Social responsibility and the SDGs: vignettes of Caribbean tour operators

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-292
Author(s):  
Pauline Milwood
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Caribbean Tourism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to better understand how Caribbean tourism micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) perceive their corporate sustainability and social responsibility (CSSR) practices during design and implementation of new innovations. This knowledge helps our understanding of how the uniquely tourist-dependent region of the Caribbean can, through the social innovation practices of MSMEs, maximize its contribution to attainment of the 2030 sustainable development goals. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a responsibility–sustainability framework premised on seven core subjects of the International Guidance (ISO 26000) for Social Responsibility and goals from the 2030 Agenda to analyze interview data from tour operators in five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) territories: Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia. Findings The results reveal that when designing new products and services, Caribbean tour operators contribute to sustainable development through social and economic change, responsible business model design, fair labor and operating practices, environmental sustainability and health and safety education. These behaviors do vary and are not consistent across the tour operators. Research limitations/implications Social and business planners and policymakers should create deliberate and purposeful mechanisms designed for Caribbean tourism MSMEs to have a fulsome understanding of how they might maximize contributions to the 2030 Agenda. Originality/value This work represents the first instance of use of the ISO 26000 Guidance in a Caribbean tourism context and provides insight into tour operators’ views toward corporate sustainability and CSSR.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Case of Corinth Pipeworks S. A.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Kartalis Nikolaos ◽  
Tsimpri Eugenia
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
Global Standards ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Corporate Social

Investors around the world show steadily increasing support for environmental and social issues. Therefore, the majority of the companies are in favor of adopting sustainable and socially responsible actions. On one hand, Corporate Social Responsibility, according to which companies operate considering the common good of society and environment, assist in reducing environmental and social problems, but always focusing in respect of people, society and economy. On the other hand, there is the Sustainable Development, which follows the same parameters as CSR (Economy, Environment and People), with the difference that -in the light of economic growth- corporations look forward and plan their changes in order to secure their future (i.e. reducing waste, assuring supply chains, developing new markets, health and safety, etc.). In the first part of the article, both of the concepts above -namely SD and CSR- will be investigated with the aid of literature review, targeting in to not only comprehend their importance but also to recognize the changes that have occurred throughout the decades. Moreover, the article will be focused in current global standards such as GRI and ISO 26000. In the second part, through the presentation of Corinth Pipeworks S.A. case study, it will be compared how the above concepts (as well as GRI and ISO 26000) operate in a company’s real time and will be examined, how those practices have evolved in a three years’ time-period.

The adoption of sustainable development goals by large Portuguese companies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Santos ◽  
Cristina Silva Bastos
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals

Purpose Two years on from the launch of the United Nations 2030 agenda, this study aims to approach just how and why large Portuguese companies are incorporating the sustainable development goals (SDGs) into their strategies. This sets out a theoretical framework for priority levels of management and the key rationales and motivations towards the adoption of the SDGs by companies within the scope of identifying logical and mutual connections. Design/methodology/approach The proposed theoretical framework applied an empirical, qualitative study approach, deploying content analysis of the semi-structured interviews carried out. Findings The results convey how the responding companies are using the different management models identified for integrating the SDGs, with the strategic and operational facets of greatest relevance. There are various key reasons put forward in justification of this involvement, in particular highlighting the understanding of the 2030 agenda as an ethical and social contract followed by concerns over managing stakeholders. The results demonstrate that these main motivations influence the management level at which the SGDs undergo integration, yet they do not determine the type of integration. Research limitations/implications The analysis of a limited number of companies and the fact that the semi-structured interviews were made with a single representative, which correspondingly reflects how the responses received convey the understandings, visions, values and responsibilities of these interlocutors. Originality/value This provides one of the first studies contributing towards understanding how and why businesses are aligning with the SDGs. At the conceptual level, this proposes a theoretical framework for analysing the underlying logics and the levels of integration into business management and how both can be interconnected. In practical terms, this clarifies how business management strategies may leverage the integration of the 2030 agenda as a mechanism for implementing corporate sustainability.

The effects of airline strategies on environmental sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gamze Orhan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Air Transportation ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Deregulation of domestic markets and the liberalization of international markets have dramatically changed air transportation. One of the important results of this change is the environmental effects of air transportation. This study aims to examine the implications of air transportation on environmental sustainability in the context of airline business strategies in liberalized and globalized air transport industry. Design/methodology/approach The paper discusses the relationship between liberalization, airline strategies and environmental sustainability of air transportation using the related literature. Then, to show some environmental impacts on the axis of the relationship discussed, emission rates for the aircraft landing and take-off phase were calculated on a global basis based on the aircraft traffic. Findings The discussion in the paper shows that the liberalization policies and the strategies of airlines supported by these policies, in essence, contradict the environmental sustainability of air transport. Considering the flight share projections of EUROCONTROL for different aircraft types on a global basis and the World Bank’s global flight traffic forecast for the years 2016 and 2025, it has been demonstrated that the number of aircraft departures will increase by 30%, whilst the number of aircraft emissions will increase by 41.5%. Practical implications Airlines are one of the main actors that will play a role in reducing the environmental impacts of air transportation. Therefore, this study is important in giving an idea to both policymakers and airline managers on how airline companies’ strategies should be shaped to realize both corporate sustainability and environmentally sustainable air transportation. Originality/value There are many studies in the literature regarding the environmental effects of air transport. However, there are not many studies linking environmental impacts with airline strategies that directly affect air transport demand. This study is different in that it gives environmental sustainability by associating it with its root causes.

