Dissertations / Theses: 'Social responsibility of business Environmental aspects'

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Price, Leigh. "A transdisciplinary explanatory critique of environmental education." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/909/.

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Salahuddin, Sharmin. "Extended producer responsibility in Asia drivers and barriers /." Thesis, Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B34614758.

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Schoeman, Pieter Stephanus Johannes Albertus. "An empirical investigation of environmental performance and the market value of JSE listed companies." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97358.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the recent past, there has been increasing awareness of, and concern for, the impact that many companies are having on the natural and social environment. This has seen the emergence of a triple bottom line approach to business, with environmental and social metrics being used in addition to financial metrics when evaluating company performance. Despite the growing level of investment in corporate sustainability, it is not clear whether these investments are viewed positively by the market, and to what extent it creates shareholder value. To shed light on the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance, this research assignment used the event study methodology to investigate whether there is statistically significant stock market reactions to announcements relating to the environmental performance of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A total of 260 news announcements related to environmental performance were collected from a variety of news sources. The 260 news announcements represented 67 different companies across 11 different industry sectors. News announcements were collected from several prominent business news sources including the Business Day, Financial Mail and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange News Service. Abnormal share returns were estimated for a three day event window around the announcement date by using the market model approach. Results were aggregated based on four different categories of environmental performance, including corporate environmental initiatives, environmental awards and certificates, negative environmental publicity and, environmental reporting, permits and licences. Consistent with related research in developed countries, this study found that the market rewards certain categories of positive environmental performance but penalises certain categories of negative environmental performance more severely. The results show that there is a significant positive market reaction to announcements of corporate environmental initiatives on the trading day following the announcement. This result indicates a positive relationship between corporate environmental initiatives and financial performance, as measured by market value. In terms of negative environmental performance, it was found that the market responds negatively to the broad category of negative environmental publicity. In particular, negative announcements from civil society and environmental groups seem to result in more significant market reactions than negative announcements from local or national government. In contrast to some studies done in developed countries, no statistically significant relationship was found between announcements of environmental awards and certificates and the market value of companies. Neither was there a statistically significant relationship between environmental reporting, permits and licences and the market value of companies. These results therefore indicate that the market is selective in its response to announcements of environmental performance.

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Guan, Zhiliang, and 关芝良. "Corporate social responsibility in catering business in Hong Kong : current situation and the way forward." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/194572.

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The development of catering business in Hong Kong is facing a wide range of challenges and issues, including the increase in operating costs, growing pressure from public prospection about healthier diets, food safety as well as environmental protection, etc. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), acting a brand new corporate strategy can be adopted to upgrade catering business industry structure and achieve long term sustainability. The aim of this study is to investigate the current performance of CSR in Hong Kong’s catering business in terms of its contribution to the well-being of the environment, community and economy. Using web-based questionnaires, relevant data was randomly collected from 16 restaurants located in the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The analysis and results indicate that 1) most managers from catering business have basic awareness of CSR concept and its benefits for corporations; 2) Only a minority of catering business in Hong Kong has adopted CSR; 3) Restaurants without CSR strategy have expressed strong willingness to implement CSR, most notably for small and medium sized restaurants; and 4) Among the five key CSR aspects, ethical procurement performed worst in the self-assessment system. In order to promote CSR into catering business, numerous recommendations are given. 1) Strengthening in education and training by government and interested organizations; 2) Providing incentives and policy support, establishing legislative regulation by government; and 3) Improving the quantity, quality and reliability of corporations communication with other stakeholders, such as disclosing CSR report.
published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management

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Nieuwoudt, Adriaan Hermanus (Riaan). "The development of an environmental strategy for Pepkor Retail Limited." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6428.

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Barter, Nicholas J. "Pursuing sustainability : an exploratory study of organisations that have environmental missions." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/1707.

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Numerous management scholars argue that management theory is anthropocentric and considers humans as being separate from the environment. Further anthropocentrism does not enable theory and organisations to contribute to sustainable development. To counter this it is argued theory and organisations should embrace an environmental paradigm that does not separate humans and the environment. This exploratory research attempts to identify whether any organisations operate with an environmental paradigm. The research questions focus on paradigms and some of the tensions surrounding the human-environment debate, such as; sufficiency versus profit maximisation and quoted status, money as a means or an end and notions of boundaries between the organisation and the environment. The questions are explored with individuals from 23 environmentally focused, primarily for profit, organisations. The results indicate that the organisations operate with an environmental paradigm, do not perceive of boundaries between the organisation and the environment, do not pursue profit maximisation, can demonstrate sufficiency, view money as a means rather than an end and do not have a favourable view of quoted status. Furthermore, the interviewees do not separate their world into two realms, one social and one natural. Narratives that arise include the organisations operating to a mode of mission and money and that an aphorism of “altruistically selfish and selfishly altruistic” (Maturana & Varela, 1998:197) can be applied. In short, the results indicate some challenges to conventional management theory, in particular strategy and competitive advantage, and that the organisations interviewed could help to, some extent, enable sustainable development. To close, the hope of this study it that its narratives and the conceptual tool it has prompted, provide succour to students and managers who want to develop a ‘future normal’ of theories and organisations that better enable sustainability.

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Sukhdeo, Beverley Amanda Faith. "A conscious leadership model to achieve sustainable business practices." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5885.

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Business sustainability is a fundamental concern amongst business leaders and it is imperative that business defines an environmentally and socially sustainable path to financial prosperity. This focus on sustainable business practices has been caused by the perceived contribution of businesses to undesirable conditions such as environmental and social degradation including global warming and the global financial crises. This study suggests that a leadership style that differs from leadership that is currently causing business unsustainability is needed in order to achieve the goal of sustainable business practices. This study therefore proposes a new kind of leadership, called conscious leadership. The main contribution of the study is to increase the achievement of sustainable business practices by investigating the importance of conscious leadership in achieving this objective. Convenience sampling was used to select senior managers and directors from mainly JSE listed companies. This resulted in a total of 371 usable questionnaires (317 from listed companies and 54 from unlisted companies) being received. A quantitative approach was adopted to investigate whether conscious leadership would be related to increased sustainability competencies and more effective sustainability-related corporate governance and whether these in turn would increase sustainability behaviours which would generate sustainable business practices as measured by financial, social and environmental performance. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate the hypothesised relationships among these variables. Pearson correlations and descriptive statistics were also calculated. The empirical results showed that respondents in this study regarded conscious leadership, not as a separate construct, but as a way they governed their businesses. The empirical results showed that corporate governance and systems thinking competency had a strong interactive relationship and should therefore be cultivated within business firms. Corporate governance (including conscious leadership) and systems-thinking competency were positive influencers of employee relations, equal opportunities and workforce diversity. The empirical results however showed that corporate governance (including conscious leadership) had a negative influence on profitability. The present study cannot argue for the discouragement of corporate governance (including conscious leadership), as measured in this study, because reduced corporate governance would decrease healthy employee relations and the latter would decrease the achievement of equal opportunities and workforce diversity in these firms. A decrease in healthy employee relations would decrease profitability. The most important finding of this study is that senior managers and directors of big business firms, mostly JSE-listed companies, regarded conscious leadership as an important part of corporate governance. Corporate governance that includes conscious leadership must be developed to higher levels in business firms, so that the negative and not-significant relationships to profitability as viewed by lower and high conscious leaders respectively can be changed to positive relationships.

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Haney, Aoife Brophy. "The evolution of firms' strategic responses to climate change : information, capabilities and impact." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648572.

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Wood, Dorothy, University of Western Sydney, College of Law and Business, and School of Accounting. "The influence of environmental social controls on the capital investment decision-making of the firm : Australian evidence." THESIS_CLAB_ACC_Wood_D.xml, 2002. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/228.

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Social controls influence the environmental performance of firms and require them to be more accountable for their environmental impacts. These controls include governmental interventions such as mandatory disclosure requirements, regulation and subsidisation, as well as less formal controls such as stakeholder opinion. This thesis examines the relative influence of environmental social controls on the acceptability of capital investment and provides insight into the perceptions of Australian managers concerning capital investment decision-making. An experiment is used to measure the relative influence of the four social control measures. This is supported by a survey to gauge firm size and industry influences and also a range of attributes of the controls on the capital investment decision. Experiment results suggest that the influence of stakeholder opinion on capital investment is very high and mandatory disclosure very low. The survey measured the influence of a range of indicators of each control and also firm size and industry effects. Firm size effects were weak while industry effects were much clearer and more consistent. A comparison of the influence of social control indicators and a range of financial and strategic indicators on the capital investment decision showed that the mainstream indicators had more influence.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Zutshi, Ambika 1976. "A study of the role of stakeholders in the adoption of environmental management system." Monash University, Dept. of Management, 2003. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/5526.

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Mcleod, Michelle. "Does environmental performance predict financial performance? A South African perspective." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80774.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
Corporate environmental responsibility has engaged the attention of academics, practitioners and environmentalists for some time, creating pressure for companies to conduct business in an environmentally greener manner. To find economic support for such conduct by South African companies, this study aims to investigate whether superior environmental performance by South African listed companies leads to superior financial performance. A review of related literature identified significant diversity in research approach and methodology as well as environmental and financial performance measures employed and therefore also in the results obtained. Given the continuing emergence of climate change as a material issue for business, this study utilised South African Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI SA) ratings as proxy for South African companies’ environmental performance. The infancy of the Carbon Disclosure Project in South Africa does result in some data limitations which necessitated a portfolio approach to address the research question. This approach, however, prevented explicit consideration or judgement on the direction of causality between environmental and financial variables. The environmental performance data limitations and the resulting need for some assumptions resulted in this study being explorative in nature. Using CDLI SA ratings as distinguishing environmental performance characteristic, industrymatching, mutually-exclusive stock portfolios were constructed. Relative portfolio performance was measured with reference to the Sharpe and Treynor ratios and a simple statistical test. Considering the three years 2008 to 2010, the Sharpe and Treynor ratios for Environmental Leaders and Laggards portfolios did not clearly identify either Environmental Leaders or Environmental Laggards as superior financial performers and results also varied across industries. There appears to be some trend emerging which sees Environmental Leaders outperforming Environmental Laggards in more recent years for some industries, however, the short time frame under consideration provided insufficient support for such conclusion. Statistical means testing concluded that the mean returns of Environmental Leaders and Environmental Laggards are similar. Sensitivity analysis performed on the Financials sector indicated that the Sharpe and Treynor ratios are sensitive to portfolio construction. Despite this sensitivity, statistical means testing consistently found little evidence to infer that the mean returns of Environmental Leaders portfolios are either higher or lower than that of Environmental Laggards portfolios. It is suggested that the similar performance of the Environmental Leaders and Environmental Laggards portfolios may be attributed to the use of an environmental performance measure unable to sufficiently distinguish between environmental leaders and environmental laggards. Another interpretation of the results could be that investors consider disclosure-based environmental performance measures as unreliable, or less reliable as compared with outcome-based or combined measures. Finally, it may be that investors’ expectations have not yet been adjusted to reflect the fact that climate change constitutes a materiality issue for business in the long run, which will require companies to actively manage carbon risks. Although there exists voluminous international research on the topic of this study, South African research in this regard is restricted. This study adds to the existing body of South African specific research, but is only explorative in nature; therefore areas for future research have been recommended.

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Silinga, Nyaniso Sandisiwe. "Antecedents to sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses within the Amathole district municipality." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5184.

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The South African consulting engineering industry faces a challenge of relevance, particularly in the wake of government infrastructure investment through the planned National Development Plan and other current infrastructure plans. This challenge is even more so for small consulting engineering businesses within the industry who experienced a decline in earnings by ten percent in the first six months of 2013 as compared to the last six months of 2012 (Consulting Engineers South Africa, 2013:38). Government, as a job creator, has a duty to ensure that the conditions that these businesses operate in are favourable to them in order for the businesses to remain sustainable. Factors that contribute to the sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses need to be identified. Amathole District Municipality (ADM) situated in the Eastern Cape Province and which is the second largest province in South Africa but the second poorest (Eastern Cape Socio Economic Council (ECSECC), 2011:15 cited in Mtshibe, 2013:1) is one of those job creators. According to the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) (2013:38), the district, which comprises of seven local municipalities, is the 3rd largest economy in the province after the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, contributing twelve percent to the provincial economy. Figures published in the Division of Revenue Bill, 2014 (RSA, 2014:236) indicate infrastructure development allocations totalling R1.34 billion budgeted to the ADM for the next three years. This translates to job opportunities for the consulting engineering industry of this region. However, the latest ADM SMME procurement data reveals that in the past five years, only a small percentage of tenders awarded were to small consulting engineering businesses with a majority going to medium to large well-established enterprises (ADM, 2014). These results pose a serious challenge for policy makers who have a duty to ensure that work opportunities do not disadvantage emerging small businesses. The main objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the antecedents that impact on the sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses within the Amathole District Municipality. This was done by identifying antecedents to sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses through a detailed literature review. This literature review identified the competitive environment, regulatory environment and policy environment (independent variables) as being antecedents to sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses (dependant variable). In testing the above research objective, the researcher used statistical analysis methods to reach a conclusion with regard to these antecedents. The positivistic research paradigm (quantitative method) was selected in testing this research objective through the use of hypothesis testing. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires distributed to 100 small consulting engineering businesses using the databases of both the Amathole District Municipality and Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA). Out of the selected sample of 100 small consulting engineering businesses, only 81 responses were received, thus representing an eighty-one percent response rate which is considered adequate. The collected data was then analysed using inferential and confirmatory statistical analysis methods. The analysis was presented in the form of graphs and tables. The results of the empirical survey identified rival competitor influence, the competitive environment and policy environment as being antecedents to sustainability of small consulting engineering businesses within the Amathole District Municipality. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to the management of the Amathole District Municipality in an endeavour to make the environment within which small consulting engineering businesses operate more favourable for the businesses to be sustainable. Suggestions for future research were also made as a way to help in addressing some of the challenges that are faced by the engineering industry.

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Raad, Morgan. "The influence of social responsibility initiatives on the South African wine consumers planned behaviour." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96205.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
The market benefits and competitive advantage of integrating social responsibility initiatives are well known within the global marketing context. More recently, this movement had notably increased within the South African wine industry, where wine producers are integrating philanthropy into their overall business operations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the marketing of social responsibility initiatives, within the South African wine industry, would lead to a positive consumer attitude towards a brand and result in influencing South African wine consumers’ purchasing behaviour. The literature review was conducted to establish the effect of marketing social responsibility initiatives over consumer attitude, intention and planned behaviour. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. This study indicated that the marketing of social responsibility initiatives are recognised by South African wine consumers as a decision-making factor and do influence consumers’ attitude towards brands, when purchasing wine. Although social responsibility initiatives are regarded as a low decision-making factor, when compared to other factors, the study did indicate that South African wine consumers generally do portray positive attitude towards the South African wine industry’s social responsibility initiatives. Generally, it was found that South African wine consumers portrayed positive planned purchasing behaviour towards most of the South African wine producers’ social responsibility initiatives, with management of quality and environmental conservation initiatives receiving more positive response. Land reformation and legislative responsibility were regarded as lesser important initiatives. Given the fact that social responsibility initiatives are recognised, yet only influences a certain portion of South African wine consumers’ purchasing decisions, the study did indicate that there are opportunities for the South African wine industry to market its social responsibility initiatives. The study concludes with the educational role that the marketing of social responsibility initiatives may have on influencing wine consumers’ planned behaviour and suggests a multi-stakeholder approach towards marketing.

