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Emerging Market Multinationals and International Corporate Social Responsibility Standards: Bringing Animals to the Fore

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  • Germano Glufke Reis

    (UFPR Federal University of Parana)

  • Carla Forte Maiolino Molento

    (UFPR Federal University of Parana)

Abstract

The literature presents a broad approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which aggregates a diversity of issues, such as the environment, labor conditions, and human rights. We addressed the impact of increasing CSR demands during the internationalization of emerging market multinationals (EMNs) on one particular subject, animal welfare (AW). This subject raises important ethical concerns, especially as we understand that animals are sentient beings. Through content analysis of annual reports, we tracked the evolution of AW-CSR activities throughout the internationalization of two large Brazilian meat-processing multinationals as they accessed markets with complex AW regulations. We also synthetized findings on broiler chicken on-farm AW research in Brazil and conducted interviews to gauge the impact of CSR standards on animals. Our findings show that, although EMNs that enter developed markets engage with various standards, the impacts of standard enforcement on actual welfare are not straightforward and call for broader AW and animal ethics developments. Uneven results among AW criteria indicate that some aspects are prioritized over others. Furthermore, some actions of actors such as EMNs and low-tier suppliers seem to counterbalance the expected impact of normative pressures to change the lives of animals for the better. We conclude that AW standards may improve AW in emerging markets; but these standards do not appear to be sufficiently stringent, and require improvements to have a more significant positive impact. A major signal emerging from this research is the fundamental need to broaden the animal ethics debate regarding the use of animals to produce meat.

Suggested Citation

  • Germano Glufke Reis & Carla Forte Maiolino Molento, 2020. "Emerging Market Multinationals and International Corporate Social Responsibility Standards: Bringing Animals to the Fore," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(2), pages 351-368, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:166:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04144-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04144-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yanqi Sun & Pui San Ip & Michael Jones & Jenny Jing Wang & Yi An, 2021. "Determinants of Animal Welfare Disclosure Practices: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Reis, G.G. & Heidemann, M.S. & Goes, H.A.A. & Molento, C.F.M., 2021. "Can radical innovation mitigate environmental and animal welfare misconduct in global value chains? The case of cell-based tuna," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Andrija Bariæ & Mislav Ante Omaziæ & Ana Aleksiæ, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility of export organizations: Relation between strategy, activities and communication on foreign markets," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 19(1), pages 120-131.
    4. Gottlieb, Uliana & Johed, Gustav & Hansson, Helena, 2022. "Accounting and accountability for farm animals: Conceptual limits and the possibilities of caring," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Favotto, Alvise & McKernan, John Francis & Zou, Yanru, 2022. "Speculative accountability for animal kinship," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. repec:zna:indecs:v:19:y:2021:i:4:p:120-131 is not listed on IDEAS

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