Case study of sustainable service design in the hospitality industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-An Chen ◽  
Chun Liang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how creative-cultural hotels can achieve sustainable service design through the development of a holistic conceptual framework. Design/methodology/approach The authors created this framework using a qualitative exploratory multi-case study of four creative-cultural hotels in Taiwan. The framework comprises strategic, organizational and interface levels to describe the design process and implementation of service offerings that co-create value within a multifaceted network of actors. Findings The findings of this study show that incorporating local arts and culture into sustainable service design can generate unique value and experiences for customers. From the perspective of sustainable development, these hotels seek to add value by using local creative and cultural resources to ensure that they have a sound commercial base from which to showcase their cultural features. As such, this study recommends that the hotel industry shift its focus to a paradigm that provides a strategic and sustainability-framed vision to create value for society while protecting local natural and cultural resources. Originality/value This multilevel model reframes the development of customer value constellations through a holistic understanding of user experience, eco-design practice, service encounters aligned with user touchpoints and front-line employee capabilities. To integrate the perspectives of both service providers and their customers, the proposed model embeds these stakeholders within a single model through the vehicle of local value co-creation. This holistic framework can assist in designing sustainable service within the hospitality industry to deliver better services and customer experiences. The findings provide an illustration of how the proposed multilevel sustainable-development-oriented service design framework can serve as a useful tool in guiding hotels toward corporate sustainability.

Impact of corporate social responsibility intensity on firm-specific risk and innovation: evidence from Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megumi Suto ◽  
Hitoshi Takehara
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Idiosyncratic Risk ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Risk ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate investors’ perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its risk-mitigating effects on firm-level innovation in Japan from 2006 to 2017. The authors examine the influence of CSR intensity on firm-specific risks, focusing on the risk-moderating effect of CSR on innovation. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a simple slope analysis and panel data regressions with input and output innovation measures and idiosyncratic risk based on an asset-pricing model. Findings The results demonstrate that CSR intensity not only reduces firm-specific risk directly but also indirectly by negatively moderating the relationship between firm-level innovation and idiosyncratic risk. Research limitations/implications Signaling trust to capital markets, CSR engagements in the manufacturing industry are clearly important for innovative firms with active research and development undertakings. Practical implications Corporate managers should further expand their efforts to make non-financial disclosures available, considering the interactions between CSR intensity and research and development financial risk. Originality/value In the context of Japanese firms, this study demonstrates the interaction between CSR practices and innovation activities from the perspective of long-term management of corporate sustainability.

Understanding how social responsibility drives social innovation: characteristics of radically innovative projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Turker ◽  
Y. Serkan Ozmen
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Radical Innovations ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Innovation Characteristics ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to analyze how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives address sustainability challenges by focusing on the congruence between process and outcome variables of CSR.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a theory-driven model, a content analysis was conducted on 63 award-winning social responsibility projects.FindingsThe study reveals that the adoption of a proactive approach during environmental assessment, which manifests itself in a focus on emerging sustainability challenges with a deeper interest, affects the centrality of social responsibility initiative by increasing its learning and partnership potential and leads organizations to produce radical innovations.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a valuable understanding for practitioners on organizing the decision making process of CSR initiatives in order to unlock its learning potentials.Social implicationsRadically innovative projects with their higher levels of proactivity, centrality and generalizability are better than incremental ones at transferring and integrating company resources and capabilities to address emergent sustainability challenges.Originality/valueThe impact of CSR on society and nature has been a neglected area of literature. To reduce this gap, this study analyzes how the configuration of process variables shapes the outcomes of socially responsible initiatives on sustainability. It also provides a new typology on the relevance of CSR initiatives to company mission/model that can show how CSR can unlock organizational learning and innovation potentials.

