IN A NUTSHELL
In today’s marketplace, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are not optional extras but central strategic realities. Consumers, investors and regulators increasingly demand that companies look beyond quarterly returns; more than nine in ten large U.S. firms now publish formal CSR disclosures, and a clear majority of Americans say it matters that companies improve...
The narrative presents CSR as an evolved strategic necessity, but its strength lies in the pragmatic framework of Carroll’s Pyramid, which anchors abstract values in measurable trade-offs. The historical context—from 1950s debates to 1970s regulations—grounds CSR in enforceable duties, not just aspirational rhetoric. However, the persistent ambiguity in definitions (e.g., ESG vs. sustainability) risks diluting accountability, a pattern that could enable greenwashing or performative compliance. T...