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Corporate water stewardship

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  • Peter Jones
  • David Hillier
  • Daphne Comfort

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide an exploratory review of the extent to which some of the world’s leading food and drinks companies are publicly addressing water stewardship as part of their corporate sustainability strategies. The paper begins with brief outlines of the challenges of sustainable water resource management and of corporate water stewardship. The paper draws its empirical material from the most recent information on water stewardship and the sustainability reports posted on the Internet by a small number of the world’s leading food and drinks companies. The findings reveal that the selected companies address a number of elements concerning water stewardship as part of their more general approach to corporate sustainability. However, corporate commitments to water stewardship can be interpreted as being driven as much by business imperatives as by any concerns for environmental sustainability or a desire to maintain the viability and integrity of natural ecosystems. More critically, the authors suggest that the selected companies’ commitments to water stewardship are predominantly framed within existing business models focused on technological improvements in eco-efficiency and continuing economic growth. The paper provides an accessible review of the water stewardship issues currently being pursued by some of the world’s leading food and drinks companies and as such it will interest academics, students, political commentators and business managers interested in water stewardship and corporate sustainability. Copyright AESS 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Jones & David Hillier & Daphne Comfort, 2015. "Corporate water stewardship," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 5(3), pages 272-276, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:5:y:2015:i:3:p:272-276
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-015-0255-7
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    1. C. J. Vörösmarty & P. B. McIntyre & M. O. Gessner & D. Dudgeon & A. Prusevich & P. Green & S. Glidden & S. E. Bunn & C. A. Sullivan & C. Reidy Liermann & P. M. Davies, 2010. "Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7315), pages 555-561, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuguang Ji & Maoli Ji & Gang Yang & Shulan Dong, 2023. "Water resource management and financial performance in high water‐sensitive corporates," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2419-2434, September.
    2. Alice Mazzucchelli & Roberto Chierici & Manlio Del Giudice & Ilenia Bua, 2022. "Do circular economy practices affect corporate performance? Evidence from Italian large‐sized manufacturing firms," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(6), pages 2016-2029, November.
    3. Zhifang Zhou & Hong Zhou & Huixiang Zeng & Xiaohong Chen, 2018. "The impact of water information disclosure on the cost of capital: An empirical study of China's capital market," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1332-1349, November.
    4. Liyuan Zheng & Ling Ye & Mengjiao Wang & Yingdi Wang & Haiwei Zhou, 2022. "Does Water Matter? The Impact of Water Vulnerability on Corporate Financial Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Huixiang Zeng & Tao Zhang & Zhifang Zhou & Yang Zhao & Xiaohong Chen, 2020. "Water disclosure and firm risk: Empirical evidence from highly water‐sensitive industries in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 17-38, January.
    6. Chengyun Liu & Ziting Zhou & Kun Su & Ke Liu & Hui An, 2024. "Water risk and financial analysts' information environment: Empirical evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1265-1304, February.
    7. Shang, Delei & Yin, Guangzhi & Li, Xiaoshuang & Li, Yaoji & Jiang, Changbao & Kang, Xiangtao & Liu, Chao & Zhang, Chi, 2015. "Analysis for Green Mine (phosphate) performance of China: An evaluation index system," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(P2), pages 71-84.
    8. Robertson, Jacqui & Côte, Claire & Stevens, Shona, 2024. "Examining reported company commitments to water stewardship: Working beyond the mine?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    9. Jiahao Gu & Liyuan Zheng & Changgao Cheng & Mengjiao Wang, 2023. "The Configuration Effect of Institutional Environment, Organizational Slack Resources, and Managerial Perceptions on the Corporate Water Responsibility of Small- and Medium-Sized Corporations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.

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