneta-Skwiercz
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Antonio Costa ◽  
Alessandra Tafuro ◽  
Marco Benvenuto ◽  
Carmine Viola

Background: In the broad scientific debate on the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the strategic planning of universities and on the use of monitoring the results of the strategy of the indicators relating to the pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs), there is a lack of studies demonstrating the effective degree of institutionalization of CSR in universities. Methods: This analysis constitutes a pilot study relating to the Italian university context. The study was carried out through an analysis on the contents of the three-year strategic performance plans (2020–2022) drawn up by individual universities and compulsorily published on the national portal of the Public Function Department, as required by article 10, paragraph 1, letter (a) of Legislative Decree 150/2009. A matrix was made with the information extracted by the documents and relative to the presence of the SDGs in the strategic performance plan. Consequently, using a Likert scale, the different degrees of institutionalization of CSR in the strategic plan of the universities were coded. Results: The results of the pilot study highlighted that the strategic planning of Italian universities’ CSR practices and the challenges of sustainable development are hardly ever systematically addressed. Therefore, there is a low degree of institutionalization of CSR in the Italian university system, even though the literature shows a high cultural and scientific commitment to establish university and post-graduate study courses with corporate social responsibility and sustainable development content and an increasing trend in the use of the accountability tools such as the social report or the sustainability report. Conclusions: It is necessary to share the results of scientific research on CSR and SDGs with the government and governance bodies of universities in order to harmonize the CSR and sustainability culture of these bodies with that of academics.


Author(s):  
Bartosz ORZEŁ ◽  
◽  
Radosław WOLNIAK ◽  

Purpose: The involvement of enterprises in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting is one of the most important aspects of contemporary business ethics. The purpose of the study is to examine the perception and knowledge of employees who work in enterprises declaring and to record their observations in case of CSR, its reporting and greenwashing phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach: The article presents a pilot study. A partially categorized interview method was used. The interview was divided into three parts: Part I – Employee satisfaction with work in an organization that declares to act socially responsible. Part II is connected to an employee's view of the corporate social responsibility of the organization in which he works. Part III – the concept of corporate social responsibility and greenwashing. Additionally the survey was conducted. All data was collected and conclusions were drawn. The research sample consisted of 10 people who were interviewed and among whom a survey was conducted. All respondents work in enterprises that declare and report corporate social responsibility. Findings: The vast majority of employees of enterprises are aware of issues related to CSR reporting. They also know the concept of greenwashing. However, the soft aspects related to informing employees about CSR and reporting are problematic. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of this paper is research sample, which was 10 respondents/participants of survey/interviews. However, it should be remembered that this is a pilot study that is to initiate research on a larger scale. Practical implications: The results of the study proposed in the article, which would be conducted on a larger scale, may provide a picture of the insights of employees directly involved in the business process declared as socially responsible. This may allow determining the most important factors for the organization, which determine the satisfaction and commitment to work of people employed in socially responsible enterprises. Also their work efficiency, commitment to building organizational culture and conviction to the values well-established in the company can be improved Originality/value: On the basis of the literature analysis, it can be noticed that research on the perception of CSR mainly relates to building the non-financial value of enterprises or consumer perceptions/attitudes. On this basis, a research gap was identified in the field of knowledge and CSR perception and job satisfaction of employees actively participating in socially responsible business processes or CSR reporting


Management ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-79
Author(s):  
Edyta Spodarczyk

Abstract It is assumed that the idea of corporate social responsibility implemented by an enterprise will be appreciated by consumers. Consumers will be more willing to choose offers and support initiatives of socially responsible companies. Social responsibility, as a distinguishing mark used in positioning an enterprise (brand), also aims to contribute to building the loyalty of consumers who will be characterised, among others, by lower price sensitivity, and in their purchasing decisions they will be guided by the company’s positive image. The above assumptions are partly correct. According to numerous studies, consumers favour socially responsible companies. They declare positive attitudes towards such enterprises and their good practices. The problem is that consumer activity in supporting responsible companies is often limited to declarations. The fact that the costs of social responsibility, as manifested in a higher price, are mainly to be borne by consumers is not emphasised. It turns out that good practices accompanying the offer (brand) are not always an important selection criterion for the consumer. The purpose of the article is to attempt to define determinants of an effective impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer behaviour. By an effective impact, the author understands that corporate social responsibility is an important criterion for the choice of an offer by the consumer. The article presents a review of selected studies on the impact of social responsibility on consumer behaviour. The empirical part describes a pilot study in which an attempt was made to identify the reasons for the lack of an effective impact of social responsibility on consumer behaviour. Respondents’ opinions on measures to increase the effectiveness of the impact of social responsibility on consumer behaviour were also obtained.


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