University of Maine, Farmington, Business Department, Farmington, ME, United States; University of KwaZulu-Natal, Discipline of Geography, School of Environmental Science, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; University of Maine, Farmington, Business Department, 270 Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938, United States
Mitchell, C.G., University of Maine, Farmington, Business Department, Farmington, ME, United States, University of Maine, Farmington, Business Department, 270 Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938, United States; Hill, T., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Discipline of Geography, School of Environmental Science, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
The paper investigates the development and use of corporate social and environmental reporting by businesses within a large municipality in South Africa. There is a strong call for improved CSR, and a greater degree of accountability and transparency by business. The survey was conducted through the use of interviews following a structured questionnaire with the Global Reporting Initiative used as an appropriate framework. This approach allowed us to determine the challenges businesses face in implementing a comprehensive CSR system in the South African context and why, other than companies which are part of a group, businesses are unable or unwilling to increase external reporting. We suggest that implementation of a comprehensive and externally controlled and certified standard, such as ISO 14001 would not only reduce environmental impacts, but facilitate increased CSR. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.