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Wood, Dorothy. "The influence of environmental social controls on the capital investment decision-making of the firm : Australian evidence." Thesis, View thesis, 2002. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/228.

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Social controls influence the environmental performance of firms and require them to be more accountable for their environmental impacts. These controls include governmental interventions such as mandatory disclosure requirements, regulation and subsidisation, as well as less formal controls such as stakeholder opinion. This thesis examines the relative influence of environmental social controls on the acceptability of capital investment and provides insight into the perceptions of Australian managers concerning capital investment decision-making. An experiment is used to measure the relative influence of the four social control measures. This is supported by a survey to gauge firm size and industry influences and also a range of attributes of the controls on the capital investment decision. Experiment results suggest that the influence of stakeholder opinion on capital investment is very high and mandatory disclosure very low. The survey measured the influence of a range of indicators of each control and also firm size and industry effects. Firm size effects were weak while industry effects were much clearer and more consistent. A comparison of the influence of social control indicators and a range of financial and strategic indicators on the capital investment decision showed that the mainstream indicators had more influence.

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Tekin, Ilknur Mary Joy Nirmala. "Green Index: Integration of Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness and Financial Performance." PDXScholar, 2014. http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/1815.

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The integration of sustainability performance of companies is becoming increasingly important. The recent global requirements (i.e. the Kyoto Protocol) for significant reduction of the negative impact of companies on the environment over the next 6 years have been putting pressure on the companies, requiring them to lower the negative environmental impact of market performance. This requirement challenges the profitable growth of the companies' business functions, given the change needed for business operations to improve on their environmental impact. In this dissertation a new corporate sustainability performance index, called: The Green Index, for measuring and assessing the integrated sustainability performance of companies is developed. The Green Index integrates Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness and Financial Performance, by quantifying the expert opinions toward their integration. Development of the Green Index is a holistic approach in defining and measuring "green" performance for companies, integrated into their market performance. Green Index, for the first time in the literature, introduces Green Innovativeness in defining and measuring Green Performance of companies, in integration with Environmental and Financial Performance. In the literature and business practices, there are various sustainability indices used, and methodological approaches in measuring corporate sustainability performance with more than hundred performance indicators. The Green Index, uniquely refers to the collective expert opinion of management researchers, executive managers of corporations, high-tech companies' R&D managers, financial managers, corporate social responsibility managers, in defining a shorter list of 29 performance measures under the three core performance dimensions. Hierarchical Decision Modeling is used for the development of Green Index based on experts' collective decisions. At the next level, desirability levels for each one of the 29 performance measures are scaled by a group of angel investors and investors. And their collective desirability quantifications are used toward the application of the Green Index to quantify the Green Index value for a set of scenario analyses for alternative company performance states. Green Index fills a major gap in the scholarly literature and business practices. It meets the needs prioritized in the near future strategy of World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) towards development of new performance metrics and business models for industries that are financially successful while innovating with green products as they are reducing their negative environmental impact (WBCSD Annual Report 2010, 2011).

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Harris, Peter-Dirk. "South African environmental taxes and investment incentives in practice." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95565.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African economy is faced with a number of challenges as an upper-middle income country that is highly resource-intensive, with an open economy. It has a number of developmental goals that must be achieved in order to maintain environmentally conscious sustainable development. The country will have to find pioneering ways to address the poverty problems faced by a large proportion of its people, while still ensuring economic growth at a reduced cost to the environment. In an effort to promote the shift to a “green” economy, the South African state and its related entities have developed a number of incentive programmes aimed at easing the transition. These incentives primarily support businesses in their efforts to become more energy-efficient, or to convert to renewable energy sources. The objective of this study is to critically evaluate what the South African government is doing with regard to environmental instruments aimed at assisting the country to reduce carbon emissions. This case study follows a quantitative approach, considering the financial effects that the different environmental instruments could have on South African manufacturers. Through the study the researcher will be able to make certain recommendations to businesses in the manufacturing industry who are interested in investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The results of the study will also give the researcher insight into the South African environmental incentives, which will allow him to make informed comments on the proposals that government has tabled regarding future environmental taxes and incentives. The research questions that the researcher tried to answer were based on the current and future policy measures that the South African government has implemented, or will implement, in order to move the country to a low-emissions trajectory. These policies were then also compared to international measures in order to determine if the policies chosen by the South African government are appropriate for the this country’s economy. This study has led the researcher to discover a number of issues relating to the status of environmental policy in South Africa. These discoveries have allowed him to make certain recommendations to businesses investing in this realm, as well as to government which develops these policy measures. The main findings of the study are that with the assistance of the South African government and related entities, investments in renewable energy have become viable. When considering the current status of South African environmental policy, the researcher has also come to realise that the country is lagging behind the rest of the world with regard to policy development. The South African economy is unique, thus policies have to be structured in a way that will not be detrimental to the country.

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Yu, Jieqiong, and 余洁琼. "The effectiveness of extended producer responsibility in motivating eco-design changes: perspectives from China'selectrical and electronics industry." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2010. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B47185934.

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Extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a holistic approach to product stewardship has been increasingly incorporated into environmental policy agenda in the last two decades. One major expectation of EPR is to prevent environmental problems at source by providing appropriate incentives for product eco-design changes. However, available studies empirically examining the actual influence of EPR on eco-design are limited. This research therefore aims to fill the research gap by evaluating the effectiveness of existing EPR programmes in driving eco-design changes from the perspective of China’s electrical and electronic (EE) industry, and shed some light on the prospects of EPR development in China. Based on the analytical framework developed from reconstructed intervention theory, three intensive empirical studies have been carried out. The first study examines the perception and responses of 50 China’s EE manufacturers regarding the EU EPR programmes (i.e. the WEEE and RoHS Directives). The second study investigates the responses of 36 China’s EE manufacturers to the Chinese EPR programmes (i.e. China WEEE and China RoHS legislation) and identifies possible factors that exert causal impact on the occurrence of eco-design. In order to gain a deeper insight into the practical manifestations of effective EPR implementation in the private sector, three company case studies have been conducted in the third stage of the research, serving as an important supplement to the first two studies. The three studies show that EPR programmes in a stringent regulatory approach focusing on products’ environmental properties such as substance bans can exert strong influence on design changes. However, mandated recycling legislation seems to have little driving effect for companies to change product design. The research points to the weakness of collective producer responsibility that is currently adopted in many EU Member States for WEEE implementation in achieving continuous eco-design improvements. It highlights the significance of realising the principle of individual producer responsibility in EPR programmes for achieving this goal. Based on an attributability assessment, the research further shows that there are a number of factors that influence the adoption of eco-design in China, and the link between legislative EPR programmes and eco-design is complex and evolving. Not only may the EPR programmes have different existing, anticipating and potential effect on the incorporation of eco-design, but they may have very different driving influence on environmental laggards and leaders. In this regard, this research suggests that there is no one-stop solution for EPR in China. A mixed mechanism that integrates various policy instruments such as administrative, economic and informative instruments, in conjunction with cooperation and infrastructure facilities, would be the most effective means to implement EPR in the context of China, thereby achieving the goal of sustainable production and consumption.
published_or_final_version
Kadoorie Institute
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy

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Rowe, Anna Lee. "Greening corporate dragon's environmental management and reporting in Shanghai." Phd thesis, Australia : Macquarie University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/26145.

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Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, 2006.
Bibliography: p. 240-276.
Introduction -- "Greening" phenomena of corporate environmental management and reporting -- China's environmental management and reporting -- Research theoretical methodology -- "Evolutionary epic" of China's environmental management institutions -- Findings and conceptualisation of CEM and CER -- Further discussion and implications -- Conclusion.
What was once the preserve of a 'green' social organisational fringe, Corporate Environmental Management (CEM) and Corporate Environmental Reporting (CER), have increasingly become a core business strategy. Research studies in this arena have been centred on industrialised nations (e.g., Guthrie and Parker, 1990), and until recently, comparatively sparse focus on developing nations (Belal, 2000), particularly in empirical studies on CER in the People's Republic of China (PRC). -- As the most populous nation on earth with one fifth of humanity (1.3 billions), China's astounding economic growth and resource consumption (Economist, 2005), provide 'telescoping' lessons in understanding the embracing of CEM and CER in rapidly developing countries. Motivated by China's unique institutional structure and embryonic stage of environmentalism (Luo and Yuwen, 2001; Chan and Welford, 2005), this field study explored the 'greening' phenomena of CEM and CER as perceived by senior managers in Shanghai. -- Utilising a modified grounded research approach (Strauss and Corbin, 1990; 1994; Whiteley, 2004), the constructivist ontology was chosen to penetrate the social context of the companies interviewed. Grounded in the data and applying interpretive epistemology, this qualitative research elucidated our awareness about the normative assumptions underpinning CEM and CER in Shanghai. The emergent model illuminated our understanding of how Chinese institutions and senior individuals within enterprises responded to the greening challenges, and how senior managers matched their personal beliefs with perceived CEM and CER. -- The results in this study indicated that CEM and CER were influenced and/or constrained by formal institutional rules (e.g., environmental policies and laws) and informal cultural institutional norms (e.g., Guanxi, trust and secrecy). The findings resonate well with institutional theoretical constraints (Powell and DiMaggio, 1991; Fogarty, 1992a) and cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1962). This is attributable to the dilemma of balancing the 'yin and yang' of long term environmental sustainability and short term economic growth.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
viii, 289 p. ill

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Lee, Sui-on Philip, and 李瑞安. "The implications of environmentalism on international business." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1998. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31268997.

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Smal, Desiree Nora. "The role of environmental sustainability in a design-driven fashion industry : a South African case study." Thesis, Cape Peninisula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2269.

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Thesis (DTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
This thesis is an investigation into environmental sustainability in the South African fashion industry, with a particular focus on the role of design therein. The fashion and textile industry is a significant contributor to the South African economy and a major user of human and natural resources. It is through the use of resources – natural, constructed and human – that the industry is also supposedly damaging to the natural environment and the people working within it. Notable authors on environmentally sustainable design and, in particular, environmentally sustainable fashion design, seem to suggest that a holistic approach to environmental sustainability is fundamental to the implementation thereof. Design has the ability to direct change, and thus design and designers have the potential to drive holistic sustainable practices in the fashion system.The question this research therefore poses is what the role of environmental sustainability should be in a design-driven approach in the South African fashion industry; interrogated through an exploratory and descriptive case study. The case study consists of three purposively selected sub-units that operate within an environmentally sustainable focus in their fashion businesses, and that design, produce, and retail fashion products. The aim of the research was to explore, through a snapshot of the South African fashion system, the implementation of environmental sustainability in the fashion industry in South Africa, in order to determine what role fashion design practice can have in developing environmental sustainability in the fashion system.The most notable finding of the research highlights the immense difficulty of operating as a fashion business from an environmentally sustainable focus in South Africa due to the lack (and unsuitability) of resources that can be considered environmentally sustainable. The declining textile industry of South Africa makes it either almost impossible, or very costly, to work within an environmentally sustainable framework, and is a major impediment in the implementation of environmental sustainability in praxis. Therefore, those businesses that decide to operate within an environmentally sustainable framework do so because of inherent personal values and ethics.The second aspect identified in the survey of scholarship and underpinned by the findings, is a need for a transformative approach with regard to design praxis and how design praxis can influence consumer eco-consciousness. The research concludes with a recommended framework that suggests a holistic and integrated approach to design-driven environmental sustainability in the South African fashion industry, and elaborates on the role of the fashion designer in the implementation of environmental sustainability in the fashion system. The holistic and integrated approach should extend into fashion design education, requiring a fundamental shift in current fashion design education in South Africa.
University of Johannesburg

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Karamata, Helena Ndapopile. "Corporate social responsibility at Namdeb Diamond Corporation : an exploratory case study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/851.

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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The onset of globalisation has brought major shifts in business conduct where stakeholder expectations and business priorities and obligation are concerned, bringing a whole new meaning to the issue of sustainable development. In the past, sustainable development essentially concerned the environment, particularly the safeguarding of ecological interests through more responsible business practices. However, over the years, this perspective has evolved to give equal priority to economic, ecological, as well as social interests. The shift in business priorities and obligation has increased the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR), or the discretionary contribution of corporate resources towards social, environmental and economic development, as defined by the study. The practice of CSR, too, has evolved over time – from being mostly once-off, random philanthropic donations, to a more strategic approach that aligns CSR initiatives with national and corporate objectives. Today, CSR has become an item on many corporate agendas worldwide and hence, the study seeks to explore the concept of corporate social responsibility to gain a deeper understanding of the issue. The aims of the study are to gain an understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility and its dynamics, to establish the nature and scope of CSR at NAMDEB Diamond Corporation, and to establish how CSR at NAMDEB aligns with current global approaches and practices. These will be achieved through an analytical study of CSR literature, an exploration of Government’s expectations of the private sector with regard to CSR, and by exploring NAMDEB’s CSR initiatives and practices. In Chapter 2, the meaning of CSR is explored and defined, followed by a discussion of the history, trends, approaches and practices in CSR. The chapter also presents global initiatives relevant to sustainable development and CSR. Following the literature review, Chapter 3 explores the Government’s expectations of the private sector in terms of its support and involvement in socioeconomic development in Namibia. NAMDEB Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd was selected for the case study, being a leading mining company in Namibia. The Company is the second-largest employer in Namibia, only second to Government, and the country’s largest single taxpayer. In Chapter 4, the study explores the Company’s CSR initiatives and practices to establish the scope and nature of CSR at NAMDEB. The study then seeks to determine the approach adopted by the Company in implementing CSR, and how it aligns with global approaches and practices. The main conclusions of the study and recommendations to the Company are laid down in Chapter 5.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvang van globalisering het ‘n groot verskuiwing veroorsaak aangaande die besigheidspraktyk van belangstellendes, hul besigheidsprioriteite, verantwoordelikhede en ‘n heel nuwe betekenis vir volhoubare ontwikkeling. In die verlede was volhoubare ontwikkeling meer gemoeid met die omgewing, veral die beskerming van sekere ekologiese belange deur middel van meer verantwoordelike besigheidspraktyke. Oor die jare het die konsep van volhoubare ontwikkeling soveel verander en gee nou ook gelyke aandag aan ekonomiese, ekologiese sowel as sosiale belange. Die verskuiwing in besigheidsprioriteite en verantwoordelikhede het die belang van korporatiewe-sosiale verantwoordelikhede (KSV) verhoog, of te wel die oordeelkundige bydrae van korporatiewe hulpbronne vir sosiale-, omgewings en ekonomiese ontwikkeling, soos deur die studie gedefineer. Die praktyk van KSV het ook mettertyd ontwikkel – van eenmalige, willekeurige filantrofiese donasies, na ‘n meer strategiese benadering wat nasionale sowel as korporatiewe objektiewe met KSV inisiatiewe inskakel. Deesdae is KSV ‘n item op agendas van baie wêreldwye korporasies, en gevolglik is die studie se doel om die konsep van KSV te eksploreer en te ontleed om sodoende dit beter te verstaan. Die doel van die studie is om KSV en sy dinamika beter te verstaan asook die omvang van KSV te NAMDEB Diamand Korporasie, en om vas te stel hoe KSV te NAMDEB met huidige wêreldwye benaderings en uitvoerings inskakel. Dié word bereik met ‘n analitiese studie van KSV literatuur, ‘n eksplorasie van die regering se verwagting van die private sektor aangaande KSV, en met die ondersoek van NAMDEB se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke. In Hoofstuk 2 word die betekenis van KSV eksploreer en gedefineer. Hierop volg ‘n bespreking oor die geskiedenis, tendens, benaderings en uitvoering van KSV. Die hoofstuk beeld ook wêreldwye inisiatiewe wat relevant is tot KSV en volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die literatuur oorsig word deur Hoofstuk 3 gevolg, wat die regering se verwagting van die private sektor in terme van dié se ondersteuning en betrokkenheid by die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Namibie eksploreer. NAMDEB is vir hierdie gevalstudie geselekteer omdat dit ‘n leidende korporasie in die mynwese van Namibia is. Die Maatskappy is die tweede grootste werkverskaffer in Namibie, naas die regering, en is ook die grootste enkel belastingbetaler in die land. Hoofstuk 4 kyk na die Maatskappy se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke om sodoende die omvang en natuur van KSV té NAMDEB te bepaal. Die studie probeer verder om die benadering wat deur NAMDEB aangeneem is met die implementering van KSV te bepaal en hoe dit met wêreldwye benaderings en praktyke inskakel. Die hoofafleidings van die studie en voorstelle oor KSV aan die Maatskappy word in Hoofstuk 5 bespreek.

