Interrogating corporate social responsibility through the lens of environmental justice: the case of corporate waste

Existing literature on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) highlights the importance of integrating social, environmental and economic factors into corporate operations. Consideration for environmental justice however remains limited, and concerns remain regarding if and how corporations are considering issues of distributional, procedural and recognition justice in their actions. Through a case study of corporate waste in Sydney, Australia, this thesis aims to explore if and how corporate actors are addressing environmental justice in their CSR strategies. Based on a review of CSR reports and interviews with corporate actors, the thesis provides insights into the opportunities and challenges of corporate adoption of environmental justice into CSR frameworks. The findings demonstrate d that despite the barriers experienced with the structural versatility, influences from conflicting interests, and the invisibility of environmental justice incorporation, CSR was found to be a supportive facilitator for incorporating environmental justice into the practices of corporations. It is recommended that corporations increase communication regarding their integration of environmental justice into their CSR practices in order to allow greater transparency and to p rovide opportunities for further CSR consideration of environmental justice.