Thesis (M.Sc.)--Saint Mary's University, 2009. / Running head: Factors affecting applicant attraction Includes abstract. Supervisor: Victor Catano. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-46).

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a holistic approach to product stewardship has been increasingly incorporated into environmental policy agenda in the last two decades. One major expectation of EPR is to prevent environmental problems at source by providing appropriate incentives for product eco-design changes. However, available studies empirically examining the actual influence of EPR on eco-design are limited. This research therefore aims to fill the research gap by evaluating the effectiveness of existing EPR programmes in driving eco-design changes from the perspective of China’s electrical and electronic (EE) industry, and shed some light on the prospects of EPR development in China. Based on the analytical framework developed from reconstructed intervention theory, three intensive empirical studies have been carried out. The first study examines the perception and responses of 50 China’s EE manufacturers regarding the EU EPR programmes (i.e. the WEEE and RoHS Directives). The second study investigates the responses of 36 China’s EE manufacturers to the Chinese EPR programmes (i.e. China WEEE and China RoHS legislation) and identifies possible factors that exert causal impact on the occurrence of eco-design. In order to gain a deeper insight into the practical manifestations of effective EPR implementation in the private sector, three company case studies have been conducted in the third stage of the research, serving as an important supplement to the first two studies. The three studies show that EPR programmes in a stringent regulatory approach focusing on products’ environmental properties such as substance bans can exert strong influence on design changes. However, mandated recycling legislation seems to have little driving effect for companies to change product design. The research points to the weakness of collective producer responsibility that is currently adopted in many EU Member States for WEEE implementation in achieving continuous eco-design improvements. It highlights the significance of realising the principle of individual producer responsibility in EPR programmes for achieving this goal. Based on an attributability assessment, the research further shows that there are a number of factors that influence the adoption of eco-design in China, and the link between legislative EPR programmes and eco-design is complex and evolving. Not only may the EPR programmes have different existing, anticipating and potential effect on the incorporation of eco-design, but they may have very different driving influence on environmental laggards and leaders. In this regard, this research suggests that there is no one-stop solution for EPR in China. A mixed mechanism that integrates various policy instruments such as administrative, economic and informative instruments, in conjunction with cooperation and infrastructure facilities, would be the most effective means to implement EPR in the context of China, thereby achieving the goal of sustainable production and consumption. / published_or_final_version / Kadoorie Institute / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The growth of the managed investment industry brings with it the potential for institutional investors to exert their influence on boards of listed companies to deliver strong and sustainable growth. The concepts of socially responsible investment (SRI), responsible investment (RI) or ethical investment (EI) have become part of mainstream investment practices in many financial markets. While SRI is largely a qualitative concept, its survival and adoption by the mainstream investment community may, in part, be due to the formalising of its concepts into language that investors, asset managers and analysts can more readily understand: the benchmark index. SRI indices may hold the key to attracting attention to ESG issues in listed corporates and to help bring about positive outcomes in sustainable development. Figures show SRI investments in emerging markets are minimal when compared to those in developed markets but emerging markets hold great potential for growth and development of these tools. This research develops a tool for bringing together social construction theory and stakeholder theory in understanding the construction of SRI Indices and in development of new indices. The core of this research is an analysis of SRI indices in three major emerging markets of Hong Kong, India and China, together with an analysis of different perspectives of SRI in Asia. The purpose is to identify opportunities to building SRI indices through a stakeholder engagement approach. The research was conducted over several phases between October 2008 and August 2010 and can be defined by three different studies: 1. a comparative study on SRI indices and their ESG criteria; 2. a comparative study on SRI indices and their stakeholder engagement approach; and 3. an analysis on the feasibility of building SRI indices in Asian markets. The findings from the three studies indicate three main arguments. First, ESG assessment and criteria of SRI indices does have an impact on the creditability and value of the SRI indices. Due to the lack of transparency on the ESG assessment and criteria, SRI investors and other stakeholder groups are deterred from adopting SRI indices as SRI tool. Second, stakeholder engagement is essential for SRI indices. And lastly, SRI indices in emerging markets, especially in the three studied markets, are attractive to both global and local SRI investors; however, these SRI indices need to include local ESG contexts to reflect the actual ESG concerns of the societies and avoid blindly following developed markets’ SRI index model, which in the end become unrealistic and unpopular to investors and stakeholder groups. We recommend that stakeholder engagement in index criteria and corporate assessment be widened and deepened; that governments and stock exchanges can play a pivotal role in SRI development and should take the lead. We also recommend that SRI indices strengthen the institution of corporate research to rely less on secondary data when making their corporate assessments. / published_or_final_version / Kadoorie Institute / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Education and training are recognized as the crux of developing green organizational cultures in the achievement of corporate sustainability. Should ecology training be linked with the practical work of corporate members? Should they “learn by doing” or “do by learning”? The present study covered the links between environmental education and training and its success in greening the employees and corporate cultures. It investigated the effectiveness of environmental training and models a suitable training approach in developing environmentally aware corporate cultures. The study first revealed the drivers and challenges of implementing environmental education and training in managerial perception. 13 environmental managers of sustainability leading corporations and governmental departments in Hong Kong were surveyed by either face-to-face interviews or mailed questionnaires survey. The role of environmental education and training in raising employees’ awareness toward a more sustainable manner has been fully recognized by the surveyed mangers. However, engaging employees in environmental learning was found to be the single biggest challenge among the managers. Managers have faced a dilemma when designing training content and training approaches. A wide range of rationales and determining factors were identified in the study. They were employee interests and motivation, training practicability and applicability, justification of resources and continuity of training impacts. A series of environmental education and awareness training programmes of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) were used as a case study. Evaluation of the training outcomes, in terms of changes in participants’ environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, was surveyed by using self-completion questionnaires with retrospective post- and then-test design. Across the 47 responses, the results show that employees gained knowledge and changed their values and behaviour towards the environment significantly. The acquisition of knowledge and attitude change leads to the development of green behaviour both in the workplace and at home. Training design and approach, relevance and applicability of training content were found to have the greatest impact on the training outcomes. A combination of direct- and indirect- experiences in the training is also essential as the employees have direct contact with nature for affective-based attitudes while a proportion of indirect experience training is responsible for intellectual development. Training should be available for employees from each stratum in the company rather than only focusing on pinpointed management staff since it could promote a workable interface between employees and the corporation. Furthermore, organizational support including supervisory and peer support is vital to the training outcomes by encouraging employees to perform pro-environmental behaviour at work, in turn, greening the corporate culture. This study brings to the conclusion that, even though transition of sustainable corporate culture is a long process, it could be achievable in real-life businesses through utilizing an effective environmental education and training with properly designed strategies. / published_or_final_version / Kadoorie Institute / Master / Master of Philosophy

