Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T23:01:30.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Socializing the C-suite: why some big-box retailers are “greener” than others

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Hamish van der Ven
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Despite a considerable push by policy-makers to incentivize green business practices, take-up of environmental initiatives amongst North American retailers has been highly uneven. While some “big-box” retailers have launched ambitious environmental initiatives, others continue to conduct business as usual. This paper asks: why do some mega-retailers commit to ambitious environmental agendas while others in the same sector do not? And how can the answer to this question improve public policy? I investigate these questions using comparative case studies of four North American big-box retailers: Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and Kroger. My findings suggest that the socialization of senior executives through multi-stakeholder sustainability networks is the critical variable accounting for progressive environmental practices in some corporations and not others. This finding suggests that existing public policies that focus on making the business case for sustainability are based on incomplete assumptions about why companies “go green.” It further suggests that socialization theory can help explain broader instances of corporate social responsibility and proposes that scholars in this field should devote more attention to the composition of socializing groups.

Type
Research Articles
Information
Business and Politics , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , April 2014 , pp. 31 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © V.K. Aggarwal 2014 and published under exclusive license to Cambridge University Press 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Accenture and UNGC. 2010. A New Era of Sustainability: UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study 2010. Accenture and UNGC.Google Scholar
Alderson, Kai. 2001. “Making Sense of State Socialization.” Review of International Studies 27 (3): 415–433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arena, Christine. 2007. The High Purpose Company. New York: Harper Collins.Google Scholar
Barnea, Amir, and Rubin, Amir. 2010. “Corporate Social Responsibility as a Conflict Between Shareholders.” Journal of Business Ethics 97 (1): 71–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnett, Michael, and Finnemore, Martha. 2004. Rules for the World: International Organizations in Global Politics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Bartley, Tim. 2007. “Institutional Emergence in an Era of Globalization: The Rise of Transnational Private Regulation of Labor and Environmental Conditions.” American Journal of Sociology 113 (2): 297–351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, Ida E., Cunningham, Peggy H., and Drumwright, Minnette E. 2007. “Mainstreaming Corporate Social Responsibility: Developing Markets for Virtue.” California Management Review 49 (4): 132–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernhagen, Patrick J., Mitchell, Neil, and Thissen-Smits, Marianne. 2013. “Corporate Citizens and the UN Global Compact: Explaining Cross-National Variations in Turnout.” Business and Politics 15 (1): 63–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernstein, Steven. 2013. “Global Environmental Norms.” In The Handbook of Global Climate and Environment Policy, edited by Falkner, Robert. London: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar
Stiftung, Bertelsmann, and Compact, UN Global. 2010. “The Role of Governments in Promoting Corporate Responsibility and Private Sector Engagement in Development.” Gütersloh, Germany: Bertelsmann Stiftung. New York: United Nations.Google Scholar
Bhandari, Bishnu B., and Abe, Osamu. 2001. “Corporate Citizenship and Environmental Education.” International Review for Environmental Strategies (IRES) 2 (1): 61–77.Google Scholar
Biersteker, Thomas J., and Bruce Hall, Rodney, eds. 2002. The Emergence of Private Authority in Global Governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Boddy, David, and Paton, Rob. 1998. Management: An Introduction. London: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Börzel, Tanja A., Hönke, Jana, and Thauer, Christian R. 2012. “Does it Really Take the State?” Business and Politics 14 (3): 1–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Branco, Manuel Castelo, and Rodrigues, Lucia Lima. 2006. “Corporate Social Responsibility and Resource Based Perspectives” Journal of Business Ethics 69 (2): 111–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, Judy, and Fraser, Michael. 2006. “Approaches and Perspectives in Social and Environmental Accounting: An Overview of the Conceptual Landscape.” Business Strategy and the Environment 15 (2): 103–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, Dana L., Vetterlein, Antje, and Roemer-Mahler, Anne. 2010. “Theorizing Transnational Corporations as Social Actors: An Analysis of Corporate Motivations.” Business and Politics 12 (1): 1–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Büthe, Tim. 2010. “Global Private Politics: A Research Agenda.” Business and Politic 12 (3): 1–24.Google Scholar