The sustainability of urban renewal projects: a model for economic multi-criteria analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Nesticò ◽  
Francesco Sica
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Renewal ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Compromise Solutions ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Investment Programme

Purpose The decisions taken today relating to urban renewal interventions are rarely supported by logical and operational methodologies capable of effectively rationalising selection processes. For this purpose, it is necessary to propose and implement analysis models with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of the territory. The purpose of this paper is to define a model for the optimal allocation of scarce resources. Design/methodology/approach The Discrete Linear Programming (DLP) is used for selecting investments aimed at achieving financial, social, cultural and environmental sustainability. Findings The proposed model lends itself to the construction of investment plans on behalf of both types of decision makers, of both a public and a private nature. Research limitations/implications All projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences. Practical implications The model, written with A Mathematical Programming Language using DLP logics, is tested – case study – so as to define an investment programme finalised for urban renewal of a vast area. Social implications The proposed econometric model makes it possible to obtain the optimal combination of projects for urban renewal with a view to achieving the sustainable development of the territory. Originality/value Using the proposed model, all projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences.

Self-counciousness competence as driver of innovation and environmental commitment in higher education students

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1507-1523
Author(s):  
Marian Buil Fabregá ◽  
Núria Masferrer ◽  
Josep Patau ◽  
Albert-P. Miró Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Commitment ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Management Students

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyse the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and innovation commitment and entrepreneurial skills and environmental commitment as drivers of awareness on sustainable development of higher education students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 1,318 business and management students out of the 3,535 students of Tecnocampus Pompeu Fabra University in Spain during the 2017-2018 academic year was selected to conduct a survey regarding their entrepreneurial skills and sustainability commitment, resulting in a total number of responses of 515. A structural equation model is proposed to contrast the hypothesis. Findings The statistical analysis showed the existence of a positive relation between the entrepreneurial skill of self-consciousness, innovation and environmental commitment to foster sustainability and sustainable development. It is one of the few studies related to the self-conciousness competence of the entrepreneurial skills which found, as a novelty, that the entrepreneurial skill of self-consciousness is the skill with the greater impact on innovation and environmental commitment. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the study are that it is based on a sample of students taking entrepreneurship courses at a specific Spanish University that is not representative of all entrepreneurs in all universities. Practical implications The research proposes including entrepreneurial skills programmes in higher education and research programmes as a way to assure commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability. Originality/value Promoting entrepreneurial skills among higher education students could act as drivers for sustainable development.

Differences in implementing corporate social responsibility through SA8000 and ISO 26000 standards

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Chiarini ◽  
Emidia Vagnoni
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
First Time ◽  
Financial Issues ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose There are different ways of implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) system. One interesting way of implementing a CSR system is based on standards such as SA8000 and ISO 26000. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences brought by the two standards in European manufacturing in CSR implementation using a survey. Design/methodology/approach Eight hypotheses were derived from an analysis of the implementation pattern for a CSR management system revealed from a review of the literature as well as from the actual two investigated standards. A questionnaire based on these hypotheses was administered to the CSR managers of 326 European manufacturing companies. A χ2 and Cramer’s V-tests were used to validate the results. The CSR managers also added comments to their responses. The qualitative results gathered from the respondents’ comments helped the authors’ to better understand the quantitative data. Findings The results showed differences in how the standards affect strategies, economic and financial issues, stakeholders involved, environmental management, customer and market issues, supply chain management and CSR key performance indicators. The results indicated that it is not clear how production and technical departments can be involved in and committed to such standards or, in general, to a CSR system. Research limitations/implications The research is based on a sample of European manufacturing managers and limited to the implementation of two specific CSR standards. Practical implications The differences between the standards should be interesting to practitioners who are thinking of implementing a CSR system in a manufacturing context and weighing the pros and cons of each standard. Originality/value This research analyses, for the first time, the differences in CSR implementation brought by SA8000 and ISO 26000 in manufacturing and, in particular, in production and technical departments.

scholarly journals Literature Review of Management System Frameworks for CSR and Other Sustainability Concepts

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Pek Yew Liew ◽  
Christoph Luetge
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Management System ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Iso 14001 ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
Management Standard ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper presents an overview and analysis of plan-do-check-act (PDCA) based management system frameworks and other similar structured frameworks that were developed for the systematic implementation and management of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate sustainability (CS) and sustainable development (SD). With the aim of providing a comprehensive insight to support future research on this topic, this paper focuses on uncovering the different systematic approaches that can be adopted for the implementation and management of these stakeholder concepts at the organizational level. Our extensive literature search for articles that were published between 2000 to 2017 was able to identify only nineteen relevant articles, which indicates that there is very limited research in this field of work. Our analysis of the frameworks revealed that diverse approaches were developed for CSR. Apart from the traditional management system approach that are based on ISO 9001 (quality management standard) or ISO 14001 (environmental management standard), a variety of other approaches such as frameworks that are built on ISO 26000 (social responsibility guidance standard), organizational change management theories as well as other concepts that are similar to the PDCA cycle were developed for CSR. In contrast to the approaches for CSR, the frameworks that were developed for the implementation and management of CS or SD are mainly based on ISO 14001.

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