Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental Impact and CSR Responsibilities

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Opportunities and Pitfalls of Corporate Social Responsibility

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility is a multidimensional concept consisting of economic, social, and environmental dimensions. In the pursuit of profit, organizations are expected to be responsible towards the environment. However, different sectors of the economy create different social contracts and societal expectations of corporate social responsibility. In recent times, environmental protection and sustainability are the major areas of policing especially in the extractive industry. Mining leads to environmental degradation viz. land, water and air pollution and reduction of arable land for agriculture. There is therefore a need to promote good environmental practices that encourage pursuing environmental sustainability. Balancing the use of natural resources and conservation is one of the major challenges facing businesses today. The Marange diamond mining project is not exceptional and this is evident in the number of complaints raised against the project. This chapter seeks to assess the environmental impact of the mining project and identify gaps during CSR implementation with particular reference to the environment. In this regard, it is imperative to ascertain whether CSR responsibilities placed on the organisation were fulfilled. Thus, comparisons will be made to other similar projects in the Sub-Saharan African region to ascertain their impact on the environment and level of compliance with CSR responsibilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adeyanju, O. D. (2012). An assessment of the impact of corporate social responsibility on Nigerian society: The examples of banking and communication industries. Universal Journal of Marketing and Business Research, 1(1): 17–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altman, M.C. (2007) The decomposition of the corporate body: What kant cannot contribute to business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 74(3), 253–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, N. (2016). Challenges of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in domestic settings: An exploration of mining regulation vis-à-vis CSR in Ghana. Resource Policy, 47, 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahadur, W., & Waqqas, O. (2013). Corporate social responsibility for a sustainable business. Journal of Sustainable Society, 2(4), 92–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brew, Y., Junwu, C., & Addae-Boateng, S. (2015). Corporate social responsibility activities of mining companies: The views of the local communities in Ghana. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 5, 457–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cedillo Torres, C. A, Garcia-French, M., Hordijk, R., Nguyen, K., & Olup, L. (2012). Four case studies on corporate social responsibility: Do conflicts affect a company’s corporate social responsibility policy. Utrecht Law Review, 8(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chifamba, M. (2014). Poor mining activities crippling environment. The Herald. Available online: https://www.herald.co.zw/poor-mining-activities-crippling-environment/. Accessed November 15, 2017.

  • Chimonyo, G. R., Mungure, S., & Scott, P. D. (2016). The social, economic and environmental implications of diamond mining in Chiadzwa. Available online: https://www.africaportal.org/publications/the-social-economic-and-environmental-implications-of-diamond-mining-in-chiadzwa/. Accessed: October 12, 2017.

  • Cronje, F., Reyneke, S, & Chenga, C. (2017). Corporate social responsibility on the Zambian mining sector: An overview of three distinctive operational eras. KOERS-Bulletin for Christian scholarship, 82(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowther, D., & Aras, G. (2008). Corporate social responsibility. 1st ed. Frederiksberg: Ventus publish Aps.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R., & Franks, D.M. (2014). Costs of company-community conflict in the extractive sector. Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Report No. 66. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Kennedy School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dartey-Baah, K., & Amponsah-Tawiah, K. (2011). Exploring the limits of western corporate social responsibility theories in Africa. International Journal Business and Social Sciences, 2(18).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2014). Corporate social responsibility. CSR Netherlands, Nieuwekade, 9, 35 II RV Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, T., Marginson, P., Edwards, P., Ferner, A, & Tregaskis, O. (2007). Corporate social responsibility in multinational companies: Management initiatives or negotiated agreements?. International Institutte for Labour Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2001). Promoting a European framework for Corporate Social Responsibility. Available online: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/deve/20020122/com(2001)366_en.pdf. Accessed: February 14, 2018.

  • Federation for Sustainable Environment. (2018). The impact of mining on the South African economy and living standards. Available online: http://www.fse.org.za/index.php/item/593-the-impact-of-mining-on-the-south-african-economy-and-living-standards. Accessed: July 10,2018.

  • Flammer, C. (2013). Corporate social responsibility and shareholder reaction: The environmental awareness of investors. Academy of Management Journal, 56(3): 758–781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gechevski, D., Mitrevska, M., & Jasmina Chaloska, J. (2016). Corporate social responsibility based on EFQM framework. International Journal of Engineering, 14(1):115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilberthope, E., & Banks, G. (2012). Development on whose terms? CSR discourse and social realities in Papua New Guinea’s extractive industries sector. Resource Policy, 37, 185–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hohnen, P., & Potts, J., (2007). Corporate social responsibility. An implementation guide for business. Manitoba: International Institute for Sustainable Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamali, D. (2010). The CSR of MNC subsidiaries in developing countries: Global, Local, substantive or diluted. Journal of Business Ethics, 98, 181–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, H. (2004). Corporate social responsibility and the mining industry: conflicts and constructs. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 11(1), 23–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, D. A., & Balakrishnan, V. (2011). Corporate social responsibility: Existing practices vs CSR framework. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 11(9), 50–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. (2016). Corporate social responsibility in copperbelt of Zambia. International Journal of Science Technology and Management, 5(1), 142–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langa, V. (2017). Marange villagers take on mining giant. News Day. https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/08/marange-villagers-take-mining-giant/. Accessed: November 9, 2017. (Zimbawe).