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Tshikila, Mzimasi Eschalaus. "Developing Exxaro (Pty) Ltd sustainable supply chain strategy." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80775.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
This exercise aimed at developing a sustainable supply chain strategy that was adopted by Exxaro Resources (Pty) Ltd. The focus of the approach was to assess the status of Exxaro’s supply chain sustainability compared to that of competitors operating in South Africa and the supply chain dimensions applicable to Exxaro’s scope (i.e. green inventory management, green warehouse/storage management, sustainable procurement or sourcing, sustainable supplier management and sustainable transport/business travelling). The strategy framework used includes a review of supply chain sustainability relating to Exxaro and the requirements thereof, depicting gaps, recommended actions or initiatives to close the gaps, an implementation approach and a schedule. The strategy sets out to distinguish Exxaro in supply chain sustainable development through the setting of guidelines, reporting standards and commitments to economic, labour, human rights as well as social and environmental well-being. The approach envisages collaborating with suppliers and Exxaro’s sustainable development department to continuously improve and embed positive sustainability practices within Exxaro’s supply chain processes. This research report highlights the progress already made with high-level sustainable supply chain management implementation by selected Exxaro competitors, relevant schools of thought and theories with the emphasis on bringing a link to opportunities for Exxaro to progress into supply chain sustainability. The relationship between supply chain practices, environmental performance, social and economic impacts was studied. The mining sector, with its history of negative impacts on societies and the environment, is continuously challenged by the increasing emphasis to demonstrate ethical, social and environmental performance and accountability throughout its business practices. The use of Exxaro as a practical case study limits the extent to which the recommended strategy can be generalised to any mining environment or company. Findings mentioned may be subject to further research by augmenting the scope to include mines operating outside of South Africa or additional mining entities and theories. The approach of the research included empirical studies in the form of in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys on various internal stakeholders. Some information was obtained from the annual reports of Exxaro and a selected number of South African mining companies that are mining similar products to Exxaro. The data was analysed using statistical methods for social sciences with both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.

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Berning, Anika. "Sustainable supply chain engagement in a retail environment : the case of Woolworths food suppliers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95997.

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Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainability is a key requirement for business success and is often regarded a competitive advantage if strategically managed. Sustainability-mature organisations look to their value chains where the retailer-supplier relationship becomes critical in embedding sustainability. With this in mind, it has been established that a large South African retailer, Woolworths, has limited insight into the level of engagement in terms of sustainability with its key food suppliers, and no knowledge of the effectiveness of current tools used in enhancing their supply chain sustainability. This poses a problem, as it hinders the full implementation of Woolworth’s sustainability strategy across their value chain. In response to this, a study was undertaken to establish the level of engagement in terms of sustainability and obtain supplier feedback on the effectiveness of current tools used to enhance Woolworth’s supply chain sustainability. To facilitate this, the United Nations’ Global Compact and the Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline were utilised. Secondary research was conducted by means of a literature review covering the theoretical concepts of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, supply chain sustainability and retailer-supplier collaboration. The qualitative and exploratory nature of the study necessitated a case study research design, while the technique of purposive sampling was used to select the sample of three of Woolworths’ food suppliers. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews facilitated by an interview guide, and data analysis was conducted with Atlas.ti software. It was determined that the current engagement around sustainability between Woolworths and their suppliers is still at a basic and broad level, with a strong environmental focus. Additionally, monitoring and support of sustainability initiatives seems to be lacking. Managerial implications emphasise the importance of an integrated sustainability approach driven by the retailer and a strong focus on collaboration and communication with suppliers around ongoing sustainability challenges and opportunities. The United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was utilised as a framework to map the current level of engagement and was amended for use in the South African context. Future research agendas suggest replica studies in other industries, and that the amended continuum should be tested and further refined for the South African context. In conclusion, specific propositions were formulated to aid future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubaarheid is ‘n sleutel vereiste vir besigheidsukses en word dikwels gesien as ‘n mededingende voordeel indien dit strategies bestuur word. Volhoubaar-volwasse organisasies fokus op hul waardekettings waar die kleinhandelaar-verskaffer verhouding krities is vir die implementering van volhoubaarheid. Met bogenoemde in gedagte, is dit bevind dat ‘n groot Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelaar, Woolworths, beperkte insig het aangaande die vlak van samewerking in terme van volhoubaarheid met sleutel voedselverskaffers. Verder is daar ook geen kennis oor die effektiwiteit van huidige tegnieke wat gebruik word om volhoubaarheid in hul waardeketting te bevorder nie. Dit skep ‘n probleem aangesien dit die effektiewe implementering van Woolworths se volhoubaarheidstrategie in hul waardeketting verhinder. Dus is ‘n studie onderneem om die vlak van betrokkenheid in terme van volhoubaarheid te bepaal, sowel as om terugvoer vanaf verskaffers in te samel aangaande die effektiwiteit van huidige volhoubaarheidsinisiatiewe. Om dit te fasiliteer was daar van die United Nations Global Compact en die Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline gebruik gemaak. Sekondêre navorsing was uitgevoer deur middel van ‘n literatuur studie wat fokus op die teoretiese konsepte van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid, volhoubaarheid, waardeketting-volhoubaarheid, en kleinhandelaar-verskaffer samewerking. Die kwalitatiewe en ondersoekende eienskappe van die studie het gelei tot ‘n gevallestudie navorsingsontwerp, terwyl doelgerigte steekproeftrekking gebruik was om die steekproef van drie van Woolworths se voedselverskaffers te identifiseer. Data insameling het deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude plaasgevind en was gefasiliteer deur ‘n onderhoudgids. Die data was verwerk en geanaliseer met behulp van Atlas.ti sagteware. Dit is bevestig dat die huidige samewerking tussen Woolworths en hul verskaffers, aangaande volhoubaarheid, steeds op ‘n basiese en breë vlak is met ‘n sterk omgewingsfokus. Addisioneel wil dit voorkom dat volgehoue monitering en ondersteuning van volhoubaarheidspogings tekort skiet. Bestuursimplikasies beklemtoon die belangrikheid van ‘n geïntegreerde volhoubaarheidsbenadering wat gedryf moet word deur die kleinhandelaar. Terselfde tyd word ‘n sterk fokus op samewerking en kommunikasie met verskaffers aangaande deurlopende volhoubaarheidsgeleenthede en –uitdagings benodig. Die United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was gebruik as raamwerk om die huidige vlak van samewerking te bepaal en was aangepas vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Toekomstige navorsingsagendas stel voor dat replika studies in ander industrieë gedoen word, en dat die aangepaste kontinuum getoets en verder verfyn word vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Ten slotte was spesifieke proposisies geformuleer vir toekomstige navorsing.

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Mitchell, Samantha Laura. "Environmental, social and corporate governance reporting : perspectives from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and an international metals and mining sample." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95862.

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Thesis (MComm) – Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global interest in responsible investing has grown in recent years. To make effective decisions, responsible investors require listed companies to report on financial and nonfinancial performance, giving particular attention to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations. This study was undertaken to address the paucity of academic research on ESG reporting in South Africa. A number of local studies had focused on environmental and governance reporting, but no studies had taken a holistic view of ESG reporting. Nor had any studies focused on the metals and mining industry in particular. This is a very important industry from an economic and ESG perspective, both in South Africa and internationally. The primary objective of this study was two-fold. Firstly, it was to investigate the extent of ESG reporting (both in South Africa and in a sample of international Metals and Mining companies). The second objective was to evaluate the factors that could potentially influence ESG reporting in these two samples. A positivistic research methodology was adopted as this approach allowed the researcher to test the stated research hypotheses. Quantitative secondary data were thus collected and analysed. The data collection process consisted of three phases: the first phase involved an extensive literature review of the key constructs; the second phase dealt with the collection of data for the dependent variable (Overall ESG score) from MSCI ESG Research’s database; and the third phase entailed collecting data for the 12 independent variables from Bureau van Dijk and selected websites. MSCI ESG Research’s universe was used to establish the two samples used in this study. The JSE sample consisted of 110 listed companies, whereas the international Metals and Mining sample consisted of 173 companies. Because MSCI ESG Research had completed only one year of ESG research when this study commenced, only data for 2012 were available. Descriptive and inferential statistics were completed to analyse the data. The empirical findings of the JSE sample show that the Governance pillar mean score was significantly higher than the Social pillar mean score and the Environmental pillar mean score. ESG reporting was found to be positively associated with companies which were included in the Nedbank Green Index. Companies included in the JSE Socially Responsible Index produced significantly better ESG reports than those excluded from the index. Significant differences were also noted in the Overall ESG score based on the nature of the industry in which a company operated. In the international Metals and Mining sample, two statistically significant relationships were found: larger companies had higher ESG score than smaller companies; and the greater the ownership concentration in a company, the better the ESG reporting on average. Four statistically significant differences were observed. Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index Series had better ESG scores than companies excluded from the index. Companies in developed countries had better ESG reporting than companies in emerging markets. The third difference related to companies which used the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines. These companies had higher Overall ESG scores than those which did not use the guidelines. The same applies to companies which were participants of the UN Global Compact and those who were not. It was concluded that investors who favour sound ESG reporting (and hence ESG management) should ideally focus on larger companies, those which are included in an responsible investing index, use the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines, and are participants of the UN Global Compact. Listed companies, particularly those in the Metals and Mining industry, should give more attention to environmental and social considerations, to the overall quality of their ESG reports, and should make more use of available initiatives to aid non-financial reporting.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afgelope jare het belangstelling in verantwoordelike beleggings wêreldwyd toegeneem. Ten einde verantwoordelike beleggers in staat te stel om doeltreffende besluite te neem, moet genoteerde maatskappye oor hul finansiële én nie-finansiële prestasie verslag doen, met bepaalde klem op omgewings-, maatskaplike en korporatiewe beheer (OMB) kwessies. Hierdie studie is onderneem om ’n leemte in akademiese navorsing oor verslagdoening in Suid-Afrika te vul. ’n Aantal plaaslike studies het al op omgewings- en beheerverslagdoening gekonsentreer, maar geen navorsing tot dusver het OMB-verslagdoening holisties beskou nie. Ook het geen studies nog die soeklig op die metaal- en mynboubedryf in die besonder gewerp nie. Hierdie is ’n baie belangrike bedryf uit ’n ekonomiese en OMB-oogpunt, in Suid-Afrika sowel as internasionaal. Die hoofoogmerk van hierdie studie was tweeledig. Eerstens wou die studie ondersoek instel na die omvang van OMB-verslagdoening (by ’n Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef sowel as ’n steekproef van internasionale metaal- en mynboumaatskappye). Tweedens wou die navorsing die faktore bepaal wat ’n moontlike invloed op die OMB-verslagdoening van hierdie twee steekproewe kan hê. ’n Positivistiese navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik, aangesien hierdie benadering die navorser in staat gestel het om die navorsingshipoteses te toets. Kwantitatiewe sekondêre data was dus ingesamel en ontleed. Die data-insamelingsproses het uit drie fases bestaan: In die eerste fase was ’n omvattende literatuurstudie oor die hoofkonstrukte onderneem; die tweede fase het uit data-insameling oor die afhanklike veranderlike (algehele OMB-telling) uit die databasis van MSCI ESG Research bestaan, terwyl die derde fase data-insameling oor die 12 onafhanklike veranderlikes uit Bureau van Dijk en op uitgesoekte webtuistes behels het. Die universum van MSCI ESG Research is gebruik om die twee steekproewe in hierdie studie te bepaal. Die Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef het uit 110 genoteerde maatskappye bestaan, terwyl die steekproef van internasionale metaal- en mynboumaatskappye 173 entiteite ingesluit het. Aangesien MSCI ESG Research met die aanvang van hierdie studie nog net een jaar van OMB-navorsing onderneem het, was data slegs vir 2012 beskikbaar. Beskrywende en inferensiële statistieke is ontwikkel om die data te ontleed. Die empiriese bevindinge van die Suid-Afrikaanse-steekproef lewer ’n beduidend hoër gemiddelde telling vir beheerverslagdoening as vir maatskaplike en omgewingsverslagdoening op. OMB-verslagdoening blyk ’n positiewe korrelasie te toon met maatskappye wat by Nedbank se groen-indeks ingesluit is. Maatskappye wat ingesluit was in die Johannesburg Effektebeurs se indeks vir maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid het op hulle beurt aansienlik beter OMB-verslae opgestel as dié buite die indeks. Beduidende verskille in algehele OMB-tellings is ook opgemerk op grond van die aard van die bedryf waarin ’n maatskappy funksioneer. In die internasionale metaal- en mynbousteekproef is twee statisties beduidende verwantskappe aangetref: Groter maatskappye het ’n hoër OMB-telling as kleiner maatskappye getoon, en hoe hoër die eienaarskapskonsentrasie in ’n maatskappy, hoe beter die OMB-verslagdoening oor die algemeen. Vier statisties beduidende verskille is boonop waargeneem. Maatskappye wat deel was van die FTSE4Good-indeksreeks het beter OMBtellings opgelewer as maatskappye buite die indeks, en maatskappye in ontwikkelde lande het beter gevaar met OMB-verslagdoening as dié in ontluikende markte. Die derde verskil hou verband met maatskappye wat die riglyne van die Globale Verslagdoeningsinisiatief (GRI) volg, wat algeheel hoër OMB-tellings gehad het as diegene wat nié die riglyne gebruik nie. Dieselfde geld vir maatskappye wat aan die Verenigde Nasies (VN) se wêreldverdrag (“Global Compact”) deelneem en diegene wat nie deelneem nie. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat beleggers wat goeie OMB-verslagdoening (en dus goeie OMB-bestuur) verkies, behoort te konsentreer op groter maatskappye, maatskappye wat by ’n indeks vir verantwoordelike belegging ingesluit is, wat die riglyne van die Internasionale Verslagdoeningsinisiatief volg, en wat aan die VN se wêreldverdrag deelneem. Genoteerde maatskappye, veral dié in die metaal- en mynboubedryf, behoort ook meer aandag te skenk aan omgewings- en maatskaplike sake sowel as die algehele gehalte van hul verslae, en behoort meer gebruik te maak van beskikbare inisiatiewe om nie-finansiële verslagdoening te ondersteun.

