This paper highlights the importance for biomass plants of adopting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategy to favorite social acceptance. CSR consists on a set of activities including the collecting of information, related with the efforts undertaken by the firm regarding the improvement of human capital, environmental protection and the strengthening of relations with stakeholders. This information is at the basis of public documents, that are systematically disseminated, aimed at pursuing the positive effects in terms of higher firm reputation, leading to reducing transaction costs of the plant. The paper investigates on four study cases in Italy, where the major costs and benefits of the adoption of CSR are elicited in qualitative terms. The results shows that CSR has a low impact on the dialogue between the firm and the local community, but favorites the authorization process operated by the regional government. The adoption of various unrelated CSR initiative suggest that these are mainly aimed at obtaining benefits such as license to operate and reputation, but do not integrate in a more broad company strategy.
The Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting the Social Acceptance of Biomass Plants. Evidences from Italy
LOPOLITO, ANTONIO;PROSPERI, MAURIZIO;DE MEO, EMILIO
2013-01-01
Abstract
This paper highlights the importance for biomass plants of adopting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategy to favorite social acceptance. CSR consists on a set of activities including the collecting of information, related with the efforts undertaken by the firm regarding the improvement of human capital, environmental protection and the strengthening of relations with stakeholders. This information is at the basis of public documents, that are systematically disseminated, aimed at pursuing the positive effects in terms of higher firm reputation, leading to reducing transaction costs of the plant. The paper investigates on four study cases in Italy, where the major costs and benefits of the adoption of CSR are elicited in qualitative terms. The results shows that CSR has a low impact on the dialogue between the firm and the local community, but favorites the authorization process operated by the regional government. The adoption of various unrelated CSR initiative suggest that these are mainly aimed at obtaining benefits such as license to operate and reputation, but do not integrate in a more broad company strategy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
