Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. Especially, manufacturing firms in developing countries such as India the world’s 'manufacturing floors' – are under heavy scrutiny from many parties. This paper is an effort to research the status of CSR activities relating to ‘environment’ in Indian manufacturing sector. A review of literature shows little is available on the status of environment CSR practices in the manufacturing sector. This paper obtains data through a survey of 50 manufacturing companies belonging to automobile, cement, chemical, pharmaceutical and textile sectors. The findings reveal the emergence of environment CSR as corporate focus. The paper also provides suggestions on enhancement of environment CSR in the Indian manufacturing units.

Key words: Corporate social responsibility, stakeholders, environment, India.