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Human, Debbie. "The corporate social dimension of the triple bottom line : a sustainable development perspective." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50127.

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Thesis (MComm) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past the social dimension of business has often been neglected and regarded as inferior to issues related to the financial sphere of business. The rise of sustainable development and a growing awareness regarding the frailty of earth's resources have placed renewed emphasis on the importance of the corporate social dimension for sustained business success. Scrutiny of the literature revealed that numerous misconceptions regarding the corporate social dimension still prevailed and that the success of sustainable development is often jeopardised by a lack of implementation. The triple bottom line (TBL), a concept that embraces corporate economic, environmental and social elements, was identified as a most appropriate way of elucidating the corporate social dimension and for operationalising sustainable development, as it provides several philosophic and implementation principles and guidelines. The objective of this study was to contribute to an improved understanding of the corporate social dimension and its implementation as one of the three parts of the TBL, within the perspective of sustainable development. To achieve this objective it was considered fundamental to analyse the importance and development of the corporate social dimension, the concepts and terminology related to the social dimension, and the current status of the corporate social dimension in both a South African as well as a global context. The positive aspects and limitations of extant approaches were subsequently delineated. Another important prerequisite for achieving the objective of the study was the clarification of the importance, meaning and implications of sustainable development, and the TBL approach as an operationalisation method. The development, three drnensions, importance and benefits of the TBL approach were analysed and several fundamental principles and compulsory guidelines were identified as vital conditions (e.g. a stakeholder approach, leadership support and involvement, equal consideration of all the elements of the TBL, etc.) for apt TBL adoption and sustained business success. An analysis of the relevance of sustainable development and TBL principles and guidelines for the corporate social dimension, and the interrelation between business, government and the social dimension, contributed towards an improved understanding of the social dimension of the corporate triple bottom line and its implementation within the perspective of sustainable development, thereby facilitating the achievement of the objective of the study. The most salient conclusions of the study focused on the importance of addressing the corporate social dimension in an integrated manner within the perspective of sustainable development and by means of the TBL approach, despite the seemingly elusive nature of the social dimension and numerous debates and viewpoints regarding it. Based on the conclusions of the study a number of recommendations were made regarding the process of leveraging the context-specific and dynamic nature of corporate social definitions and viewpoints, the advancement of business application, and the advancement of theory.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die verlede is die sosiale dimensie van besigheid dikwels geïgnoreer en beskou as ondergeskik teenoor kwessies verwant aan die finansiële sfeer van besigheid. Die opkoms van volhoubare ontwikkeling en 'n groeiende bewuswording van die beperktheid van die aarde se hulpbronne het hernieude aandag gevestig op die belangrikheid van die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie vir volhoubare besigheidsukses. 'n Literatuur ondersoek het getoon dat verskeie wanbegrippe met betrekking tot die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie steeds bestaan en dat die sukses van volhoubare ontwikkeling dikwels op die spel geplaas word deur 'n gebrek aan implementering. Die "triple bottom line" (TBL), 'n konsep wat die korporatiewe ekonomiese, omgewings en sosiale elemente omhels, is geïdentifiseer as die mees geskikte manier om die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie toe te lig en volhoubare ontwikkeling te operasionaliseer, aangesien dit verskeie filosofiese en implementerings beginsels en riglyne verskaf. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om 'n bydrae te lewer tot 'n verbeterde begrip van die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie en die implementering daarvan as een van die drie dele van die TBL, binne die perspektief van volhoubare ontwikkeling. Ter bereiking van hierdie doelwit is dit as fundamenteel beskou om die belangrikheid en ontwikkeling van die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie, die konsepte en terminologie verwant aan die sosiale dimensie, en die huidige status van die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie, beide in Suid-Afrika en in 'n globale konteks, te analiseer. Die positiewe aspekte en beperkinge van bestaande benaderings is vervolgens ondersoek. Nog 'n belangrike voorvereiste vir die bereiking van die doewit van die studie was die uitklaring van die belangrikheid, betekenis, en implikasies van volhoubare ontwikkeling, en die TBL benadering as 'n operasionaliserings metode. Die ontwikkeling, drie dimensies, belangrikheid en die voordele van die TBL benadering is geanaliseer en verskeie fundamentele beginsels en verpligtende riglyne is geïdentifiseer as deurslaggewende vereistes (bv. 'n belanghebbende benadering, leierskap ondersteuning en betrokkenheid, gelyke oorweging van al die elemente van die TBL, ens.) vir gepaste TBL aanneming en volhoubare besigheidsukses. Die analisering van die relevansie van volhoubare ontwikkeling en TBL beginsels en riglyne vir die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie, en die interverwantskap tussen besigheid, die regering en die sosiale dimensie, het bygedra tot "n verbeterde begrip van die sosiale dimensie van die korporatiewe TBL en die implementering daarvan binne die perspektief van volhoubare ontwikkeling, en daardeur ook tot die fasilitering van die bereiking van die doelwit van die studie. Die mees uitstaande gevolgtrekkings van die studie fokus op die belangrikheid van die aanspreek van die korporatiewe sosiale dimensie op "n geïntegreerde wyse binne die perspektief van volhoubare ontwikkeling en deur middel van die TBL, ten spyte van die skynbaar ontwykende aard van die sosiale dimensie en die vele debatte en oogpunte met betrekking tot die konsep. Gebaseer op die gevolgtrekkings van die studie is "n aantal aanbevelings gemaak met betrekking tot die proses van die hefboming van die konteks-spesifieke en dinamiese aard van korporatiewe sosiale definisies en oogpunte, die bevordering van besigheidstoepassing, en die bevordering van teorie.

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Mossmann, Jannis. "Corporate social responsibility in the modern world-system - a case study of German Automobile Corporations’ social and environmental responsibilities in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4231.

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Tulibaski, Katherine Lynn. "Communicating CSR: A Longitudinal Examination of the Petroleum Industry's Social Issue Adoption." Diss., North Dakota State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10365/24998.

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28

Erdal, Mari. "The role of political institutions in corporate social responsibility : the case of the Norwegian government and the shipping industry." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96057.

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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the rise of the modern corporation in the late 19th century, the debate on the relationship between business and society has flourished, and the negative impact of businesses became evident as the number and scale of large corporations increased. As a result of the globalization of trade and economic activity, regulating and auditing multinational companies have become both more important and more problematic. Along with the new challenges to be met by companies operating in foreign countries, these factors have resulted in a greater demand for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Originating as an Anglo-American management idea, CSR has spread and become a well-established tool for businesses worldwide. In today’s global capitalist system, characterized by open markets, it is widely acknowledged that it is the role of the state to establish the preconditions for the proper functioning of markets by defining legal rules, establishing enforcement bodies, and providing public goods. However, many corporations choose to go beyond the required regulatory levels and voluntarily engage in CSR. Studies of CSR have long been dominated by business and economic scholars, usually with the aim to confirming or denying CSR as a tool for profit-maximization, and until the last decade, social and political scientists have shown little interest in CSR. From a political science view, the relation between the state, markets and corporations is of interest, but few studies have investigated how political institutions influence corporate behavior. This study has therefore researched the institutional determinants of CSR by analyzing the efforts and the role of the Norwegian government in promoting CSR in the shipping industry. The White Paper on CSR was used as guide to the government’s approach to CSR, and was analyzed in light of the specific CSR challenges faced in the shipping industry. For this purpose, a qualitative methodology and case study research design was adopted to provide in-depth information. New institutional theory and comparative political economy provided the theoretical framework for the study, and helped in answering the main research question: What is the role of the Norwegian government, as a political institution, in promoting CSR in the Norwegian shipping industry? as well as the sub-questions. The study identified both strengths and weaknesses in the government’s role as CSR promoter, and argued that the predominantly international focus of the White Paper is suitable for globally oriented industries, like shipping, while reducing its relevance for nationally oriented firms. The study further found that the government as institution provides the industry with CSR incentives, other than financial ones, as it sets the standards for what is perceived as modern and just corporate behavior. In addition, CSR in the shipping industry was found to take an explicit form, and to reflect the national institutional environment. The findings stand in contrast to the way in which the above-mentioned theories expect CSR to take shape in coordinated market economies. In broader sense, the findings affect the perception of the relationship between CSR as a management tool and strategy, and CSR as a political and regulatory tool that may be used actively by authorities.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die opkoms van die moderne korporasie in die laat 19de eeu, het die debat oor die verhouding tussen besigheid en samelewing floreer terwyl die negatiewe impak van besighede sigbaar geword het soos die aantal en omvang van groot korporasies toegeneem het. As gevolg van die globalisering van handel en ekonomiese aktiwiteit, het die regulerende en multinasionale ouditeringsmaatskappye beide belangrik en meer problematies geword. Tesame met die nuwe uitdagings wat maatskappye in vreemde lande moet ontmoet, het hierdie faktore aanleiding gegee tot ‘n groter vraag na korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid (KSV). KSV het sy oorsprong as ‘n Anglo-Amerikaanse bestuursidee gehad en het ‘n goed gevestigde hulpmiddel vir besighede wêreldwyd geword terwyl dit ook versprei het. In vandag se globale kapitalistiese sisteem wat deur oop markte gekenmerk word, word dit wydverspreid erken dat dit die rol van die staat is om voorwaardes vir die behoorlike funksionering van markte te vestig deur regsreëls te definieer, handhawingsliggame te vestig en publieke goedere te verskaf. Baie korporasies verkies egter om verder as die vereiste regulerende vlakke en vrywillige deelname in KSV te gaan. Studies van die KSV is vir lank oorheers deur besigheid- en ekonomiese geleerdes wat gewoonlik die doel gehad het om die KSV te bevestig of te ontken as ‘n hulpmiddel vir wins-maksimalisering, en tot en met die laaste dekade het sosiale en politieke wetenskaplikes min belangstelling in die KSV getoon. Uit die Politieke Wetenskaplike oogpunt is die verhouding tussen die staat, markte en korporasies van belang terwyl min studies al ondersoek het hoe politieke instellings korporatiewe gedrag beïnvloed. Hierdie studie het dus die bepalende faktore van die KSV nagevors deur die pogings en die rol van die Noorweegse regering in die bevordering van KSV in die skeepsvaart te analiseer. Die Witskrif op KSV is gebruik as ‘n gids vir die regering se benadering tot die KSV, en is ontleed in die lig van die spesifieke KSV uitdagings wat in die seevaart industrie in die gesig gestaar word. Vir hierdie doeleinde is ‘n kwalitatiewe metodologie en gevallestudie navorsingsontwerp aangeneem om in-diepte inligting te verskaf. Nuwe institusionele teorie en vergelykende politieke ekonomie het die teoretiese raamwerk vir die studie verskaf en het gehelp in die beantwoording van die hoof navorsingsvraag: Wat is die rol van die Noorweegse regering, as ‘n politieke instelling, in die bevordering van KSV in die Noorweegse seevaart industrie? Sowel as die sub-vrae. Hierdie studie het beide sterkpunte en swakpunte in die regering se role as KSV promotor identifiseer en het geargumenteer dat die oorwegende internasionale fokus van die Wit Skrif geskik is vir globaal georiënteerde industrieë soos seevaart, terwyl die toepaslikheid van nasionaal oriënteerde firmas verminder is. Die studie het verder bevind dat die regering as instelling KSV insentiewe aan die industrie anders as finansiële verskaf het, deur dat dit die standaarde stel vir wat gesien word as moderne en regverdige korporatiewe gedrag. Daar is verder bevind dat die KSV ‘n eksplesiete vorm aangeneem het in die seevaart industrie om die nasionale institusionele omgewing te vertoon. Die bevindings staan egter in teenstelling tot die manier waarop die bogenoemde teorieë van die KSV verwag om vorm aan te neem in gekoördineerde mark ekonomieë. In die breër sin beïnvloed die bevindings die siening van die verhouding tussen KSV as ‘n bestuur hulpmiddel en strategie en KSV as ‘n politieke en regulerende hulpmiddel wat aktief deur owerhede gebruik kan word.

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Tondhlana, Lawrence. "Factors affecting environmental sustainability of the downstream oil industry in Western Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2709.

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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
The oil industry has been a major contributor to economic development in many countries; providing jobs, revenue, infrastructure and businesses to third parties. However, this development has also come with adversity on the physical environment. The oil industry accounts for the highest Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in the world, making it the number one polluter. In addition, South Africa has been regarded as the biggest polluter in Africa, with fossil-based fuel cited as the major cause of environmental degradation. South Africa’s physical environment is also cited as having degraded more than most countries in Africa. This proposition requires players in the oil industry to urgently address this situation. As the future of economic development is likely to be spearheaded by the oil industry, concerns have been raised at the slow rate of addressing oil companies’ operations which causes the environment to be less sustainable. This study uses a qualitative content analysis to explore the oil companies’ actions towards addressing environmental adversity caused by their unsustainable operations. In order to be environmental sustainable, oil companies must; incorporate environmental sustainability into missions and visions, financial investment into sustainable initiatives, involve top management in environmental programs, engage stakeholder, comply and align organisational processes and operations with environmental legislations and introducing renewable energy.

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Zhang, Junru. "Determinants of corporate environmental and social disclosure in Chinese listed mining, electricity supply and chemical companies annual reports." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/529.

