Det är centralt för textilföretag idag att implementera hållbarhet i deras strategier och affärsmodell, ett organisatoriskt dokument som syftar till att redovisa ett företags hållbarhetsarbete gentemot deras intressenter är hållbarhetsredovisningar. FNs 17 globala mål (Agenda 2030) tillgodoser företag världen över med riktlinjer och fokusområden inom hållbar utveckling. Agenda 2030 har blivit ett verktyg som används i samband med hållbarhetsredovisning. Studien syftar till att undersöka svenska textilföretags hållbarhetsarbete kopplat till Agenda 2030 för att ge en ökad förståelse för hur textilföretag arbetar med Agenda 2030 målen med utgångspunkt i det traditionella ramverket triple bottom line i relation till det moderna ramverket regenerativ hållbarhet. Studien ligger till grund för vidare forskning kring huruvida FNs globala mål behöver uppdateras för att bli ett verktyg för att uppnå regenerativ hållbarhet. Metod: Studien har en kvalitativ forskningsmetod baserad på dokumentstudie och semistrukturerade intervjuer med ett målstyrt urval. Urvalsprocessen har utgångspunkt i att kartlägga svenska företag som är verksamma inom textilbranschen och arbetar med hållbarhet. I samband med att det empiriska materialet samlades in pågick analysarbete kontinuerligt där det identifierades fem kategorier som syftar till att kartlägga empirin och ligga till grund för en djupgående analys. Teoretiskt Perspektiv: Studien utgår från två teoretiska ramverk, triple bottom line vilket bygger på de tre tre dimensionerna av hållbarhet social, miljömässig och ekonomisk. Följt av regenerativ hållbarhet vilket adderar ett nytt synsätt på hållbarhetsarbetet baserat på återställa, bevara och förbättra. En kort presentation av hur de teoretiska ramverken relaterar till varandra presenteras initialt. Resultat/Analys & Slutsatser: Studien baseras på 12 svenska textilföretag, där majoriteten arbetar med Agenda 2030 samt hållbarhetsredovisar. Fem kategorier identifierades; samarbeten, transparens, produkt, cirkularitet och prioriteringar i empiri och analys. Dessa användes för att kartlägga vilka av Agenda 2030 målen som prioriteras inom textilbranschen och hur det avspeglar sig i textilföretags hållbarhetsarbete, samt om det finns ett samband mellan textilföretags hållbarhetsarbete med Agenda 2030 och regenerativ hållbarhet. Baserat på studien prioriteras främst mål 8, 12, 13 och 17 inom textilbranschen. I slutsats skiljer sig hållbarhetsarbetet med målen åt på olika textilföretag beroende på hur dem prioriterar målen samt arbetar med hållbarhet och huruvida företaget kopplar Agenda 2030 till sina interna mål. Det finns både ett indirekt och direkt samband med regenerativ hållbarhet kopplat till Agenda 2030 beroende på hur textilföretagens hållbarhetsarbete och hållbarhetsredovisningar är utformade. / Today it is crucial for textile companies to implement sustainability in their strategies and overall business model, sustainability reports are an organizational document that aims to mediate a company's sustainability work to its different stakeholders. The UN's 17 Global Goals (Agenda 2030) provide companies worldwide with guidelines and focus areas on sustainable development. Agenda 2030 has become a tool used in connection with sustainability reporting. The study examines Swedish textile companies' sustainability work linked to Agenda 2030 to provide an increased understanding of how textile companies implement the UN’s 17 Global Goals. Based on the traditional triple bottom line framework in relation to the modern regenerative sustainability framework. The study forms the basis for further research on whether Agenda 2030 needs to be updated to become a tool for achieving regenerative sustainability. Methodology: The study applies a qualitative research method with a document study and semi-structured interviews based on a goal-oriented sampling. The sampling process is based on Swedish companies within the textile industry that prioritize sustainability. The empirical material was collected and analyzed continuously, five categories were identified which aim to form the base for an in-depth analysis, discussion, and lastly conclusion. Theoretical Perspective: The study is based on two theoretical frameworks, triple bottom line which includes the three dimensions of sustainability; social, environmental, and economic. Followed by regenerative sustainability, which provides a new perspective on sustainability based on restoring, preserving, and improving. A short presentation on how the two frameworks relate to each other is presented. Empirical analysis and Conclusion: The study is based on 12 Swedish textile companies, where the majority work with Agenda 2030 and sustainability reporting. Five categories were identified during the empirical analysis; collaborations, transparency, product, circularity, and priorities. The five categories were used in order to conclude which of the UN’s 17 Global Goals are prioritized within the textile industry and how it is implemented in companies' sustainability work. Also regarding whether there is a linkage between textile companies' sustainability work, implementation of Agenda 2030, and regenerative sustainability. In conclusion, the most prioritized of the UN’s Global Goals within the textile industry are; 8, 12, 13, and 17. Sustainability work in linkage with Agenda 2030 differs depending on how the specific textile company chooses to prioritize the goals, on their sustainability strategies, and whether they connect Agenda 2030 directly to their internal objectives. There is both a direct and indirect correlation between regenerative sustainability and Agenda 2030, depending on the specific textile companies' sustainability work and reporting structure, strategy, and objectives.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research report is focused on stating a case for the strategic value to be gained from an alignment of company strategies with the needs of the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), as well as an analysis of the relationship and conditions of support between the donor and receipient of corporate social investment. The report will focus on the relationship of the business sector with the triple bottom line, more specifically the social development component - the relationship of the recipients with the business reaching out to them; and the contribution it makes to sustainability. Corporate social investment (CSI) is most often measured in non-economic terms. In continuation of establishing the link between CSI and sustainability, the report will: • Provide evidence of the strategic advantage a high emphasis on sustainability initiatives bring about for the business sector. • Address the direct relationship between the economic performance of a company and their corporate social investment achievements. • Highlight the close relation between social and environmental perfonnance of business and the link to continued business competitiveness and long-term sustainability. • Support a better understanding for the need for business and non-profits to form partnerships to add value to the long-term sustainability of communities through CSI. • Highlight the role NGOs and other socially concerned groups can play in engaging with the business sector (CSR Investors) as well as the people at the "Bottom of the Pyramid". • Develop a model for use by any partner on either end of CSI initiatives which will serve as a guideline for mainstreaming CSI. NGOs within the non-profit sector have a very specific role to play in the sustainability context. This statement also translates as to stating that the NGO should be the main partner in linking the business sector with the social development within the community. The role of NGOs, the non-profit sector in the community, is key to corporate companies opening the door to BOP markets. This view is supported by Prahalad and Hart (2005:32) stating that NGOs and other concerned social groupings are by far the lead experimenters in BOP markets. GRI indicators and guidelines playa dominant role in linking social development as component of the triple bottom line to sustainability. This is also confinmed by sustainability reports of a selection of businesses evaluated and compared. The model developed gives attention to the process of embedding CSR in the business profile, with factors influencing this process and activities acting as drivers. The change needed requires a certain quality of leadership, not only from the management of the business, but also from the govemance structure in place. Answering in these requirements will ensure the identification of strategiC issues and effective strategies to address them. The role of indigenous governance systems is highlighted to support the objective of reaching the BOP. The model provides guidance on the calculation of a return on CSR, the indicators of growth and success and the expected outcomes. The task of fitting a non profit organisation to a potential partner in the business sector continues to be a challenge, a strategiC move critical for the long-tenm sustainability of society. It cannot be dealt with in the enclosed boundaries of a research report and is a living activity that needs to be practiced. Innovation, skill, will-power and ethical leadership and govemance will continue to be instrumental for success. It is therefore critical that the buy-in comes from all levels of business, to allow for true sustainability of services and products. Eventually the true measure for success will be the extent to which the BOP benefits from the "exercise" economically and socially, the extent to which the businesses can add to their profit margin with incorporation of serving the BOP. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsingsverslag is om 'n besigheidsaak te staaf. Die fokus is op die verkryging van 'n strategiese waarde uit die ooreenstemming van besigheidstrategiee met die behoeftes van gemeenskappe aan die onderkant van die ekonomiese piramide (BOP). Die fokus is verder op die analise van die verhoudings en voorwaardes vir ondersteuning tussen die gewer en die ontvanger van korporatiewe sosiale beleggings (CSI). Die verslag sal fokus op die verhouding tussen die besigheidsektor en die "triple bottom line", meer spesifiek die sosiale onlwikkelingskomponent - die verhouding tussen die ontvangers en die besighede wat uitreik na hulle; en die bydrae wat dit maak tot volhoubaarheid. Korporatiewe sosiale belegging (CSI) word gewoonlik gemeet in nie-ekonomiese terme. Ter voortsetting van die vestiging van die skakeling tussen CSI en volhoubaarheid, hanteer die verslag ook die volgende: • Dit gee bewyse van die strategiese voordeel wat verkry sal word uit 'n sterk klem op volhoubaarheidinisiatiewe wat voortgebring word vir die besigheidsektor. • Dit spreek die direkte verhouding aan tussen die ekonomiese prestasie van 'n besigheid en hul prestasies op die terrein van CSI. • Dit plaas nadruk op die noue verhouding tussen die sosiale en omgewingsprestasies van die besigheid en die konneksie daarvan met die mededingendheid van die besigheid en langtermynvolhoubaarheid. • Dit ondersteun 'n beter begrip vir die behoeftes van besighede en niewinsgewende organisasies (NGO's) aan vennootskappe ten einde waarde toe te voeg tot langtermynvolhoubaarheid van gemeenskappe deur korporatiewe sosiale beleggings. • Dit beklemtoon die rol wat NGO's en ander sosiale bewustheidsgroepe kan speel wanneer hulle betrokke raak by die besigheidsektor (CSR beleggers), sowel as die mense aan die onderkant van die ekonomiese piramide. • Dit ontwikkel 'n model vir gebruik deur enige vennoot aan enige kant van CSI inisiatiewe wat sal dien as riglyn vir die insluit van CSI in die besigheidshoofstroom. • NGO's binne die kader van die nie-winsmakende sektor het 'n baie spesifieke rol te speel binne die konteks van volhoubaarheid. Hierdie standpuntinname kan ook beteken dat die NGO die hoofvennoot behoort te wees in die skakeling van die besigheidsektor met die sosiale ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap. Die rol van die NGO, die nie-winsgewende sektor in die gemeenskap, is die sleutel tot die ontsluiting van die ekonomiese markte vir gemeenskappe aan die onderkant van die ekonomiese piramide. Hierdie standpunt word ondersteun deur Prahalad en Hart (2005:32) wat dit stel dat nie-winsgewende organisasies en ander sosiale groeperinge die onteenseglike leiers is in eksperimentering binne die BOP markte. GRI (Global Reporting Initiative, ook genoem die GRI Volhoubaarheid Verslagdoening Riglyne) aanwysers en riglyne speel 'n dominante rol in die koppeling van sosiale ontwikkeling as onderdeel van die "triple bottom line" met volhoubaarheid. Dit word bevestig deur die volhoubaarheidsverslae van 'n aantal besighede wat geevalueer en vergelyk is. Die ontwikkelde model gee aandag aan die proses van vaslegging van CSR binne die besigheidsprofiel, saam met die faktore wat hierdie proses