Posted: October 26th, 2023

Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the South African Shipping Industry:

Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the South African Shipping Industry: Focusing on Private Companies’ Social and Economic Dimensions of CSR

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept that refers to the voluntary actions of businesses to contribute to the social and environmental well-being of their stakeholders and society at large . CSR can take various forms, such as philanthropy, ethical practices, environmental protection, employee welfare, community development, and human rights . CSR can also have different motivations, such as enhancing reputation, improving competitiveness, complying with regulations, or responding to stakeholder pressure .

The shipping industry is one of the most globalized and highly regulated industries in the world. It plays a vital role in international trade and economic development, as well as in environmental sustainability and maritime security . The shipping industry faces many challenges and opportunities in implementing CSR, such as managing its environmental impact, ensuring the safety and welfare of its employees, engaging with local communities, and complying with international standards and regulations .

South Africa is a country that has a significant maritime sector, with a long coastline, a strategic location, and a large port system. South Africa is also a country that has a history of social and economic inequality, as well as a commitment to transformation and development . The South African government has adopted various policies and initiatives to promote CSR among businesses, such as the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, the King IV Report on Corporate Governance, and the National Development Plan .

The aim of this blog post is to explore how private companies in the South African shipping industry implement CSR, focusing on their social and economic dimensions. The social dimension of CSR refers to how companies address the needs and expectations of their internal and external stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and society at large. The economic dimension of CSR refers to how companies create value for themselves and their stakeholders through their core business activities, such as innovation, efficiency, quality, and profitability .

The research questions that guide this exploration are:

– What are the main drivers and barriers for CSR implementation in the South African shipping industry?
– What are the main CSR activities that private companies in the South African shipping industry undertake in relation to their social and economic dimensions?
– What are the main benefits and challenges that private companies in the South African shipping industry experience from their CSR activities in relation to their social and economic dimensions?

To answer these questions, this blog post will review the relevant literature on CSR in general and in the shipping industry in particular. It will also present some examples of CSR practices from private companies in the South African shipping industry. Finally, it will discuss some implications and recommendations for future research and practice.

References:

: Carroll AB. A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review. 1979 Oct 1;4(4):497-505.

: Dahlsrud A. How corporate social responsibility is defined: an analysis of 37 definitions. Corporate social responsibility and environmental management. 2008 Jan;15(1):1-3.

: Aguinis H, Glavas A. What we know and don’t know about corporate social responsibility: A review and research agenda. Journal of management. 2012 Sep;38(4):932-68.

: Lam JSL. Environmental management perspectives for maritime operations: A review. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 2019 Mar 1;69:114-28.

: Hamad H. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Shipping Industry: A Disturbing Mechanism between Maritime Security Needs and Seafarers’ Welfare. Studies of Organisational Management & Sustainability. 2015;3(1):01-13.

: Cheruiyot-Koech R, Reddy CD. Corporate Social Responsibility Preferences in South Africa. Sustainability. 2022 Mar;14(7):3792.

: Visser W. The state of corporate social responsibility in South Africa: An overview for business leaders. In Responsible Leadership 2019 (pp. 29-48). Springer, Cham.

: Van Marrewijk M. Concepts and definitions of CSR and corporate sustainability: Between agency and communion. Journal of business ethics. 2003 May 1;44(2):95-105.