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As the environmental and social disclosing systems have been developed over decades, the climate of corporate environmental and social responsibility is becoming mature nowadays globally. What and how environment-sensitive companies (i.e. companies that are more likely to do environmental damages) disclose such information voluntarily are extensively concerned by the public, especially in China, where strong debatable issues constantly raise as a result of the rapid economic growth. Corporate environmental and social responsibility is no longer an international obligation but a domestic demand for China. This study will enhance our understanding of a very important issue in arguably the world's most vibrant economy. The thesis has contributed the literature in a number of ways. First, this study aimed to measure the type and extent of both corporate environmental and social reporting across the Chinese environmental sensitive industries’ annual reports, which include mining, electricity supply, and chemical industries. A dichotomous method was employed and the Global Reporting Initiative third edition (G3) was selected as a benchmark. In addition, the characteristics of the companies that voluntarily disclose environmental and social information in their annual reports were to be examined under legitimacy theory. Seven hypotheses that developed seven predictor variables based on legitimacy theoretical framework with one of three industries examined each time. The variables were government ownership, management role, member of industrial association, profitability, operating leverage, company age, and firm size. Finally, results in differences across industries were to be discussed and compared. This study aimed to measure the type and extent of corporate environmental and social reporting across the Chinese mining, electricity supply, and chemical industries' annual reports, using the Global Reporting Initiative third edition (G3) as a benchmark. In addition, the characteristics of companies that voluntarily disclose environmental and social information in their annual reports were to be examined under legitimacy theory. There are seven hypotheses that developed seven predictor variables based on legitimacy theoretical framework with one of three industries examined each time. The variables were government ownership, management role, member of industrial association, profitability, operating leverage, company age, and firm size. Finally, results in differences across industries were to be discussed and compared. There were a total of 193 sample companies selected from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange database, and content analysis was applied to review and examine their annual reports in 2010. The G3 guidelines were used to indicate the extent of environmental and social performances by the sample companies. Companies’ specific characters for the predictor variables were also obtained from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange database. In order to accomplish the first aim of the study, descriptive statistics were used to determine the type and extent of environmental and social disclosures in the sample industries' 2010 annual reports. In addition, to accomplish the second aim, which is to examine the determinants of corporate environmental and social disclosure under legitimacy theory, univariate statistics and multiple regressions analysis were adopted. The comparisons across the sample industries were conducted after the regression analysis. Research findings from environmental disclosure analysis showed that although mining industry disclosed slightly more information than electricity supply industry, the extent of environmental reporting for all three industries were typically low because information disclosed was limited to several categories. It was found that Chinese mining, electricity supply, and chemical industries are more likely to disclose information regarding energy and materials, which were the most concerned aspects in the Chinese society. Environmental disclosure regression analysis indicated that most of the predictor variables from legitimacy theory are able to explain the extent of environmental reporting in the sample industries. The results indicated that member of industrial association, company age, company size and profitability were significant to the extent environmental reporting across the three sample industries. However, government ownership was found to be insignificant in the study. Results from social disclosure analysis indicated that electricity supply industries disclosed slightly more information than mining and chemical companies in their 2010 annual reports. Interestingly, all of the sample companies disclosed at least one item from the G3 social guidelines; however, the information disclosed was narrow in only a few categories, and the extent of social disclosure in the sample industries was typically low. The disclosure analysis found that Chinese mining, electricity supply, and chemical industries were more likely to disclose labour practices and decent work, and human rights information. The regression analysis showed that company size, profitability, leverage and management role have become the most significant factors, whereas member of industrial association was found to be insignificant in the sample industries. This study concludes that on the basis of legitimacy theory, the amount of environmental and social information disclosed in the Chinese mining, electricity supply, and chemical industries’ annual reports was almost the same, and the firm specific predictor variables have similar influences across industries both environmentally and socially.

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Von, Witt Simon. "Why do companies go green? A qualitative study of the motivations and contextual factors inducing sustainable responses." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6859.

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Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: ‘Going green’ draws its origins from the ‘green’ in politics, which was first used as a party name by the German Greens (Die Grünen) in the late 1970s, which, although not the first green party, through media hype triggered the conception of a green movement in the early 1980s. This was voiced through green parties across the globe. Green is now seen as a buzzword and is often used as shorthand for discussing sustainability. It has since gained support leading to the gathering of more than 100 heads of state at the Earth Summit, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 and provided the necessary platform to launch a global campaign. It initially began in developed nations, in particular European countries, but has since spread to developing countries, despite receiving abundant opposition both from developed and developing nations, due to its impact on the oil and coal sectors. The purpose of this research is to determine the core motivation behind companies going green. The researcher does this through a qualitative study of the motivations and contextual factors that induce ecological responsiveness ranging from day to day business practices to the ecological design of their offices. The researcher tests the hypothesis, namely climate change mitigation, which is developed through the literature study and adopted to evaluate the four case studies selected. The researcher builds up his argument in chapters 3 to 5, which draw on the literature studied and first discuss Government’s response to climate change, then the interventions in place to address climate change and finally look at the four case studies. Climate change and its relevance to companies is the key motivation behind deciding on this topic and it is discussed throughout the thesis. Companies interviewed in this thesis expressed concern about it, although it was not always the primary motivation. Some had already introduced measures to address it and were continually looking at new ways of mitigating it. Similarly, the companies interviewed and others analysed were all concerned about introducing cost saving measures, which had the added advantage of being of benefit to the environment. Genuine reasons for mitigating climate change and concern over the future of the planet put forward by certain companies, while protecting profit margins were given by others. All served to achieve one goal to protect the environment through the sustainable use of natural resources and ultimately to enhance companies’ public images as being green companies. This study is divided into a literature review and case studies, where literature pertaining to climate change, renewable energy, sustainable building, corporate governance, green jobs and others was sourced from government gazettes, newspapers, academic studies, books, documentaries, journals, magazines and internet sources. These serve to develop and support the case studies, which take the form of interviews done with owners and workers from the selected companies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om groen te wees is ‘n uitdrukking wat van die politiek afkomstig is. Die naam is eers deur die Duitse Groenparty (Die Grünen) in die laat sewentiger jaar gebruik en alhoewel dit nie eintlik die eerste groenparty was, het dit deur middel van die media gelei tot die totstandkoming van die groenbeweging in die vroeer tagtige jare. Die naam “groen” is deur groenpartye wêreldwyd gebruik en ‘groen’ word deesdae as ‘n bynaam gebruik as ‘n mens van verdedigbaarheid praat. In 1992 te Rio de Janeiro, Brazil het die groenbeweging sterk steun gevind toe meer as 100 staatshoofde by die ‘Earth Summit’ bymekaar vergader het. Oorspronklik het die groenbeweging in die ontwikkelde nasies, veral Europese nasies, begin maar het daarna tot die ontwikkelende nasies uitgebrei. Maar daar was heelwat teenstand van beide ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende nasies, weens die ekonomiese uitwerking op die olie en steenkool industriëe. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om te bepaal watter motiverende faktore maatskappye inagneem as hulle “groen” gaan. Die skrywer versoek om vas te stel deur middel van ‘n kwalitatiewe studie van die motiverende en samehangende faktore wat ekologiese antwoordendheid teweegbring. Hierdie faktore beweeg van daaglikse besigheidspraktyke tot die ekologiese beplanning van die kantore. Die skrywer gebruik die versagting van klimaatverandering as ‘n toets, wat deur die literatuurstudie ontwikkel is en wat verwys word as die sleutelmotivering wat tot groening lei, en wat gebruik word om die vier uitgesoekte studies te beoordeel. Elkeen van die studies word volgens hierdie kriteria bepaal. Die skrywer pas hierdie kriteria ook op voorbeelde wat gebruik word om die vier uitgesoekte studies te steun. Die skrywer bou in hoofstukke 3 tot 4 sy argument op. Daar word die regering se reaksie tot klimaatverandering en groot besigheid se antwoord op regeringsbeleid uiteengesit. Ons sien ook die bemiddelinge wat in staat gestel is om klimaatverandering teen te staan; daarna word die agtergrond oor die logiese gronde vir die verkiesing van die vier gevallestudies bespreek, en laastens word die eintlike gevallestudies behandel. Klimaatverandering en die relevantheid daarvan is die sleutelmotivering vir die keuse van hierdie onderwerp en dit word deurgaans in die proefskrif bespreek. Dit is die een gemeenskaplike faktor waaroor die vier ondervraagde maatskappye getoets is; hulle het reeds stappe geneem om dit teen te staan en soek aanhoudend om die uitwerking van klimaatverandering te versag. ‘n Oorsig van die algemene literatuur en sakestudies, die literatuur wat spesifiek op klimaatverandering van toepassing is, hernieubare energie, verduurbare geboue, maatskaplike beheer, ‘groen’ werk en klimaatverandering te versag. Inligting afkomstig van staatskoerante, koerante, akademiese studies, boeke, dokumentere studies, joernale, tydskrifte en internet bronne. Altesame het hierdie bronne bygedra tot die ontwikkeling en steun van die gevallestudies, wat hoofsaaklik die vorm van onderhoude met werkgewers en werknemers van uitgesoekde maatskappye gevat het.

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Chen, Yang. "The role of IS-enabled capabilities in corporate sustainability : evidence from China." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2011. http://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_ra/1256.

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Louw, Roelof. "The promotion of sustainable development in the information and communication technology sector in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20841.

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Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Graduate School of Business.
Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The World Commission of Environment and Development defines sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This statement forms the basis on which the study of sustain ability and sustainable development is built. The importance and impact of this statement was only accepted some half a century ago although the main cause for this statement, capitalism, is still the foundation of many economic systems today which has been in existence since almost three centuries ago. The original approach to sustainable development was obligatory acceptance of cleaning up excessive pollution. The culprits were heavy industries which had a direct dependence on natural resources and were directly responsible for excessive pollution. From this approach, sustainable development evolved to pollution prevention and later a sustainable vision through clean technologies. This evolution is described by the Sustainable Value Framework formulated by Stuart L. Hart. Since the 1990's light industries as well as indirect polluters and users of resources also acknowledged and accepted the call to sustainable development. This study addresses the promotion of sustainable development in South African ICT organisations through the definition of a corporate sustainable development programme (CSDP). The sustainable development performance of an organisation can be determined by assessment of the specific measuring instruments and available reporting on the subject. The most relevant measuring instruments for ICT organisations were identified as: the GRI G3 guidelines, the King II Report and the JSE / SRI Index with the GeSI as the appropriate body governing the ICT sector's sustainable development performance. An analysis of sustainable development reporting of South African ICT organisations, based on these measuring instruments, revealed the suitability of these instruments to gauge the triple bottom line objectives of sustainable development. As the triple bottom line objectives form part of the foundation of a CSDP the identified measurement instruments can in part be used to report on CSDP performance. This research report suggests that the triple bottom line measurement is not sufficient to measure the effectiveness of a CSDP as an effective CSDP requires integration into the business plan and strategy of an organisation. Measurement of the extent of business plan and strategy integration is therefore required. The ICT sector must accept the significance of the indirect and cross-sector roles in sustainable development and incorporate this as part of a CSDP. The ICT sector contributes mostly by enabling cross-sector sustainable development initiatives such as the slowing down of climate change. Furthermore, an leT organisation should employ its corporate governance framework to implement an integrated CSDP plan. Within the South African context of sustainable development a CSDP must consider the accelerated growth and transformation objectives while maintaining sustainable development objectives.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wereld Kommissie van Omgewingsake en Ontwikkeling definieer volhoudbaarheid as "bevrediging van die behoeftes van die huidige sonder om die foekomsfige generasie se vermoe om hul behoeftes fe bevredig fe kompromiseer." Hierdie stelling vorm die basis van die studie oor volhoudbaarheid en volhoudbare ontwikkeling. Die belangrikheid en impak van hierdie stelling is eers ongeveer 'n halwe eeu gelede aanvaar terwyl die hoofoorsaak vir die stelling, kapitalisme, steeds die basis vorrn van vele ekonomiese stelsels vandag wat sedert ongeveer drie eeue gelede bestaan. Die oorspronklike benadering tot volhoudbare ontwikkeling het behels die aanvaarding van die verpligting om besoedeling skoon te maak. Die oortreders was swaar industrie wie direk van natuurlike hulpbronne afhanklik was en wie direk verantwoordelik was vir oormatige besoedeling. Hierdie benadering het ontwikkel tot besoedelingsvoorkoming and later 'n volhoudbare strategie wat gebasseer word op skoon tegnologie. Hierdie ontwikkeling word beskryf in die Volhoudbare Waarde Raamwerk wat deur Stuart L. Hart geformuleer is. Sedert die 1990's het die ligte industri!! en ook die indirekte besoedelaars en gerbruikers van natuurlike bronne die raep na volhoudbare ontwikkeling erken en aanvaar. Hierdie stu die spreek die bevordering van volhoudbare ontwikkeling in Suid Afrikaanse informasie en kommunikasie tegnologie (IKT) organisasies aan , deur middel van die definisie van 'n korporatiewe volhoudbare ontwikkelingsprogram (KVOP). 'n Organisasie se vertoning ten opsigte van volhoudbare ontwikkeling kan bepaal word deur na die spesfieke meetinstrumente en beskikbare verslaggewing random die onderwerp te kyk. Die mees relevante metingsinstrumente vir IKT organisasies is vasgestel as: die GRI G3 riglyne, die King II Verslag en die JSE I SRI Indeks met die GeSI as die aangewese organisasie wat die IKT sektor se volhoudbare ontwikkeling bestuur. 'n Analise van die volhoudbare ontwikkeling verslaggewing in Suid Afrikaanse IKT organisasies, gebasseer op die genoemde meetingsinstrumente, wys die toepaslikheid van hierdie meetingsinstrumente om die prestasie op die drievoudige bodemlyndoelwitte van volhoudbare ontwikkeling aan te duL Hierdie doelwitte maak ook deel uit van 'n KVOP. In hierdie navorsingsverslag word die veronderstelling gemaak dat die drievoudige bodemlynmeeting nie aileen voldoende is om die effektiewiteit van 'n KVOP te bepaal nie, aangesien 'n effektiewe KVOP die integrasie in die besigheidsplan en strategie van 'n organisasie behels. Meeting van die streking van besigheidsplan en strategie is ook dus nodig. Die IKT sektor moet die belangrikheid aanvaar van indirekte en kruissektor rol in volhoudbare ontwikkeling en dit as dee I van 'n KVOP inkorporeer. Die IKT sektor dra die meeste by tot volhoudbare ontwikkeling deur ander sektore in staat te stel om volhoudbare ontwikkeling inisiatiewe te beaefen soos byvoorbeeld die vertraging van klimaatsverandering. Verder, 'n IKT organisasie moet die korporatiewe bestuursraamwerk gebruik as die implementeringsplatvorm vir 'n ge·integreerde KVOP. Binne die Suid Afrikaanse konteks van volhoudbare ontwikkeling moet 'n KVOP ook die versnelde groei en transformasie doelwitte in ag neem terwyl volhoudbare ontwikkelingsdoelwitte onderhou word.

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Kök-Kalaycı, İrem. "Politics of transparency : contested spaces of corporate responsibility, science and regulation in shale gas projects of the UK and the US." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2016. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:79f34c61-709d-44f1-ae1c-c298cd4cb07c.