M. Tech. Public relations management / The objective of this study was to determine how a South African company such as Tiger Brands Limited perceives the use of CSR as a strategic communication tool. Underpinned by Carrolls four pillars of CSR, the study assessed the perception and extent of CSR practices as a strategic communication tool within that company. Of specific interest to this study was the extent to which CSR was perceived to be aligned to the companys various responsibilities, how positively or negatively these alignments were viewed, as well as the reasons put forward for all these views.

In recent years we have witnessed growing interest in corporate environmental responsibility and the concept of sustainability amongst businesses globally. Regardless of the motivation, be it competitive advantage, social license to operate, share value (socially responsible investing), shareholder pressure, public pressure, employee retention, cutting operational costs, the escalation of corporate accountability, or even altruistic goals, this is a growing trend among business. This field is in its infancy and requires considerable leadership. This paper is a collection of multiple descriptive case studies focusing on how Canadian best in sectors in the mining, oil and gas, telecom, finance, hospitality, and retail industries are integrating corporate environmental responsibility into their corporate strategy. Many areas for further study have been identified.

In a three point argument, it is asserted that general principles of law can be used to establish liability of corporations for massive violations of human rights. First, there is a lacuna in the law in this subject. Second, the constructivist approach to international relations contends that international norms are obeyed when they are internalized, so, conversely, the assertion is made that domestic law could be used to identify international norms, expanding the usefulness of general principles of law. Thirdly, general principles of law can be identified by comparative law methodology, so using one comparative method, The Common Core of European Private Law, should uncover principles of corporate liability. Lastly, an adaptation of this methodology is then applied to four countries.

Bibliography : leaves 181-190. / x, 190 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the corporate social disclosure practices of the 200 largest public companies in Australia by examining their annual reports and other company publications. The study identified that many companies make social disclosure in media other than their annual report and that much social disclosure was prepared with specific readers in mind. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Commerce, 1999?

Bibliography : leaves 181-190. / x, 190 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the corporate social disclosure practices of the 200 largest public companies in Australia by examining their annual reports and other company publications. The study identified that many companies make social disclosure in media other than their annual report and that much social disclosure was prepared with specific readers in mind. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Commerce, 1999?