Highlights¥ The central premises of the ecocentric organisation literature are identified. ¥ Three essential qualities of objects for ecocentric theorising are proposed. ¥ The implications for ecological practice and theory are discussed. ¥ It is concluded that a new ontology is needed in the Anthropocene. AbstractAs a response to anthropogenic ecological problems, a group of organisation scholars have acknowledged the importance of ecocentric theorising that takes materiality and non-human objects seriously. The purpose of this article is to examine the philosophical basis of ecocentric organisation studies and develop an ontological outline for ecocentric theorising in the Anthropocene. The paper identifies the central premises of ecocentric organisations from the previous literature, and complements the theory with a set of ontological qualities common to all objects. The study draws on recent advances in object-oriented and ecological philosophies to present three essential qualities of objects, namely autonomy, uniqueness, and intrinsicality. The paper discusses how these qualities are critical in reclaiming the lost credibility and practical relevance of ! ! 2 ecocentrism in both organisational theory and the sustainability sciences in general. To organise human activities in a sustainable manner in the new geological era, a new ontology is needed that not only includes materiality and non-humans in the analysis, but also leads to an ecologically and ethically broader understanding of ecospheric beings and their relationships.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore ethical consumers' brand avoidance. The study contributes to brand-avoidance research by exploring what role consumers' ethical concerns play in their brand avoidance. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach is adopted by interviewing 15 active members of organizations that represent ethical concerns for the well-being of animals, the environment and humans. Findings – The study indicates that consumers with a strong value-based perspective on consumption (such as ethical consumers) may reject brands in two different but interrelated ways. In essence, the study reveals characteristics of brand avoidance that have not been discussed in earlier research, in terms of two dimensions: persistency (persistent vs temporary) and explicitness (explicit vs latent). Practical implications – The study shows the importance of considering the phenomenon of brand avoidance, as it may reveal fundamental challenges in the market. These challenges may relate to consumer values that have not been regarded as important or that have been thought of as relating only to a specific group of consumers. Originality/value – The ethical consumers' views represent new insights into understanding brand avoidance.

No abstract

is an associate professor at Oslo School of Management, Norway. He holds a Dr Oecon (PhD) at Norwegian School of Management BI. He has a background as an entrepreneur and from management and board positions within telecommunication industry. His research agenda consists of various subjects within inter-fi rm relationships, such as: governance of foreign collaborative partners, co-ordination and cooperation, relationship management, relationship quality and relationship climate. Anders Billstr ö mis a doctoral student at Halmstad University, Sweden. His research interest include business-to-business relationships. ABSTRACT This article develops a conceptual foundation for Conscientious Corporate Brands (CCBs) by exploring the role that (i) environmental and (ii) climate change issues, and that (iii) internal and (iv) external corporate codes of ethics play as dimensions of CCBs. The article ' s aim is to extend previous research in ethical branding by proposing an empirically grounded conceptual foundation of ' the conscientious dimension ' of a corporate brand. The empirical context is based onNordic business-to-business relationships.

This is a repository copy of The Anthropocene exit: Reconciling discursive tensions on the new geological epoch.