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This thesis presents a political geography of transparency, regulation and resource making in shale gas projects in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). The emergence of shale gas as a politically and economically desirable resource occupied national political aspirations, most notably in the US and to some extent in the UK, for reasons of energy security and economic development. Although shale gas has become a globally desirable resource, this thesis shows that the resource is not same everywhere. Following knowledge making practices in distinct regulatory regimes of the UK and the US, I trace how making of shale gas resource is subjected to contestation in a range of technical fields, such as law, economics, geosciences and environmental impact assessment. The study is based on in-depth analysis of technical and policy documents, and interviews with a wide range of actors (i.e. regulators, gas companies, investors, scientists, landowners), and field visits in the US (New York, Pennsylvania and Texas) and the UK (Lancashire, Litchfield and London). Drawing on theoretical insights from the Science and Technology Studies (STS), legal and resource geographies, I empirically showed that both regulatory practices and resource materialities matter in encapsulating making of shale gas projects in different national contexts. Documenting how information production and its contestation is entangled with assemblages of materials and technologies, as well as regulatory, geoscientific and market interventions in the context of the UK and the US, this thesis offers an alternative account of the geography of transparency and regulation regarding the development of shale gas policies. The political viability of shale projects depends on how these informational spaces are generated, contested and transformed in nationally specific scientific practices and regulatory regimes.

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Dlamini, Mlandvo Africa. "Public relations models and corporate social responsibility in the mining sector in Richards Bay, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2303.

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Thesis (MTech (Public Relations Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
The history of public relations include facets of “publicity” and “press agentry,” and has matured beyond these narrow, tactical functions, rising to accept positioning as strategic communications which can drive corporate social responsibility decision-making that resonate credibly with community stakeholder. The study explored public relations models of communication within stakeholder engagement to establish corporate social responsibility projects in the mining sector in Richards Bay, South Africa. The stakeholder engagement process depends greatly on principles outlined in the King Reports, which includes a stakeholder ‘inclusive approach’ and ethical guidelines for ‘governing stakeholder relationships’ and emphasises ‘sustainable development’. Furthermore, a socially responsibility business integrates the economic, legal, ethical and discretionary obligation of business to society and further recognizes its place in the broader community. Although qualitative research design was chosen for this study, the research used purposive sampling to select individuals and groups for data collection on the stakeholder communication experience. Six Individual in-depth interviews and one focus group interview were conducted with the organisation’s Communities and Corporate Relations team and the community leaders. The research reports that the corporate social responsibility stakeholder engagement process has five stages (consultation, engagement, agreement, decision making and feedback) and there is an evaluation process on community development projects set by the organisation. Consequently, the organisation and the communities both benefit from the corporate social responsibility projects. Additionally, the analysis shows that the model used for stakeholder engagement within corporate social responsibility is the mixed-motive model of public relations. Hence, the relationship between the organisation and its host communities is established and maintained, as well as the social licence to operate and reputation is enhanced. Therefore the research concludes that a public relations’ mixed-motive model of communication is best suited for stakeholder engagement in order to establish corporate social responsibility projects in the host communities that can enhance favourable organisation-community relationships. The model intends to achieve equilibrium between the organisation and the community stakeholder. However, further research is recommended into the development of a new African public relations model of communication that encompasses the concept of ‘Ubuntu’ where the community leader is the final decision maker in consultation with the traditional council.

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Prabawani, Bulan. "An exploratory examination of the factors influencing Indonesian SME's sustainability practices in the textile and chemical industries." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/576.

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All firms have an impact on the environment in which they operate, for example in the exploration and processing of environmental resources to make a profit. Manufacturing firms, in particular have the potential to pollute the environment with dangerous liquid and solid wastes. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to the global economy in both developing and developed countries. Individually, SMEs appear to have little environmental impact, but accumulatively, they have a considerable impact, not only economically but also environmentally. However, managing environment impact is not usually core business for SMEs. SMEs often suffer from a lack of internal resources and capabilities. For example they can have limited access to credit given their high risk, limited warranty, and lack of managerial experience or track record in managing aspects such as financial, production, and sales data. In terms of environmental issues, SMEs often attract little attention from the media, although government does support environmental management initiatives. Consequently, SME owner managers can be indifferent to, or unable to implement, sustainability practices. Thus, natural resources become objects of exploitation or over exploitation. Although there are many differences in sustainability definitions, all definitions have at their heart the same objective, that is, how today‘s firms‘ needs are fulfilled such that they do not harm the future. This is evident in definition of sustainability in the business field as ―one that creates profits for its shareholders while protecting the environment and improving the lives of those with whom it interacts‖ (Savitz & Weber, 2006, p.x). Thus, the concept of sustainability is not one which is solely orientated to economic aspects or profit, but also to social and natural aspects, in terms of the triple bottom line (TBL) in undertaking business. Indonesian SMEs in the manufacturing industry are a source of significant employment; however, they suffer a range of issues. The Asian Development Bank (2005) reported that industrial waste and pollution in Indonesia is out of control, while regulation and enforcement by government is completely inadequate. Studies have shown Indonesia‘s chemical based manufacturers contribute to air pollution, contamination of water sources, and depletion of groundwater through improper and illegal disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The focus of this thesis is SMEs sustainability: perceived benefits, drivers for and barriers to sustainability. As such this is a study of the natural, social, and economic dimensions that make up the concept of sustainability in relation to Indonesian SMEs. The literature identifies a range of natural, social and economic factors influencing sustainability and these were collated into a model. Eight case studies of SMEs in the Central Java chemical and textile industries were undertaken to refine the measures in the model of sustainability. The overall sustainability of the case study firms was also assessed while hypotheses were constructed as to the relationships between constructs and firms sustainability practices based on firm types and size, as well as industry. A survey of 215 chemical and textile SMEs was then undertaken to test the refined model and develop a final model. The model was developed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) or a measurement model, which included some second order factors for dependent latent variables, and then followed by a structural model which combined each final measurement model. The final model was found to have a high fit (.971 CFI,/df, .041 RMSEA, and .081 RMR) with efficiency as a critical factor influencing sustainability practices. Overall the study found that sustainability practices were not first priority for these SMEs although they were more inclined towards the present interests in the Sustainable Value framework developed by Hart and Milstein (2003). Indonesian SMEs emphasised resource consumption and civil society issues. In terms of the level of sustainability this group of SMEs were found to have moved ‗beyond the level of legal compliance‘ in terms of their sustainability practices. While Hubbard‘s (2009) Sustainability Balanced Scorecard stresses a balance between the economic as well as the natural and social dimensions of sustainability, this balance was not evident for these Indonesian SMEs. The SME owner managers were also more concerned with the social dimension of sustainability and this was at odds with their perception of the government‘s concern being with the natural dimension of sustainability. However moral mandate was evident as a driver for the natural and social dimensions of sustainability as has been found in other studies of SMEs in developed countries such as New Zealand and the Netherland.

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Adam, Shalima. "Carbon disclosure and company performance : a portfolio performance approach." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21194.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
The objective of this research study was to investigate whether socially responsible companies that disclose their carbon emission, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure leaders’, outperform their non-disclosing counterparts, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure laggards’. This research study attempted to substantiate the relationship between companies’ carbon disclosure practices and companies’ share price performance. An empirical analysis was conducted with a focus on South African-listed Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) top-100 companies. A portfolio approach was utilised to establish if any significant relationship exists between company carbon disclosure and company share price performance. Portfolios were constructed based on companies that participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and were thus categorised into JSE industry sectors. It was assumed that by using industry-specific sectors, the macro-economic conditions would generally affect all companies in that specific sector in a similar way, thus enabling comparative analysis. The results from this study subsequently found, having done various analyses in terms of share price growth and carbon disclosure, that no significant correlation exists in terms of the CDP. This would, however, be correct in terms of the analysed data, which is limited at times, but cannot be necessarily inferred as a broader statement. Intuitively, it can be said that carbon disclosure and greater ratings in terms of the CDP would imply that companies are more positive in dealing with their carbon footprint, which would be more positive for their long-term existence and sustainability. Equally, it could also yield various cost savings that will translate into higher earnings and earnings per share that drive share price growth. In becoming more active in reducing the carbon footprint, companies would also reduce their risk profile since they would be better aligned to potential restrictive carbon emission legislation and improve their public profile, which could again boost profitability. Further arguments can be made to suggest that disclosure of a company’s carbon initiatives and footprint would benefit the company’s value and share price performance. Thus, having observed the outcomes of the analyses conducted in this report, the more appropriate question would be if other factors exist that could have affected the outcomes as observed and whether these factors could have overshadowed the proof that there is a positive correlation between share price growth and carbon disclosure.

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Traies, Samantha Jane, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Corporate sustainability: Greenwash or a path to sustainable capitalism?" Deakin University. School of History, Heritage and Society, 2005. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050902.105421.

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The problems of unsustainable development and the increased-awareness of corporate power in the global era have contributed to an agenda of corporate citizenship. This thesis explores the meanings and practices that fall under the banner of the triple bottom line of corporate citizenship through forty-two in-depth interviews with representatives from the corporate sector and NGO sector (including trade unions) in Australia. This purposive sample includes a specific range of corporate industries and NGO types, all of which have involvement with various areas of sustainability. Interviewees described their feelings and experiences in relation to the concept of the triple bottom line, the potential and limitations of this type of sustainability and the purpose and impacts of partnerships between NGOs and the corporate sector. On the basis of this research, this thesis argues that corporate citizenship is at best, a set of initiatives for making minor adjustments to the way companies perform their day-to-day operations and at worst, a program for improving corporate image rather than performance and for shifting the agenda of sustainable development toward corporate interests. While radical steps are required to achieve a sustainable society and environment, the terms of corporate citizenship offer very limited opportunities for change. The self-regulatory and market based model of citizenship does not challenge the impact of consumerism or the legitimacy of particular industry types and their products, except where threats are perceived to the longevity of the companies involved. Furthermore, while the exploitation of the environment and society has occurred as a result of corporate self-interest, corporate citizenship is justified on the same basis. The self-interest rationale and the tyranny of the economic bottom line in particular, substantially limit the fields of responsibility that can be included in the citizenship paradigm. While there are undoubtedly some well-intentioned corporate representatives who are working toward attaining a more sustainable corporate culture, the discourse is primarily used to shift the sustainable development agenda toward corporate paradigms and interests.

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So, Ming-tat, and 蘇明達. "Tracking the evolution of corporate environmentalism in Hong Kong: a study of environmental reporting." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31245948.

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Ally, Kutbuddin. "Individual and organisational learning and the ecology : factors that influence the direction of learning." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85761.

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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are required to change their internal structures and configuration at a rapid rate as the external environment changes. The external environment comprises of a number of actors and agents that make up society. This includes social movements and government. The influence that industry has over the actions of government is significant. The question is how society, via social movements and NGO’s, influence government and thereby policy and how this leads to change in business organisations. How does learning take place in business organisations when it comes to ecological matters? What is the effect of social norms, expressed in public policy and social movements, on organisations? How can these processes be enhanced for the sake of the ecological agenda? The aim of the research is to present a case for directing the learning process. Organisations will generally develop new products based on existing knowledge and grow this knowledge base. It is argued by some theorists that social movements and NGO’s influence the process of innovation and development. To cater for the ecological elements in an innovation process, it must be part of the organisational objectives. It means that it must be catered for from the outset to direct and influence the process. Chapter 1 outlines the problem statement and the argument that social norms influence the learning process of individuals and groups in organisation to achieve an ecologically friendly outcome in a variety of ways. To determine if the hypothesis is true, Chapter 2 researched the subject of organisational learning. It examines the attributes that organisations must have to promote a learning agenda. This includes the role that the external organisational environment plays through feedback loops, and how these influence the direction of the learning process. To understand issues regarding the ecology, I present in Chapter 3 a high level synopsis based on existing knowledge of economics, environmental economics and ecological modernisation. Both Chapters 2 and 3 take a view on policy and the role it plays in shaping the learning process. It is important that the process of policy development is influenced from the outset. Through the networks of the social movements, alternatives may be presented to society. These alternatives are aimed at influencing the innovation process of organisations either directly through the market or indirectly through policy. When society subscribes to the position presented, a social movement gives them the means to engage with industry and government. Chapter 4 is a case study on carbon capture and storage. The purpose of the case study is to demonstrate the interaction of the various actors in a technology development process and the factors that have to be taken into account when making decisions. It is a demonstration of a directed learning process with the aim of developing an ecologically friendly technology. Chapter 5 is the concluding chapter and provides a summary of learning organisations and ecological modernisation. I provide a brief summary of the main points in the argument and draw a conclusion on the relationship between organisational learning and how this learning is directed from the outset.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies moet hul interne strukture en verstellings te verander teen 'n vinnige tempo as die eksterne omgewing verander. Die eksterne omgewing bestaan uit 'n aantal van die akteurs en agente wat die die samelewing op maak. Dit sluit sosiale bewegings en die regering in. Die invloed wat die bedryf het oor die optrede van die regering is betekenisvol. Die vraag is hoe die samelewing , deur middel van sosiale bewegings en nie-regeringsorganisasies , die invloed van die regering en sodoende beleid en hoe dit lei tot verandering in die sake-organisasies . Hoe leer sake-organisasies wanneer dit kom by die ekologiese sake? Wat is die effek van sosiale norme , uitgedruk in openbare beleid en sosiale bewegings , op organisasies? Hoe kan hierdie prosesse verbeter word ter wille van die ekologiese agenda? Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n saak te stel vir die regie van die leerproses. Organisasies sal oor die algemeen die ontwikkeling van nuwe produkte wat gebaseer is op bestaande kennis en groei van hierdie kennis basis. Daar word aangevoer deur sommige teoretici dat sosiale bewegings en NGO se invloed op die proses van innovasie en ontwikkeling. Om voorsiening te maak vir die ekologiese elemente in 'n innovasie proses , moet dit deel van die organisasie se doelwitte wees. Dit beteken dat voorsiening gemaak moet word vir dit van die begin af om die proses te beïnvloed. Hoofstuk 1 omskryf die probleemstelling en die argument dat die sosiale norme beïnvloed die leerproses van individue en groepe in die organisasie 'n ekologies vriendelike uitkoms te bereik in 'n verskeidenheid van maniere. Om te bepaal of die hipotese korrek is , Hoofstuk 2 ondersoek die onderwerp van organisatoriese leer . Dit ondersoek die eienskappe wat organisasies moet leer om die agenda te bevorder. Dit sluit in die rol wat die eksterne organisatoriese omgewing speel deur middel van terugvoer, en hoe hierdie invloed op die rigting van die leerproses is. Kwessies rakende die ekologie te verstaan, het ek in Hoofstuk 3 'n hoë vlak opsomming gebaseer op die bestaande kennis van die ekonomiese , omgewings- ekonomie en ekologiese modernisering. Beide hoofstukke 2 en 3 is 'n uitsig oor die beleid en die rol wat dit speel in die vorming van die leerproses. Dit is belangrik dat die proses van die ontwikkeling van beleid beïnvloed word van die begin af . Deur die netwerke van die sosiale bewegings , kan alternatiewe aangebied word aan die samelewing. Hierdie alternatiewe is gemik op die beïnvloeding van die innovasie proses van organisasies , hetsy direk deur die mark of indirek deur beleid. Wanneer die samelewing onderskryf die posisie wat aangebied word, 'n sosiale beweging gee hulle die middele om betrokke te raak met die bedryf en die regering. Hoofstuk 4 is 'n gevallestudie oor koolstof vang en stoor . Die doel van die gevallestudie is om die interaksie van die verskillende rolspelers in 'n tegnologie-ontwikkeling proses en die faktore wat in ag geneem word wanneer besluite geneem moet word. Dit is 'n demonstrasie van 'n leerproses met die doel van die ontwikkeling van 'n ekologies vriendelike tegnologie. Hoofstuk 5 is die afsluiting hoofstuk en gee 'n opsomming van leer organisasies en ekologiese modernisering. Ek gee 'n kort opsomming van die belangrikste punte in die argument en 'n gevolgtrekking oor die verhouding tussen organisatoriese leer en hoe hierdie leer word gerig van die begin af.

