This introductory textbook explores key issues and recent discussions within the field of corporate sustainability and social responsibility, through theoretical and practical perspectives.
Written by an international team of experts, the chapters introduce the actors and corporate processes that shape firms' management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Spanning strategy, communication, changing regulation and governance, the book grapples with critical issues such as anti-corruption, labour rights and climate change, balancing incisive critique with suggestions for meaningful change.
This analysis, supported by study questions and further learning resources in each chapter, equips students to tackle sustainability challenges effectively in their future work. A regularly updated companion website provides adaptable lecture slides and case studies with discussion questions for instructors. This is an essential text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on corporate sustainability, CSR and business ethics, and is also relevant to political science, international relations and communications.
Industry Reviews
'This book is a tremendous achievement. Expert voices are woven together to make the ever-evolving world of corporate sustainability and responsibility both accessible and real, without oversimplifying the mission. It is essential reading for future leaders. I wish we'd had this handbook when I was at school.' Paul Polman, Co-founder and Chair of IMAGINE and former CEO of Unilever
'This textbook is exactly what every business student needs. The editors have attracted some of the most impressive thinkers in the area to illuminate different approaches to sustainability. They are able to demonstrate the importance and pervasiveness of sustainability by showing its relationship to all aspects of business, and its influence on the future of business.' Pratima (Tima) Bansal, Professor, Ivey Business School, London, CA
'An incredible and insightful book that explains the evolution and relevance of corporate sustainability. The book is a true treasure chest, laying open why corporate sustainability is essential for business growth and survival.' Georg Kell, Chairman of Arabesque and founding Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact
'Corporate Sustainability comprehensively explains the new roles and responsibilities of business with breadth and depth, and from a diverse set of perspectives. Rich in substance and enlivened by numerous real-world examples, this book is must reading to understand the place of business in moving us towards a sustainable future.' Dan Esty, Professor, Yale University, and author, Green to Gold, and editor, A Better Planet
'This new textbook from four of Europe's - indeed, the world's - leading experts on corporate responsibility is a true advance over previous texts in both form and content. Readers will find here a carefully curated, original collection of writings elaborating both conceptual disputes and practical tools - in many cases, directly from the minds of the thinkers responsible for their creation. The editors then take the vital additional step of weaving these ideas together to create a coherent view of the current thinking about sustainability and corporate responsibility.' Robert Phillips, Professor, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, CA
'Corporate Sustainability offers a robust and insightful basis for thinking and acting about responsibility and sustainability in business settings. The textbook is grounded in cutting-edge research and puts forward the question we all - and especially the next generation of leaders - need to address. A must-read for business students and faculty!' Johanna Mair, Professor, Hertie School, Berlin
'I was delighted to find the chapters written in a very accessible language and to 'begin at the beginning', to both cover the essentials and show the most advanced developments ... The comparatively short and dense chapters enable students to focus on content that is most worth knowing.' Oliver Laasch, Academy of Management Learning & Education
