Subject category:
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Published by:
IBS Research Center
Length: 18 pages
Data source: Published sources
Topics:
Corporate social responsibility; Coca-Cola / Coke in India; Pesticide issue / water allegations issue; Environment issues; Allegations against Coke's bottling plants; Carbonated beverages / CSD (carbonated soft drinks); eKO system; Water conservation; Community and environment focused CSR (corporate social responsibility); Drivers for CSR in business practices; Sustainability; Rationale behind Coke's CSR initiatives; CSR initiative as a tool for sustainability; Green washing; Business model integrating CSR
Abstract
With the accelerating pace of globalisation and increasing competition, it becomes inevitable for companies to have clearly defined business practices with a sound focus on public interest. In India, the world's largest beverage maker Coca-Cola Inc was engaged in a number of community-focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These initiatives were further accelerated since 2003 following the various allegations and issues such as presence of pesticide residues in its beverages and water resource contamination issues that the soft drink giant faced in India. To address these issues and to rebuild its tarnished brand image in India, Coke engaged itself in a number of environment-focused CSR initiatives, like executing the eKO management system in 2003, under which it preserved local water resources. It also adopted measures to reduce water consumption in its production processes. This case facilitates discussion on whether Coke used CSR as a tool for its sustainability in India or only as a green washing effort to counter its allegations. The case also helps to emphasise the need for adopting ethical values in the business practices of multinationals operating in India.
About
Abstract
With the accelerating pace of globalisation and increasing competition, it becomes inevitable for companies to have clearly defined business practices with a sound focus on public interest. In India, the world's largest beverage maker Coca-Cola Inc was engaged in a number of community-focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These initiatives were further accelerated since 2003 following the various allegations and issues such as presence of pesticide residues in its beverages and water resource contamination issues that the soft drink giant faced in India. To address these issues and to rebuild its tarnished brand image in India, Coke engaged itself in a number of environment-focused CSR initiatives, like executing the eKO management system in 2003, under which it preserved local water resources. It also adopted measures to reduce water consumption in its production processes. This case facilitates discussion on whether Coke used CSR as a tool for its sustainability in India or only as a green washing effort to counter its allegations. The case also helps to emphasise the need for adopting ethical values in the business practices of multinationals operating in India.