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Welter, Karen. "Sustainability in the restaurant industry : a Cape Town study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71819.

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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aims of this thesis were to focus on the restaurant system in Cape Town with a view to creating a support mechanism for a move to more sustainable practices. A review of the literature found that despite a growing global population, the pressure on resources and consumption has been driven by the global middle class. Over half the world lives in cities and dualistic urban systems reinforce access to resources by excluding the poor and favouring the wealthy. Resource flows and consumption have degraded ecosystems, created waste and emissions. We use resources faster than they can be replenished and have exceeded the earth’s regenerative capacity. Counter to this, there is evidence of decoupling resource use from economic growth. Similarly, the industrialised food system has been created on external inputs such as fertiliser and insecticides, largely derived from fossil fuels. Food produced in the system uses energy, produces waste, depletes the soil and thwarts biodiversity. The global food system counters local food economies. This thesis argues that a sustainable system would have the economy as a basis for a better and equitable environment for current and future generations within ecological and regenerative capacity. As a city Cape Town reflects the inequalities and unsustainability of the global system, with vast disparities in wealth and opportunity. Restaurants can control flows of energy, food and waste, support people and the environment, as well as communicate and educate consumers. By collaborative efforts they can lay the basis for local food economies. Restaurants connect consumers to their food and make decisions about where the food comes from, how it will be prepared and disposed of and who will engage in that preparation. The restaurant sector can contribute to sustainability in its use of resources as well as its employment, community engagement and communication practices. This in turn supports local economies and impacts on the broader sustainability of the city. Research into the restaurant system in Cape Town showed that there is consumer interest in sustainability. There is evidence of restaurants making efforts towards sustainable endeavours. Within Cape Town there is the opportunity to look for more sustainable energy, work around local and seasonal menus, support local food economies, and control wastage. Local food economies can be supported while staff can also be treated fairly and given growth opportunities. Endeavours can be communicated as a way of shifting current unsustainable consumption patterns. The conclusions drawn from the thesis suggest that like the Sustainable Restaurant Associations (SRA) and Dinegreen there is space for a support mechanism for the restaurant industry where individual restaurants can be helped to move to sustainability and collaborate with other stakeholders. The recommendations of the thesis are to create an organisation that can evolve into a co-operative that will bring restaurants together and map out the changes they make. They need to be supported with expertise and audits of their current practice so that they can set goals for the future with regard to their environmental and social actions.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoof doel van hierdie dissertasie was om die restaurantstelsel in Kaapstad te ondersoek met die oog daarop om ‘n ondersteuningsmeganisme vir meer volhoubare praktyke te skep. ‘n Literatuuroorsig het getoon dat ten spyte van ‘n groeiende wereldbevolking, die druk op natuurlike en ander hulpbronne deur die wereldwye middelklas uitgeoefen word. Meer as die helfte van die wereld woon in stede en dualistiese stedelike stelsels versterk toegang tot sulke hulpbronne deur die armes uit te sluit en voorkeur te gee aan die reikes. Die vloei en verbruik van hulpbronne het ekologiese stelsels gedegradeer en afskeidings en afval vergroot. Ons verbruik hierdie hulpbronne vinniger as wat hulle vervang kan word en het die aarde se herstelkapasiteit oorskry. Aan die ander hand is daar bewyse dat die verbruik van hulpbronne ontkoppel is van ekonomiese groei. Insgelyks is die industrieele voedselstelsel gegrond op externe inset soos kunsmis en insekdoders, wat grootendeels van fossiele brandstof bekom word. Voedsel wat in hierdie stelsel geproduseer word verbruik energie, skep afval, put die grond uit en werk biologiese verskeidenheid tee. Die globale voedselstelsel is in teenstand teenoor plaaslike voedselekonomiee. Hierdie dissertasie redeneer uit die oogpunt dat ‘n onderhoudbare stelsel die ekonomie as ‘n basis vir ‘n beter en billike omgewing vir huidige en toekomstige geslagte, binne die ekologiese kapasiteit, sou he. Die stad Kaapstad weerkaats die ongelykhede en onvolhoubaarheid van die wereldwye stelsel, met sy ongelykhede in welstand en geleenthede. Restaurante kan beheer uitoefen oor hulle vloei van energie, voedsel en afval, kan mense en die omgewing ondersteun, sowel as verbruikers inlig en oplei. Deur pogings om saam te werk kan hulle die grondslag le vir plaaslike voedselekonomiee. Restaurante kan verbruikers verbind tot hulle voedsel en kan besluite neem oor waarvandaan die voedsel verkry word, asook hoe dit berei en afgedoen sal word en wie dit sal berei. Die restaurantsektor kan bydra tot volhoubaarheid in sy gebruik van hulpbronne sowel as inwerkneming, gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en kommunikasiepraktyke. Dit sal op sy beurt dan plaaslike ekonomiee ondersteun en ‘n wyer impak he op die volhoubaarheid van die stad. Navorsing oor die restaurantstelsel in Kaapstad het getoon dat die verbruiker belang stel in volhoubaarheid. Daar is tekens daarvan dat restaurante pogings aanwend in die rigting van beter volhoubaarheid. In Kaapstad bestaan die geleentheid om te soek na meer volhoubare energie, rondom seisoenaangepaste spyskaarte, die ondersteuning van plaaslike voedselekonomiee, en die beheer van afval. Plaaslike voedselekonomiee kan ondersteun word terwyl werknemers regverdig behandel word, en moontlikhede tot vooruitgang het. Hierdie pogings kan oorgedra word as ‘n manier om die huidige onvolhoubare verbruikspatrone te verander. Die afleidings wat gemaak word in hierdie dissertasie stel voor dat daar plek is vir ‘n ondersteuningsmeganisme vir die restaurantindustrie, soos die “Sustainable Restaurant Associations” (SRA) en “Dinegreen”, waar die individuele restaurant gehelp kan word in rigting volhoubaarheid te beweeg en om saam te werk met ander belangstellendes. Hierdie dissertasie stel voor om ‘n organisasie te skep wat kan ontwikkel tot ‘n kooperatiewe wat restaurant saam kan bring en die veranderings wat hulle aanbring kan uiteensit. Hulle sal moet ondersteun word met kennis en ouditering van hulle huidige praktyke, sodat hulle doele kan stel vir die toekoms met betrekking tot hulle omgewings en sosiaal gerigte handeling.

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42

de, Aguiar Thereza R. S. "Corporate disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions : a UK study." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/840.

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Two beliefs drove this dissertation to be centered on the analysis of the UK corporate disclosure (CD) related to global climate change (GCC). Firstly, GCC is the most significant environmental concern of our current age (IPCC, 2001; Stern, 2006; IPCC, 2007). Secondly, CD could illustrate the values of organizations and possibilities for changing organizations’ responsibility regarding to GCC (Gray et al., 1996; Bebbington and Larrinaga-Gonzalez, 2008; Bebbington et al., 2009). This study utilizes content analysis as its principal method and seeks to achieve its goal by way of a two investigations. The first investigation focuses on disclosures made by direct participants’ (DP) in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). It captures GCC disclosures from both stand alone (SA) and annual reports (AR) during 2000 - 2004. This part of the study explores if joining the UK ETS changed GCC disclosures. This is tested on both a longitudinal and matched pair (MP) basis. An analysis using institutional theory suggests that instruments of environmental policy may influence GCC disclosures. Results showed that DP increased GCC disclosure, especially in the AR where mainstream business rationale is accepted. MP disclosures, in contrast, focus on the SA media and on different topics than DP disclosures. AR and SA both contain CD, but in this study they showed different patterns of disclosure and therefore may constitute different disclosure media. The second investigation suggests a method to compare GCC disclosure for a sample of DP and MP, using three different media: carbon disclosure project (CDP), AR and SA. Analysis shows that GCC disclosure did not provide sufficient information to compare GCC initiatives and disclosures. Despite the fact that organizations have similar characteristics in terms of sector, size and origin country, they showed different views on GCC issues and this may partially explain differences on GCC initiatives and disclosure.

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Thorburn, Robert H. (Robert Henry). "Towards the new company : proactive corporate ethics in a globalised business environment." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50202.

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Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The corporation is fast becoming, or may already have become, the prevalent structure in human society. As such, its successes and failures impact heavily on society as a whole. This study will endeavour to examine past shortfalls in corporate thinking and practice, explaining much of this by referring to lag between societal and corporate change in their respective responses to globalisation. It is furthermore argued that this change is still far from complete( d), if indeed it ever will be complete( d) with a fixed end. This global change, has to a large extent, caught corporations off guard, with their old management styles no longer providing results - with civil resistance to corporate activity resulting in some instances. The central aim of this study is to not only understand this situation, but also to explore potential remedies. In so doing two unique ideal states, namely the old and the new company, will be developed. With the old company representing corporate structure and thinking that no longer functions effectively. The new company, on the other hand, is not a present state but a future one. Thus it is the destination of the societal and corporate changes examined within this thesis. Consequently, the main subject examined will be a move away from the old company. Finally, it will be shown that dealing with problems within the corporate context no longer requires the heavy hand of yesteryear. Instead, a proactive approach should be adopted, both for financial and ethical reasons.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit kan geargumenteer word dat korporasies binnekort die dominante struktuur in menslike organisasie kan wees, indien dit nie reeds die geval is nie. As sulks, het die suksesse en mislukkings van die korporasie 'n merkbare impak op die menslike samelewing. Gevolglik beoog hierdie studie om voormalige tekortkominge in korporatiewe denke en praktyk te ondersoek en te verduidelik, grotendeels met verwysing na die verskil in tempo waarmee beide die samelewing en korporasies reageer op die nuwe uitdagings wat gepaardgaan met globalisering. Dit word verder geargumenteer, dat hierdie proses van verandering geen voorspelbare einde het in die klassieke sin nie. Juis daarom het die voortdurende verandering oudmodiese bestuurstyle en tegnieke onkant betrap, met nagevolge wat strek tot by burgerlike verset. Sentraal aan die ondersoek van hierdie situasie is nie net die intensie om dit te verstaan nie, maar ook die soeke na strategieë om dit reg te stel. Om die onderneming te fasiliteer word twee ideaal state, naamlik die ou en die nuwe maatskappy ontwikkel. Die ou maatskappy verteenwoordig uitgediende strategieë en bestuurspraktyke, terwyl die nuwe maatskappy 'n toekomstige staat is en dus nog nie gerealiseer is nie. Die fokus is dus op die beweging van die ou na die nuwe maatskappy. Laastens sal dit ook aangetoon word dat uiters outoritêre bestuurstyle en strategieë nie meer van pas, of suksesvol is in die hantering van korporatiewe probleme nie. Alternatiewelik word 'n proaktiewe benadering, op beide etiese en finansiële gronde, aanbeveel.

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Larwood, Andrew John. "Cleaner production : promoting and achieving it in the South Australian foundry industry." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envl336.pdf.

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Bibliography: leaves 123-130. The literature search and the findings from the investigation have been used to provide recommendations for a sector specific cooperative approach using regulation, self-regulation, voluntary agreements, economic incentatives and educational/information strategies to promote and acheive cleaner production in the South Australian foundry industry.

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45

Li, Yuen-chi, and 李宛芝. "Sustainable waste treatment in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B45013512.

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Brown, Mary Ashby. "Opportunities, obstacles, and implications for ethical trade in the South African wine industry." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52387.

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Thesis (MScAgricAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research paper attempts to elucidate the main issues surrounding the integration of ethical trade, meaning the building, monitoring, and communicating of social and/or environmental responsibility, within the South African wine industry. The author first establishes the hypothesis that social and/or environmental responsibility is important to the South African wine industry, as this investment could theoretically provide the industry with a competitive advantage in an increasingly cutthroat international wine market by addressing the industry's most outstanding defects: the lack of quality production, the need for investment in natural resources (labour and the environment), as well as the call for building brand equity and niche marketing strategies. Put differently, this paper suggests that the investment in social and/or environmental responsibility could offer cost-saving benefits to the industry as well as paving a road to international market access. This research first gives a background of ethical trade and determines a picture of the current situation of the South African wine industry, and lastly, given this information, derives the key opportunities, obstacles, and implications of the potential amalgamation of ethical trade in the industry.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die belangrikste probleme rondom die integrering van etiese handel, waarby bedoel word die bou, monitering en kommunikering van sosiale en/of omgewingsverantwoordelike produksie, binne die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf, toe te lig. Eers word die belangrikheid van etiese handel vir die bedryf vasgestel, en word redeneer dat sodanige belegging teoreties aan die bedryf 'n mededingende voordeel in die internasionale mark kan bied deur aandag te gee aan sekerlik die belangrikste tekortkominge in die Suid-Afrikaanse bedryf. Dit sluit in die gebrek aan genoegsame kwaliteit-produksie, die behoefte aan belegging in kritiese hulpbronne, naamlik mense en die omgewing, asook 'n wekroep vir belegging in handelsmerke en niche-strategieë. Anders gestel, word die voorstel gemaak dat sulke beleggings tot voordeel van die bedryf kan wees deur dat dit koste-besparings en verbeterde toegang tot die internasionale mark teweeg kan bring. Daarom word die begrip etiese handel eers toegelig, gevolg deur 'n strategiese ontleding van die Suid-Afrikaanse bedryf. Gegewe hierdie inligting, word die sleutel geleenthede, beperkinge, en implikasies van die aanvaarding van etiese handel dan ontleed.

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Ewart, Timothy Ian. "Acid mine drainage in the Gauteng province of South Africa : a phenomenological study on the degree of alignment between stakeholders concerning a sustainable solution to acid mine drainage." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17978.