beinvloed en die aktiwiteite wat dien as drywers. Die verandering wat benodig word vereis 'n sekere kwaliteit van leierskap, nie alleen in die bestuur van die besigheid nie, maar ook vanuit die regerende strukture wat reeds bestaan. Die identifisering van strategiese sake en effektiewe strategiee verseker dat voldoen word aan bogenoemde vereistes. Die rol van inheemse regerende strukture word beklemtoon in die bereiking van BOP-markte as doelwit. Die model verskaf leiding in die berekening van 'n opbrengs op korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid (CSR), die aanwysers van groei en sukses en die verwagte resultate. Die taak om 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie in geskikte passing met 'n potensiele vennoot in die besigheidsektor te gee, bly steeds 'n uitdaging, 'n strategiese skuif wat belangrik is vir die langtermynvolhoubaarheid van die gemeenskap. Dit kan nie voldoende hanteer word binne die grense van 'n navorsingsverslag nie en bly 'n lewende aktiwiteit wat voortdurend beoefen moet word. Innovering, vaardigheid, motivering en etiese leierskap en regering sal voortgaan om instrumenteel te wees vir sukses. Dit is daarom uiters belangrik dat die betrokkenheid en inkoop moet kom van al die vlakke van besigheid ten einde die ware volhoubaarheid van dienste en produkte te verseker. Uiteindelik sal die werklike meting van sukses bepaal word volgens die omvang waartoe BOP-markte baat vind by die "oefening", ekonomies sowel as sosiaal - dit is die omvang van waardetoevoeging tot die winste van die besigheid met inbegrip van dienste aan gemeenskappe aan die onderpunt van die ekonomiese piramide.

Over more than forty years many proposals have been drawn up to complement, integrate and overcome the traditional methodologies measuring the financial dimension of corporate performance. In parallel, thousands of companies, and especially the listed ones, have introduced, developed and implemented different practices of non-financial reporting. So, what is the state of the art with regard to the most important initiatives aimed at supporting companies in managing social, environmental and sustainability performance? And, what are the current corporate approaches to sustainability evaluation and reporting? In order to answer the two research questions, the study introduced a collaborative paradigm, based on a relational view of the firm, which recognizes the strategic value of stakeholder relationships. The stakeholder framework (that is, the multiple bottom line approach) is the lens adopted to conduct the study. With regard to the first question, a broad and up-to-date review of the most important standards and tools – aimed at managing, controlling, evaluating, and reporting the social, environmental and sustainability performance of companies – has been carried out. In reference to the second question, a qualitative content analysis, based on an interpretive perspective, of the current corporate practices has been conducted. The investigation mainly explored the social/CSR/sustainability reports of sixteen leading companies from four crucial industries (i.e., four firms per each of the four industries: banks, retailing, telecommunications, and utilities). In comparison with previous contributions in this area, the analysis is characterized by depth (that is, the number of items checked for every company), breadth (i.e., the number of stakeholders and documents/information sources covered), and complexity because of the interpretive nature. What emerged from the overall study is that, because of several and different reasons (essentially, complexity and the still prevailing focus on financial value for management tools; redundancy and incompleteness for corporate reports; and lack of innovation, that is, isomorphism, for both), the prevailing methodologies and the corporate evaluation and reporting activities are unable to fully assess the sustainability, that is, the quality, of the corporate relationships with the stakeholder groups. Therefore, in order to fill the gap new solutions are needed. As an attempt to address this point and reconnect theory and practice, a sustainability evaluation and reporting system, that is, the SERS2 methodology, characterized by an innovative, stakeholder-based scheme of integrated report, has been advanced.