  • Littlewood, D. (2014). ‘Cursed’ communities? Corporate social responsibilit (CSR), company towns and the mining industry in Namibia. Journal of Business Ethics, 120, 39–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lungu, J., & Shikwe, A. (2007). Corporate social responsibility practices in small-scale mining on the Copperbelt. Available online: http://www.groundwork.org.za/specialreports/ZCTU.PDF. Accessed: July 10, 2018.

  • Maconachie, R., & Hilson, G. (2013). Editorial introduction: the extractive industries, community development and livelihood change in developing countries. Oxford University Press and Community Development Journal, 48(3), 347–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mambondiyani, A. (2012). The pollution fallout from Zimbabwe’s blood diamonds. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Available online: https://e360.yale.edu/features/the_pollution_fallout_from_zimbabwes_blood_diamonds. Accessed: December 11, 2017.

  • Mapfumi, J. 2015. Alluvial diamond mining in Marange in Zimbabwe’s diamond sector set to evade human rights due diligence. Konrad-Adenauer- stiftung e.v.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathe, M., & Phiri, A. (2016). The impact of mining on the Environment in Gwanda District Zimbabwe: A case study of Blanket Mine. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2(5), 503–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathende, T. L., & Nhapi, T. G. (2017). Business and society: Determinants and experiences of corporate social responsibility practices in Zimbabwe extractive industry from 2000–2015. The Journal of Sustainable Development, 17(1), 143–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mtisi, S. (2015). Consolidation of diamond mines in Zimbabwe: implications, comments and options. Available online: http://www.zela.org/docs/publications/2015/consolidated.pdf. Accessed: September 19, 2017.

  • Murombo, T. (2013). Regulating mining in South Africa and Zimbabwe: Communities, the environment and perpetual exploitation. Law Environment and Development Journal, 9(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutti, D., Yakovleva, N., Vazquez-Brust, D., & Di Marco, M. (2012). Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: perspectives from stakeholder groups in Argentina. Resource Policy, 37, 212–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwangi, W., & Otieno-Mwembe, S. O. (2015). The use of corporate social responsibility as a tool of doing business amingst Kenya’s construction firms. International Journal of Research in Business Management, 3(9), 51–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noor, B. A., & Maige, M. M. (2017). Corporate social responsibility. How do corporate benefit. A critical review. International Journal of Business and Administration Research, 2(17), 185–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranangen, H., & Zobel, T. (2014). Revisiting the how of corporate social responsibility in exctractive industries and forestry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84, 299–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rangan, K., Chase A. L., & Karim, S. (2012). Why every company needs a CSR strategy and how to build it. Havard Business School Working Paper Series, 12(088), 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray.S. (2013). Linking public sector corporate social responsibility with sustainable development: Lessons from India. Universidad Presbiteriana Mackenzie, 14(6), 112–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, A. I., Roman, M. S., Sturhahn, S. C., & Terry, E. H. (2002). Sustainability assessment and reporting for the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor Campus. Report No. CSS02–04. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruggie, J. G. (2002). The theory and practice of learning networks corporate social responsibility and the global compact. Cambridge: Greenleaf Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seroka-Stolka, O. (2013). Attitudes of students towards corporate social and environmental responsibility. Teka Commission of Motirisation and Energetics in Agriculture, 13(1), 155–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slack, K. 2012. Mission impossible? Adopting a CSR based business model for extractive industries in developing countries. Resource Policy, 37:179–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G. A. (2008). An Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility in the Extractive Industries. Yale Human Rights and Development Journal, 11(1), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2007). CSR and Developing Countries. What scope for government action? Available online: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/innovationbriefs/no1.pdf. Accessed on March 16, 2018.

  • Vintro, C., Sanmiquel, L., & Freijo. M. (2014). Environmental sustainability in the mining sector: evidence from Catalan companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 83, 155–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warnaars, X. S. (2012). Why be poor when we can be rich? Constructing responsible mining in El Pangui, Ecuador. Resource Policy, 37, 223–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiaoyang, T., & Sun, I. Y. (2016). Social responsibility or development responsibility—what is the environment impact of chinese investiments in Africa: What are its drivers, and what are the possibilities for action. Cornell International Law Journal, 49(1), 70–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, S. T., & Dhanda, K. K. (2013). Sustainability: Essential for business. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marketing and Retail Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Steven Kayambazinthu Msosa & Jeevarathnam P. Govender

Authors
  1. Steven Kayambazinthu Msosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeevarathnam P. Govender
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven Kayambazinthu Msosa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Durban University of Technology , Durban, South Africa

    Shame Mugova

  2. Merakey, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Paul R. Sachs

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Msosa, S.K., Govender, J.P. (2019). Environmental Impact and CSR Responsibilities. In: Mugova, S., Sachs, P. (eds) Opportunities and Pitfalls of Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17102-5_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation