This study analyses how Corporate Enterprises (CEs) approach corporate social responsibility (CSR) to meet demands frpm CE members, stakeholders and society. To address this issue, unstructured interviews were used to collect qualitative data in order to conduct case studies in four regional consumer CEs in Sweden. The study shows that CEs adopt collaborative solutions in response to members' demands, collaborate proactively in local and global partnerships to facilitate new undertakings, and put pressure on key stakeholders to take corporate responsibility for social issues. The research contributes to the CSR literature by offering an understanding of how CEs respond to new challenges using different CSR approaches and contribute to emerging CSR that promotes sustainable development for both local and global society.
Submitted to Journal of Sustainability in 2008.