Nicholas Palaschuk

This chapter explores the evolving field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) research and practices in the Sustainable Development Goals era. The authors introduce a contemporary definition of CSR reflective of the SDGs era. Section 1 provides an exploration of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underpinning the evolution of CSR approaches. Section 2 advocates for the SDGs framework in support of the proliferation of sustainability management across business settings. Section 3 delineates how adopting the SDGs as a framework for corporate sustainability can enhance corporate resilience towards economic shocks. Section 4 discusses strategic perspectives on corporate sustainability management and elaborates on the role of business in satisfying promises of sustainable development. Illuminating the legitimacy of the SDGs as a framework for positioning corporations as global sustainability leaders, this chapter serves as a roadmap outlining how business can advance their CSR strategies to align business goals with societal needs in a post-COVID-19 world.

This chapter explores the evolving field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) research and practices in the Sustainable Development Goals era. The authors introduce a contemporary definition of CSR reflective of the SDGs era. Section 1 provides an exploration of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underpinning the evolution of CSR approaches. Section 2 advocates for the SDGs framework in support of the proliferation of sustainability management across business settings. Section 3 delineates how adopting the SDGs as a framework for corporate sustainability can enhance corporate resilience towards economic shocks. Section 4 discusses strategic perspectives on corporate sustainability management and elaborates on the role of business in satisfying promises of sustainable development. Illuminating the legitimacy of the SDGs as a framework for positioning corporations as global sustainability leaders, this chapter serves as a roadmap outlining how business can advance their CSR strategies to align business goals with societal needs in a post-COVID-19 world.

Amidst a contemporary culture of climate awareness, unprecedented levels of transparency and visibility are forcing industrial organizations to broaden their value chains and deepen the impacts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. While it may be common knowledge that the 2030 agenda cannot be achieved on a business-as-usual trajectory, this study seeks to determine to what ends the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have impacted CSR research. Highlighting linkages and interdependencies between the SDGs and evolution of CSR practice, this paper analyzes a final sample of 56 relevant journal articles from the period 2015–2020. With the intent of bridging policy and practice, thematic coding analysis has supported the identification and interpretation of key emergent research themes. Using three descriptive categorical classifications (i.e., single-dimension, bi-combination of dimensions, sustainability dimension), the results of this paper provide an in-depth discussion into strategic community, company, consumer, investor, and employee foci. Furthermore, the analysis provides a timely and descriptive overview of how CSR research has approached the SDGs and which ones are being prioritized. By deepening the understanding of potential synergies between business strategy, global climate agendas and the common good, this paper contributes to an increased comprehension of how CSR and financial performance can be improved over the long-term.