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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ecosystems, and the very services and resources that they provide, are fundamental to our existence. Regardless, mankind shows scant regard for the biotic and abiotic components of the environment that serve as both sources and sinks for anthropocentric demands, practices and behaviours. Of these vital resources, perhaps the one that is most under threat is water which while crucial for growth and development around the globe, is rapidly becoming a scarce commodity. In South Africa - already a water-scarce country - this situation is further compounded by mining practices that are not only unsustainable, but also largely unregulated from an environmental perspective. Mining activities have resulted in the mass exposure of iron pyrite and heavy metals, both underground and on the surface. Upon exposure to weathering, the iron pyrite gives rise to sulphuric acid, which, in turn results in the mobilisation and concentration of toxic metals. Although this is a geological phenomenon, the increasing concentrations of toxic metals as a result of mining have exposed the Gauteng province to enormous environmental, social and economic risks. Concerning the risks, the research highlighted the following: - Although comprehensive research has been found relating to the physical attributes of acid mine drainage (AMD), very little is known of the health aspects associated with AMD. Of immediate concern is, the subsequent environmental and health implications stemming from the association between living organisms and heavy metals. - In the absence of such information, the credibility of current solutions is thus questionable. Of the solutions that have been proposed, most have been reductionist in approach and have only focused on dealing with the surface decant of contaminated water from predominately non-functioning mines. The health risks associated with radioactive and highly toxic waste have been down played or simply ignored (Albrecht, 2011). - The absence of a comprehensive solution also raises questions as to the assessment and decision-making process utilised to date by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). - Both government and the private sector have allowed the AMD threat to amplify over the years. Their inaction has been facilitated by the poor enforcement of legislation and, clever manoeuvring by mining companies, in what can only be described as a mutually beneficial relationship between government and the mining industry. In stark contrast to the inaction of government and the private sector, environmental activists have been very vocal in calling for a solution to a number of the risks associated with AMD. This, together with the recent decant of AMD in the Western Basin, has culminated in a public outcry and prompted calls for a solution to the AMD threat. Government's response to this was a narrow and incomprehensive solution, which only served to further frustrate the different stakeholder groups. Where stakeholders have different themes as to the implications and thus solutions to the AMD threat on the Witwatersrand (as driven by the profiles of the different stakeholder groups), an appropriate solution will only be realised by adopting the following recommendations: - Government must show the necessary political will, to fully engage the threat of AMD and address their poor track record as regulator - their credibility has been skewed through their vested interests in the mining industry. - Having taken ownership of the AMD threat on the Witwatersrand, government must move to avert any immediate risks to human well-being. - Under governments' leadership, the capacity of all stakeholders must be addressed to facilitate a participatory trans-disciplinary review of the assessment mechanisms and facts, in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution(s) to the social and environmental impacts associated with mining activities - a solution that will ensure future environmental integrity, social development and economic growth.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ekosisteme, en die dienste en hulpbronne wat dit voorsien, is grondliggend aan die mensdom se bestaan. Tog toon die mensdom weinig respek vir die biotiese en abiotiese komponente van die omgewing, hoewel ons met ons behoeftes, praktyke en gedrag daarop staatmaak én daaraan afbreuk doen. Van hierdie lewensnoodsaaklike hulpbronne is die mees bedreigde waarskynlik water, wat – hoewel dit vir groei en ontwikkeling wêreldwyd van deurslaggewende belang is – spoedig besig is om ŉ skaars kommoditeit te word. In Suid-Afrika, wat in elk geval ŉ waterarm land is, word hierdie toedrag van sake vererger deur mynboupraktyke wat nie net onvolhoubaar is nie maar ook ongereguleerd. Mynboubedrywighede het gelei tot die massablootstelling van ysterpiriet en swaarmetale, sowel ondergronds as op die oppervlak. Wanneer ysterpiriet chemies verweer, vorm dit swawelsuurwater, wat op sy beurt toksiese metale mobiliseer en konsentreer. Hoewel dít ŉ geologiese verskynsel is, het hierdie verhoogde konsentrasies as gevolg van mynbou die Gautengprovinsie aan enorme omgewings-, maatskaplike en ekonomiese risiko’s blootgestel. Wat die risiko’s betref, beklemtoon hierdie studie die volgende: - Hoewel omvattende navorsing oor die fisiese kenmerke van suur mynwater (“acid mine drainage” – AMD) onderneem is, is weinig bekend oor die gesondheidsaspekte wat daarmee gepaardgaan. Wat tot dusver van onmiddelliker belang was, was die omgewings- en gesondheidsimplikasies wat daaruit voortvloei wanneer lewende organismes aan swaarmetale blootgestel word. - In die afwesigheid van sodanige inligting is die geloofwaardigheid van huidige oplossings dus twyfelagtig. Die meeste van die oplossings wat voorgestel is, is reduksionisties van aard en beklemtoon slegs die hantering van besoedelde water wat op die oppervlak uit hoofsaaklik onaktiewe myne sypel. Die gesondheidsgevare wat met radio-aktiewe en hoogs toksiese afval gepaardgaan, word geheel en al onderspeel of bloot misgekyk (Albrecht, 2011). - Die gebrek aan ŉ omvattende oplossing laat ontstaan ook vrae oor die beoordelings- en besluitnemingsprosesse wat die Departement van Waterwese oor die jare sowel as meer onlangs gevolg het. - Sowel die regering as die privaat sektor het toegekyk hoe die bedreiging deur suur mynwater oor die jare vererger. Dié gebrek aan optrede is aangehelp deur swak wetstoepassing sowel as slimmer bewimpeling deur mynboumaatskappye in wat eenvoudig as ŉ wedersyds voordelige verhouding tussen die regering en die mynboubedryf beskryf kan word. In skrille kontras met die regering en privaat sektor se traagheid het omgewingsaktiviste nog nooit geskroom om hul stem te verhef en op oplossings vir baie van hierdie risiko’s aan te dring nie. Dít, tesame met die onlangse uitvloei van suur mynwater in die Westelike Kom, het op openbare protes uitgeloop en aanleiding gegee tot oproepe om ŉ oplossing vir die bedreiging van suur mynwater. Die regering se antwoord hierop was ŉ eng, beperkte oplossing wat die verskillende belangegroepe slegs verder frustreer het. Aangesien belangegroepe (in ooreenstemming met hul uiteenlopende profiele) verskillende aspekte van die implikasies van – en dus ook die oplossings vir – die bedreiging van suur mynwater aan die Witwatersrand beklemtoon, sal ŉ toepaslike oplossing gevind word slegs deur die volgende aanbevelings te aanvaar: - Die regering moet die nodige politieke wil toon om die bedreiging van suur mynwater ten volle die hoof te bied, en moet daadwerklik verbeter op sy swak prestasiegeskiedenis as reguleerder, waarin hy heelwat geloofwaardigheid ingeboet het vanweë regeringsbelang by die mynboubedryf. - Nadat die regering sy verantwoordelikheid rakende die bedreiging van suur mynwater aan die Witwatersrand aanvaar het, moet hy dringend optree om enige onmiddellike gevare vir menslike welstand te voorkom. - Onder leiding van die regering moet die vermoëns van alle belanghebbendes betrek word ten einde ŉ deelnemende, kruisdissiplinêre beoordeling van die meganismes en feite te onderneem, om sodoende (ŉ) wedersyds aanvaarbare oplossing(s) vir die maatskaplike en omgewingsimpak van mynboubedrywighede te bedink – ŉ oplossing wat die integriteit van die omgewing, maatskaplike ontwikkeling en ekonomiese groei sal verseker.

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Pindela, Nosizo. "Exploration of the extent of greenwashing in South African consumer products." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97411.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Greenwashing is a growing concern globally. The increase in the number of green-marketed products has resulted in an increase in greenwashing. Some companies market their products as green, while they are not. They then respond with greenwashing to neutralise condemnations from environmental laws and government or to gain competitive advantage. Investigations into the existence of greenwashing in developed countries have shown high percentages. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the magnitude of greenwashing in South African products and determining whether there is a similar trend to other investigated countries. This research study was conducted among six South African magazines, which have different target markets and therefore advertise different product categories. The results indicated that 94 percent of green-advertised products in South Africa were greenwashing. Baby products and cosmetic products had the highest percentage of green-advertised products and greenwashing products. Amongst the sins of greenwashing, which were used to analyse the greenness of the products, the sins of ‘vagueness’ and ‘no proof’ had the highest percentages and were evident in all product categories. The study also determined which target market was most susceptible to greenwashing. The results show that new mothers were more likely to buy green products, followed by women in general. The green claims that showed evidence of highest presence in South African products were BPA-free, Natural, Organic and Pure.

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49

Zullo, Johnathon. "A model and optimization of alternative fuel vehicle fleet composition with triple bottom line concerns." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/44870.

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Alternative fuel types and technologies are increasingly being advocated for transportation needs to ameliorate concerns around energy security, climate change, and fuel cost. Each fuel type has unique advantages and disadvantages for cost structure and emissions. Meanwhile, corporate fleet customers are often making more sustainable choices of vehicle type due to public perception and other influencing factors. The sustainability of these vehicles can be viewed from a triple bottom line perspective of financial, environmental, and societal implications. However, there is currently a lack of organized knowledge that would allow a decision-maker to elect the appropriate vehicle type beyond lifecycle cost and carbon emissions. The simplification of the impact of fuel type choice disregards issues that are emerging in prominence around water consumption and public health. Water consumption is of particular importance to investigate as fuel types that have reduced carbon emissions are often more water intensive. This thesis develops a tool that examines these issues through modeling to provide a more holistic lifecycle view of a prospective fleet's impact. The choice of vehicle type then can be optimized by utility theory preference elicitation of the different customer desires. Various scenarios of corporate preference and fleet specifications are explored to provide case studies that exemplify the complexity of the decision process. Each potential scenario has its own characteristics that cannot be optimally fulfilled by an overarching fuel type but rather should be thoroughly examined individually to understand the true consequences.

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Pahwa-Gajjar, Sumetee. "Building corporate resilience : based on a case study of Spier Holding's search for a lower carbon future." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71843.

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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A study of the sustainability journey of Spier Holdings, a well known wine and leisure business in South Africa, offers a unique opportunity for interrogating corporate drivers for a lower carbon future. The business has established sustainability as a brand identity, declared carbon neutrality as a macro organisational goal in response to the global challenge of climate change, and sought scientifically and technologically appropriate ways of addressing this challenge. A preliminary analysis revealed various initiatives that are in place for measuring and reducing the business’ environmental impact, including carbon emissions. However, an in-depth study of the establishment’s environmental performance over two decades showed inconsistencies in year-on-year reporting, delays in shifting the supply chain, and gaps in implementation, particularly in the area of energy efficiency and adoption of renewable energy technology. Understanding and interrogating the business’ sustainability journey through a systems ecology and corporate citizenship framework proved inadequate. The case highlights that organizational goals for environmental performance areas, including the aim of carbon neutrality, and sustainability reporting are not sufficient catalysts for change. A complexity-based resilience approach allowed the business to be understood as an adaptive system. The sustainability story tracks different phases of a modified adaptive renewal cycle, which also determine the dominant management paradigms, strategic responses and forms of collaboration during each phase. Spier’s sustainability journey was found to be underpinned by a quest for corporate resilience which includes the resilience of the business (enterprise resilience) and of the social-ecological system within which it resides (SES resilience). The business responded to interdependent risks and uncertainties in its internal and external contexts, through investment strategies in key areas of corporate environmental performance. As a contribution to new knowledge, this thesis proposes an integrated corporate resilience framework for building enterprise resilience and ecological sustainability. This framework, and the accompanying mapping tool, reveals deep, ecological drivers for Spier’s environmental performance across corporate areas of lower carbon emissions, water sustainability, wastewater treatment, solid waste recycling and ecological custodianship. The framework is recommended for use by similar businesses, eager to configure their relationship with natural resources and ecosystem services, and by scholars, for investigating corporate performance towards environmental sustainability.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ŉ Studie van die volhoubaarheidsonderneming van Spier Holdings, ŉ bekende wyn- en ontspanningsaak in Suid-Afrika, bied ŉ unieke geleentheid vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe aandrywers vir ŉ laer koolstoftoekoms. Die onderneming het volhoubaarheid as ŉ handelsmerkidentiteit gevestig, koolstof-neutraliteit as ŉ makro- organisatoriese doel verklaar in reaksie op die wêreldwye uitdaging van klimaatsverandering, en het wetenskaplik en tegnologies gepaste wyses gesoek om hierdie uitdaging die hoof te bied. ŉ Voorlopige analise het verskeie inisiatiewe wat gereed is vir meting en vermindering van die onderneming se omgewingsimpak aan die lig gebring, met inbegrip van koolstofvrystellings. ŉ Dieptestudie van die instelling se omgewingsprestasie oor twee dekades heen het egter inkonsekwenthede in jaar-tot-jaar-verslagdoening, vertragings in die verandering van die aanvoerketting, en gapings in implementering, in die besonder op die gebied van energiedoeltreffendheid en die ingebruikneming van hernubare energietegnologie getoon. Begrip en ondersoek van die onderneming se volhoubaarheidsonderneming aan die hand van ŉ raamwerk vir sisteemekologie en korporatiewe burgerskap het onvoldoende blyk te wees. Die geval beklemtoon dat organisatoriese doelstellings vir omgewingsprestasiegebiede, met inbegrip van die oogmerk van koolstofneutraliteit, en volhoubaarheidsverslagdoening nie voldoende katalisators vir verandering is nie. ŉ Kompleksiteitgebaseerde veerkragtigheidsbenadering het dit moontlik gemaak dat die onderneming as ŉ aanpassingstelsel beskou kan word. Die volhoubaarheidsverslag gaan verskillende fases van ŉ gewysigde aanpassings- hernuwingsiklus, wat ook die dominante bestuursparadigmas, strategiese reaksies en vorme van samewerking gedurende elke fase bepaal, na. Daar is bevind dat Spier se volhoubaarheidsonderneming onderstut word deur ŉ soeke na korporatiewe veerkragtigheid wat die veerkragtigheid van die onderneming (ondernemingsveerkragtigheid) en van die sosiaal-ekologiese stelsel waarbinne dit gesetel is (SES-veerkragtigheid) insluit. Die onderneming het op onderling afhanklike risiko’s en onsekerhede in sy interne en eksterne samehange gereageer deur beleggingstrategieë in sleutelgebiede van korporatiewe omgewingsprestasie. As ŉ bydrae tot nuwe kennis, doen hierdie tesis ŉ geïntegreerde korporatiewe veerkragtigheidsraamwerk vir die opbou van ondernemingsveerkragtigheid en ekologiese volhoubaarheid aan die hand. Hierdie raamwerk, en die gepaardgaande beskrywingsinstrument, lê diep, ekologiese aandrywers vir Spier se omgewingsprestasie oor korporatiewe gebiede van laer koolstof-vrystellings, watervolhoubaarheid, die behandeling van afloopwater, herbenutting van vaste afval en ekologiese bewaring bloot. Die raamwerk word aanbeveel vir gebruik deur soortgelyke ondernemings wat graag aan hulle verhouding met natuurlike hulpbronne en ekostelseldienste vorm wil gee, en deur vakkundiges vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe prestasie met betrekking tot omgewings-volhoubaarheid.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Social responsibility of business Environmental aspects'

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