Cashore, Benjamin W., Auld, Graeme, and Newsome, Deanna. 2004. Governing through Markets: Forest Certification and the Emergence of Non-State Authority. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR). 2007. “The Climate Change Guide: Corporate Canada: Responsible Business Action on Climate Change.” Toronto, ON: Canadian Business for Social Responsibility.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2009. “S&P 500 Report.” New York, NY and London, UK: Carbon Disclosure Project.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2010. “S&P 500 Report.” New York, NY and London, UK: Carbon Disclosure Project.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2011. “S&P 500 Report.” New York, NY and London, UK: Carbon Disclosure Project.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2012a. “S&P 500 Report.” New York, NY and London, UK: Carbon Disclosure Project.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2012b. “2012 Scoring Methodology.” Available from: https://www.cdproject.net/Documents/Guidance/CDP-2012-Scoring-Methodology.pdf. Accessed 21 February 2013.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2012c. “Kroger 2012 Investor Response.” Available from: https://www.cdproject.net/Sites/2012/31/10331/Investor%20CDP%202012/Pages/DisclosureView.aspx. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2012d. “Target 2012 Investor Response.” Available from: https://www.cdproject.net/Sites/2012/20/18320/Investor%20CDP%202012/Pages/DisclosureView.aspx. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Carbon Disclosure Project. 2012e. “Wal-Mart 2012 Investor Response.” Available from: https://www.cdproject.net/Sites/2012/02/20402/Investor%20CDP%202012/Pages/DisclosureView.aspx. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Checkel, Jeffrey T. 2005. “International Institutions and Socialization in Europe: Introduction and Framework.” International Organization 59 (4): 801–826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clapp, Jennifer, and Fuchs, Doris, eds. 2009. Corporate Power in Global Agrifood Governance. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collier, Jane, and Esteban, Rafael. 2007. “Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Commitment.” Business Ethics: A European Review 16 (1): 19–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costco. 2009. “Corporate Sustainability Report.” Issaquah, WA: Costco.Google Scholar
Costco. 2012a. “Annual Report 2012.” Issaquah, WA: Costco.Google Scholar
Costco. 2012b. “Seafood and Sustainability.” Issaquah, WA: Costco.Google Scholar
Cutler, A. Claire. 2002. “Private International Regimes and Interfirm Cooperation.” In The Emergence of Private Authority in Global Governance, edited by Bruce Hall, Rodney and Biersteker, Thomas J. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cutler, A. Claire, Haufler, Virginia, and Porter, Tony. 1999. Private Authority and International Affairs. Albany: SUNY Press.Google Scholar
Dauvergne, Peter, and Lister, Jane. 2010. “The Power of Big Box Retail in Global Environmental Governance: Bringing Commodity Chains Back into IR.” Millennium-Journal of International Studies 39 (1): 145–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Commerce, Danish and Agency, Companies. 2006. “People & Profit – A Practical Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility.” Copenhagen: Danish Commerce and Companies Agency Danish Business Authority.Google Scholar
Delmas, Magali, and Blass, Vered Doctori. 2010. “Measuring Corporate Environmental Performance: the Trade offs of Sustainability Ratings.” Business Strategy and the Environment 19 (4): 245–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deloitte. 2012. “Switching Channels: Global Powers of Retailing 2012.” London: Deloitte.Google Scholar
Desai, Ashay B., and Rittenburg, Terri. 1997. “Global Ethics: An Integrative Framework for MNEs.” Journal of Business Ethics 16 (8): 791–800.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiMaggio, Paul J., and Powell, Walter W. 1983. “The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields.” American Sociological Review 48 (2): 147–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eden, Lorraine. 1991. “Bringing the Firm Back In: Multinationals in International Political Economy.” Millennium: Journal of International Studies 20 (2): 197–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egri, Carolyn P., and Herman, Susan. 2000. “Leadership in the North American Environmental Sector: Values, Leadership Styles, and Contexts of Environmental Leaders and their Organizations.” Academy of Management Journal 43 (4): 571–604.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finnemore, Martha. 1996. “Norms, Culture, and World Politics: Insights from Sociology's Institutionalism.” International Organization 50 (2): 325–347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fishman, Charles. 2006. “The Wal-Mart Effect and a Decent Society: Who Knew Shopping was So Important?” The Academy of Management Perspectives 20 (3): 6–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeman, R. Edward. 1984. Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach. Boston, MA: Pitman.Google Scholar
Fri, Robert W. 1992. “The Corporation as a Nongovernment Organization.” The Columbia Journal of World Business 27 (3–4): 91–95.Google Scholar
