CSR and the environment: business supply chain partnerships in Hong Kong and PRDR, China

Abstract

Cross-border relocation of the production lines of Hong Kong companies to the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) of China relocates the pollution source geographically. In contextualizing corporate social responsibility (CSR), more and better collaborations on environmental management between Hong-Kong-based companies and their supply chains within Hong Kong and the PRDR are needed. Using a qualitative approach, this research identifi es and examines nine concerned business supply chain partnership cases. Stakeholders perceived that partnership is a good tool for improving corporate environmental management. However, although it has become more active since 2002, partnership is not yet popular. More time and support are needed to develop it. Businesses should take further steps to benefi t themselves and the environment. Based on the fi rst-hand experiences and opinions of interviewees, this paper analyzes and presents recent partnership activities; their drivers and barriers; factors in their successes; and the possible roles of government and business associations in fostering partnership development.

Corporate social responsibility and developing countries

“…-in Central and South America (Guerin, 2007;Adams et al, 2006;Weyzig, 2006;Vives, 2006;Anderson et al, 2005;Haslam, 2004), -in Africa (Buch et al, 2009;Kehbila et al, 2009;Keitumetse, 2009;Mitchell et al, 2009;Wahba, 2009;Edoho, 2008;Short, 2008;Ite, 2007b;Ite, 2007a;Ofori et al, 2007;Rinzin et al, 2007;Alemagi et al, 2006;Dunfee, 2006;Idemudia et al, 2006;Visser, 2005;Ite, 2004), -in Asia (Birkin et al, 2009;Cheung et al, 2009;Naeem et al, 2009;Sobhani et al, 2009;Windell, 2009;Baughn et al, 2007;Guerin, 2007;Frost et al, 2006;Virtanen, 2006;Chapple et al, 2005;Frost et al, 2005;Sahay, 2004;Koolhaas, 2001), in East Europe and Middle East (Ray, 2008;Guerin, 2007;Jamali, 2007;Jamali et al, 2007;Küskü, 2007).…”

“…In their article 'CSR & the Environment: Business-Supply Chain Partnerships in Hong Kong & the PRDR of China', Dennis Cheung, Richard Welford and Peter Hills take on the issue of moving pollution sources geographically by relocating the production lines of Hong Kong corporations to the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) of China (Cheung et al, 2009). Nine partnerships between businesses and their supply chains in Hong Kong and the PRDR of China to improve their CSR and environmental management have been studied.…”

The role of supply chain leadership in the learning of sustainable practice: toward an integrated framework

“…Many papers have discussed the drivers and enablers for organizations implementing SSCM, distinguishing between those that are internal or external (Cheung et al, 2009;Harms et al, 2013;Gimenez and Tachizawa, 2012;Seuring and Muller, 2008;Walker et al, 2008;Walker and Jones, 2012  "Reserved players" that face more external enablers and internal barriers.…”

Private Governance of Climate Change in Hong Kong: An Analysis of Drivers and Barriers to Corporate Action

“…Since the end of 2007, Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air have offered carbon offset programs to their clients. Supply chain partnerships in PRD enable both parent companies and suppliers to gain product value through enhanced environmental management (Cheung et al, 2009). (4) Integrating climate change into core decision-making and corporate strategy.…”

“…In the absence of regulation, a small number of large, visible and often multinational companies have moved beyond adopting environmental, health and safety management systems, for instance ISO14001 standards, a ''green'' code of conduct and/or auditing (Cheung et al, 2009), to explicitly formulating strategies that address climate risks and opportunities, which are integrated into their management, operations and/or supply chains. These companies tend to possess market power and are more exposed to climate risks and opportunities given their broader scope of operations.…”