After Greenwashing
Symbolic Corporate Environmentalism and Society

Examines the underlying symbolic dimensions of corporate environmentalism, helping readers to separate useful environmental information from empty corporate spin.

Frances Bowen (Author)

9781107421738, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 October 2015

310 pages, 14 b/w illus. 11 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.45 kg

'Bowen's After Greenwashing adopts a mix of theoretical, empirical, conceptual and case study approaches to analyse symbolic environmental discourses … this book complements contemporary social and environmental accounting research seeking praxis for a green society.' Osamuyimen Egbon, Social and Environmental Accountability Journal

Businesses promote their environmental awareness through green buildings, eco-labels, sustainability reports, industry pledges and clean technologies. When are these symbols wasteful corporate spin, and when do they signal authentic environmental improvements? Based on twenty years of research, three rich case studies, a strong theoretical model and a range of practical applications, this book provides the first systematic analysis of the drivers and consequences of symbolic corporate environmentalism. It addresses the indirect cost of companies' symbolic actions and develops a new concept of the 'social energy penalty' - the cost to society when powerful corporate actors limit the social conversation on environmental problems and their solutions. This thoughtful book develops a set of tools for researchers, regulators and managers to separate useful environmental information from empty corporate spin, and will appeal to researchers and students of corporate responsibility, corporate environmental strategy and sustainable business, as well as environmental practitioners.

Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. After greenwashing
3. Perspectives on symbolic corporate environmentalism
4. Drivers and consequences of symbolic corporate environmentalism
5. Study 1: symbolic gaps in environmental strategies
6. Study 2: pollution control technology and the production of symbolic capital
7. Study 3: the evolution of measurement and performance standards
8. Measurement and methods
9. Implications and conclusions
Notes
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Business ethics & social responsibility [KJG], Business & management [KJ]