Friedman, Milton. 1962. Capitalism and Freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Gereffi, Gary, Garcia-Johnson, Ronie, and Sasser, Erika. 2001. “The NGO-Industrial Complex.” Foreign Policy (July/August): 56–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godos-Díez, José-Luis, Fernández-Gago, Roberto, and Martínez-Campillo, Almudena. 2011. “How Important are CEOs to CSR Practices? An Analysis of the Mediating Effect of the Perceived Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility.” Journal of Business Ethics 98 (4): 531–548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graafland, Johan J., and van de Ven, Bert. 2006. “Strategic and Moral Motivation for Corporate Social Responsibility.” Journal of Corporate Citizenship 22: 111–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haunschild, Pamela R., and Miner, Anne S. 1997. “Modes of Interorganizational Imitation: The Effects of Outcome Salience and Uncertainty.” Administrative Science Quarterly 42 (3): 472–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hemingway, Christine A., and Maclagan, Patrick W. 2004. “Managers’ Personal Values as Drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility.” Journal of Business Ethics 50 (1): 33–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humes, Edward. 2011. Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story of Wal-Mart's Green Revolution. New York: Harper Business.Google Scholar
Ilinitch, Anne Y., Soderstrom, Naomi S., and Thomas, Tom E. 1998. “Measuring Corporate Environmental Performance.” Journal of Accounting and Public Policy 17 (4): 383–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irvine, Sandy J.A. 2011. “Canadian Refugee Policy: Understanding the Role of International Bureaucratic Networks in Domestic Paradigm Change.” In Policy Paradigms, Transnationalism and Domestic Politics, edited by Skogstad, Grace. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar
Kantz, Carola. 2007. “The Power of Socialization: Engaging the Diamond Industry in the Kimberley Process.” Business and Politics 9 (3): 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kroger. 2011. “2011 Sustainability Report.” Cincinnati, OH: The Kroger Co. Google Scholar
Kroger. 2012. “2012 Sustainability Report.” Cincinnati, OH: The Kroger Co.Google Scholar
Lijphart, Arend. 1971. “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method.” The American Political Science Review 65 (3): 682–693.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lister, Jane. 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility and the State: International Approaches to Forest Co-Regulation. Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar
March, James G., and Olsen, Johan P. 2006. “The Logic of Appropriateness.” In The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, edited by Moran, Michael, Rein, Martin, and Goodin, Robert E. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Mares, Isabela. 2003. The Politics of Social Risk-Business and Welfare State Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Margolis, Joshua D., and Walsh, James P. 2003. “Misery Loves Companies: Rethinking Social Initiatives by Business.” Administrative Science Quarterly 48 (2): 268–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matten, Dirk, and Moon, Jeremy. 2004. “Corporate Social Responsibility Education in Europe.” Journal of Business Ethics 54 (4): 323–337.Google Scholar
McWilliams, Abigail, and Siegel, Donald. 2001. “Corporate Social Responsibility: A Theory of the Firm Perspective.” Academy of Management Review 26 (1): 117–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyer, John P., and Allen, Natalie J. 1997. Commitment in the Workplace: Theory, Research, and Application. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miles, Morgan P., and Covin, Jeffrey G. 2000. “Environmental Marketing: A Source of Reputational, Competitive, and Financial Advantage.” Journal of Business Ethics 23 (3): 299–311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nehrt, Chad. 1998. “Maintainability of First Mover Advantages When Environmental Regulations Differ Between Countries.” Academy of Management Review 23 (1): 77–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newell, Peter, and Paterson, Matthew. 2010. Climate Capitalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newsweek. 2009. “Green Rankings 2009 – US 500.” Available from: http://greenrankings2009.newsweek.com/top500. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Newsweek. 2010. “Green Rankings 2010 – US 500.” Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/10/18/green-rankings-us-companies.html. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Newsweek. 2011. “Green Rankings 2011 – US 500.” Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/green-rankings/2011/us.html. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Newsweek. 2012a. “Green Rankings 2012: Full Methodology.” Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/content/newsweek/2012/10/22/newsweek-green-rankings-2012-full-methodology.html. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Newsweek. 2012b. “Green Rankings 2012 – US 500.” Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/10/22/newsweek-green-rankings-2012-u-s-500-list.html. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
Newsweek. 2012c. “Green Rankings 2012: Frequently Asked Questions.” Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/08/green-rankings-2012-frequently-asked-questions.html. Accessed 22 February 2013.Google Scholar
OECD. 2011. “OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – 2011 Edition.” Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Google Scholar
Park, Susan. 2005. “How Transnational Environmental Advocacy Networks Socialize International Financial Institutions: A Case Study of the International Finance Corporation.” Global Environmental Politics 5 (4): 95–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perez-Batres, Luis A., Miller, Van V., and Pisani, Michael J. 2011. “Institutionalizing Sustainability: An Empirical Study of Corporate Registration and Commitment to the United Nations Global Compact Guidelines.” Journal of Cleaner Production 19 (8): 843–851.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, Michael E., and Kramer, Mark. 2006. “Strategy and Society: The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility.” Harvard Business Review 84 (12): 78–92.Google Scholar
