Structural reform and environmental proactivity: the case of brazilian companies

Abstract

Since the mid 1990's, Brazilian companies have faced a huge structural reform associated with trade liberalisation, deregulation and decrease of state intervention. In this context, they have been pressured to behave in a more socially and environmentally responsible manner. The objective of this paper is to identify whether environmental strategies were influenced by degree of internationalization, size and stakeholders' pressures. It was used the strategy of case study with the technique of systematic interviews for primary data collection. The research was conducted in petrochemical, steel, textile and shoe industries, established in different Brazilian states, chosen by theoretical sampling. The empirical results demonstrate that modern preventive natural environmental approaches seem clear in large companies that have international investors and operate in global markets. It is markable in the steel and petrochemical companies. The study finds that the structural reform has caused a positive environmental effect on Brazilian companies because global ties increase self-regulation pressures and enforces the engagement of a new range of stakeholders.

The influence of the institutional context on sustainability reporting. A cross-national analysis

“…Environmental conservation and education are two of the most critical societal issues in Brazil (Muller and Kolk, 2009). This result is in line with extant literature on emerging countries, which relates CSR commitment to the focal role companies are acknowledged in societal advancement (Abreu et al, 2010).…”

“…Business and civic organizations have also developed a number of actions and programs aimed at promoting a higher involvement of business in national interests (Gresse, 2007). Extant works relate the rapid growth in the Brazilian private sector's commitment to CSR to the growing pressures to support institutional and governmental interventions in favor of societal advancement (Abreu et al, 2010;Boudon, 2002). This societal role of Brazilian companies is underlined also by Amcham-SP (the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil), which proposed that responsible companies should contribute to the implementation of public policies and act as agents of social development: "Conhecer os programas governamentais é um passo fundamental nesse processo, a partir do qual a empresa pode identificar oportunidades de inserção, por meio da disponibilização de recursos, da capacitação de agentes e da mobilização de outras organizações e demais stakeholders, entra outras inicaitivas.…”

“…More recently, according to Gresse (2007), "Brazil has been experimenting with a new formula to combat poverty and to develop equal and democratic structures while at the same time pursuing advances in its economy", suggesting that the country is moving toward the integration of the efforts of different factors for the solution of societal problems that still exist. However, the discourse on CSR in Brazil is still under construction, as the Brazilian society is now becoming more pro-active and conscious about irresponsible practices and more attentive to opportunities for sustainable development (Abreu et al, 2015b(Abreu et al, , 2010Bandeira and Lopez-Parra, 2009;Ashley, 2005).…”

Diferentes percepções sobre a responsabilidade social corporativa em empresas líderes do Brasil e da Índia

“…Cappellin and Giuliani (2004) argue that Brazilian companies have adopted CSR practices as a way to associate a company image with "concerns with the welfare of society" and not just profit. Abreu et al (2010) add that structural reforms brought by trade liberalisation and the reduction of state intervention have demanded that companies play a more proactive and targeted approach to CSR.…”