Book contents
- Reviews
- The Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability
- The Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Forewords
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Global Business and Fragmented Regulation
- Part II Corporate Law, Financial Markets and Sustainability
- Part III Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability: Case Studies
- Part IV Potential Drivers for Change
- 37 Disclosure Regulation and Sustainability
- 38 Sustainability Reporting in Africa
- 39 Global Supply Chains and Sustainability
- 40 Aligning Social Investing with Nature’s Timescales
- 41 Shareholder Stewardship
- 42 Green Bonds and Beyond
- 43 Conflicts and Coalitions
- 44 Gender as a Catalyst for Corporate Reform
- 45 Amenable Controls
- 46 Social Enterprise Law
- 47 Certifying ‘Good’ Companies
- 48 The Cooperative as a Platform for Sustainable Business Operations
- 49 Realising the Potential of the Board for Corporate Sustainability
- Conclusion
- Index
47 - Certifying ‘Good’ Companies
A Comparative Study of Regulatory Design
from Part IV - Potential Drivers for Change
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 November 2019
- Reviews
- The Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability
- The Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Forewords
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Global Business and Fragmented Regulation
- Part II Corporate Law, Financial Markets and Sustainability
- Part III Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability: Case Studies
- Part IV Potential Drivers for Change
- 37 Disclosure Regulation and Sustainability
- 38 Sustainability Reporting in Africa
- 39 Global Supply Chains and Sustainability
- 40 Aligning Social Investing with Nature’s Timescales
- 41 Shareholder Stewardship
- 42 Green Bonds and Beyond
- 43 Conflicts and Coalitions
- 44 Gender as a Catalyst for Corporate Reform
- 45 Amenable Controls
- 46 Social Enterprise Law
- 47 Certifying ‘Good’ Companies
- 48 The Cooperative as a Platform for Sustainable Business Operations
- 49 Realising the Potential of the Board for Corporate Sustainability
- Conclusion
- Index
Summary
In market economies, sustainability goals can be achieved if sustainable behaviour creates benefits for corporations. Market partners may have preferences for sustainability so that their decisions to buy products, make investments or choose workplaces depend on the good behaviour of corporations, namely on their social, ethical and ecological track record. However, it is difficult for stakeholders to measure sustainable corporate behaviour. Certification schemes can help to overcome this information asymmetry. If designed properly they provide a means for sustainable companies to signal their good behaviour to the market. Such signals make it easier for market actors to differentiate when making their respective market choices. While certificates for products are widespread and thoroughly researched, certificates for good companies have not yet drawn much academic attention, even though various certification schemes have evolved in different jurisdictions. This chapter compares these different certification schemes and analyses them from a regulatory perspective.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019
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