Porter, Michael E., and Van der Linde, Claas. 1995. “Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives 9 (4): 97–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, Tony, and Ronit, Karsten, eds. 2010. The Challenges of Global Business Authority: Democratic Renewal, Stalemate or Decay? Albany: SUNY Press.Google Scholar
Potoski, Matthew, and Prakash, Aseem. 2005. “Green Clubs and Voluntary Governance: ISO 14001 and Firms’ Regulatory Compliance.” American Journal of Political Science 49 (2): 235–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prakash, Aseem. 2001. “Why Do Firms Adopt ‘Beyond-Compliance’ Environmental Policies?” Business Strategy and the Environment 10 (5): 286–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reinhardt, Forest. 1999. “Market Failure and the Environmental Policies of Firms: Economic Rationales for “Beyond Compliance” Behavior.” Journal of Industrial Ecology 3 (1): 9–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Risse, Thomas. 2000. “Let's Argue!: Communicative Action in World Politics.” International Organization 54 (1): 1–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Risse, Thomas, Ropp, Stephen, and Sikkink, Kathryn, eds. 1999. The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruggie, John G. 2002. “The Theory and Practice of Learning Networks: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Global Compact.” Journal of Corporate Citizenship 5: 27–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruggie, John G. 2004. “Reconstituting the Global Public Domain – Issues, Actors, and Practices.” European Journal of International Relations 10 (4): 499–531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sangle, Shirish. 2010. “Critical Success Factors for Corporate Social Responsibility: A Public Sector Perspective.” Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 17 (4): 205–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaper, Marcus. 2007. “Leveraging Green Power: Environmental Rules for Project Finance.” Business and Politics 9 (3): 1–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schreurs, Miranda A. 2008. “From the Bottom Up Local and Subnational Climate Change Politics.” The Journal of Environment & Development 17 (4): 343–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sims, Randi L., and Keon, Thomas L. 1997. “Ethical Work Climate as a Factor in the Development of Person-Organization Fit.” Journal of Business Ethics 16 (11): 1095–1105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slaughter, Anne-Marie. 2004. A New World Order. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Strange, Susan. 1992. “Big Business and the State.” Millennium: Journal of International Studies 20 (2): 245–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Target. 2011. “Corporate Responsibility Report.” Minneapolis, MN: Target Corporation.Google Scholar
Target. 2012. “Corporate Responsibility Report.” Minneapolis, MN: Target Corporation.Google Scholar
Thauer, Christian R. 2013. “Goodness Comes From Within: Intra-Organizational Dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility.” Business & Society: 1–34 [Epub ahead of print].CrossRefGoogle Scholar
The International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics. 2009. “A Global Review of Insurance Industry Responses to Climate Change”.Google Scholar
Trevino, Linda K., Weaver, Gary R., Gibson, Donald, and Toffler, Barbara. 1999. “Managing Ethics and Legal Compliance: What Works and What Hurts.” California Management Review 41 (2): 131–151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trevino, Linda K., Hartman, Laura, and Brown, Michael. 2000. “Moral Person and Moral Managers.” California Management Review 42 (4): 128–142.Google Scholar
UNEP. 2012. “The Business Case for the Green Economy: Sustainable Return on Investment”.Google Scholar
UNEP and Sustain Ability. 2001. “Buried Treasure: Uncovering the Business Case for Corporate Sustainability”.Google Scholar
UNGC. 2012. “After the Signature: A Guide to Engagement in the United Nations Global Compact”.Google Scholar
van der Ven, Hamish. 2013. “Bringing Values Back into CSR.” Business Ethics Journal Review 1 (16): 99–105.Google Scholar
Vandenbergh, Michael. 2007. “The New Wal-Mart Effect: The Role of Private Contracting in Global Governance.” UCLA Law Review 54: 913–970.Google Scholar
Vogel, David. 2006. The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution.Google Scholar
Waltz, Kenneth. 1959. Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Wal-Mart. 2008. “Sustainability Progress to Date 2007–2008.” Bentonville, AR: Wal-Mart.Google Scholar
Wal-Mart. 2009. “2009 Global Sustainability Report.” Bentonville, AR: Wal-Mart.Google Scholar
Wal-Mart. 2010. “Global Sustainability Report: 2010 Progress Update.” Bentonville, AR: Wal-Mart.Google Scholar
Wal-Mart. 2011. “2011 Global Responsibility Report.” Bentonville, AR: Wal-Mart.Google Scholar
Wal-Mart. 2012. “2012 Global Responsibility Report.” Bentonville, AR: Wal-Mart.Google Scholar
Willard, Bob. 2002. The Sustainability Advantage: Seven Business Case Benefits of a Triple Bottom Line. Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers.Google Scholar
World Bank. 2012. “GDP (current US$).” World Bank Data Catalog. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. Available from: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?order=wbapi_data_value_2010+wbapi_data_value&sort=desc). Accessed 7 February 2013.Google Scholar