The defunding of higher education at the state and national level following the 2008 recession created the need for administrators of public higher education institutions to develop and implement funding strategies to maintain organizational sustainability. State government administrators reduced spending approximately 26% per student across the nation, leaving higher education administrators challenged with adjusting organizational budgets to compensate for the reduction in state monetary support. A multiple case study design was used to explore funding strategies that community college business leaders used to support budget decisions that maintain organizational sustainability. Four leaders from 3 community colleges in Central Texas participated in semistructured interviews. Interviews were triangulated with reviews of historical school board documents. Data analysis included documents review, member checking, coding data by participant, and electronic data analysis software to determine the most frequent responses. The theory of organizational change was used as the conceptual framework for exploring strategies community college business leaders use for sustainable futures. Two themes that emerged from the analysis were business-focused planning and student success identifying that community college business leaders need to focus on offering affordable education that meets stakeholders' needs while implementing funding strategies to support budget decisions for organizational sustainability. The findings may impact social change when budget decisions are made with a focus on affordable and quality education that improves the lives of individuals, meets local workforce needs, and promotes economic development within communities.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to interview four legal jurists in order to explore how they conduct CSR activities within their service corpora-tion, with primary focus on SME law firms. Background: A current issue to address concerning the conduct of business these days is CSR activities. Although, the previous research concerning CSR activities and the service sector is limited. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework is divided into four parts; a general part concerning the concept of CSR activities, a review of earlier studies of CSR activities, the stakeholder theory and finally the theory about the triple bottom line. Method: A qualitative case study was employed in order to answer the purpose. The most suitable research approach was a combination of a deductive and partially an inductive approach. The primary data consisted of semi-structured interviews. The secondary data were used in order make a comparison in relation to manufacturing corporations. Empirical findings & Analysis: As for all corporations an integration of voluntary social and environmental concerns in their business operations are considered as CSR activities. A significant concern is CSR activities that the inter-viewed service corporations experienced was the lack of human and economic resources to deal with CSR activities. Furthermore, the lack of stakeholder pressure does not facilitate the matter of implementing more CSR strategies into the corporations‟ business conduct. As a result of the lack of stakeholder pressure the interviewed corporations tend to only take part in CSR activities that create goodwill value for the corporation. According to the interviewed service corporations CSR activities is a new phenomenon that is likely to become a bigger part of their business conduct in the future. Conclusion: The interviewed corporations tend to focus their CSR activities to-wards the social activities since this is the kind of activities that is closely connected to the core business.

Service science is an emerging multidisciplinary field concerned with the study of service systems and value co-creation. In recent years, the field has expanded considerably, growing to encompass a community of researchers and practitioners from a range of backgrounds and knowledge domains. However, very little research has focused on the study of service systems within the context of social-purpose organizations (SPOs), such as a nonprofit charitable organization or academic institution. We contend that SPOs represent a class of service systems that are understudied in service science, and the goal of this thesis was to contribute to the ongoing development of the disciplines theoretical foundations through an empirical study of a special type of SPO, the social enterprise. Through case-study research we surveyed five social enterprise organizations across Canada. Our findings point to a number of areas that suggest a conceptual bias towards service systems that are economically motivated and profit driven.

Service science is an emerging multidisciplinary field concerned with the study of service systems and value co-creation. In recent years, the field has expanded considerably, growing to encompass a community of researchers and practitioners from a range of backgrounds and knowledge domains. However, very little research has focused on the study of service systems within the context of social-purpose organizations (SPOs), such as a nonprofit charitable organization or academic institution. We contend that SPOs represent a class of service systems that are understudied in service science, and the goal of this thesis was to contribute to the ongoing development of the disciplines theoretical foundations through an empirical study of a special type of SPO, the social enterprise. Through case-study research we surveyed five social enterprise organizations across Canada. Our findings point to a number of areas that suggest a conceptual bias towards service systems that are economically motivated and profit driven.

Företag som upprättar så kallade hållbarhetsredovisningar har blivit allt vanligare. Dock råder det inom forskningen på området en oenighet om vad hållbarhetsredovisning egentligen är. En mängd olika begrepp används om vartannat och några klara definitioner finns inte fastlagda. Syftet med denna studie är därför att göra en kartläggning av de olika begrepp som används inom den globala, akademiska hållbarhetsredovisningslitteraturen för att utreda innebörden av dessa begrepp samt för att utreda hur dessa begrepp förhåller sig till varandra. Studien genomförs med hjälp av en litteraturstudie där 12 artiklar väljs ut genom ett intensitetsurval och sedan analyseras och jämförs med varandra. Resultatet av detta blir en kartläggning där de olika begreppens betydelse och inbördes relationer utrönas. Studien mynnar ut i fastläggandet av fem stycken huvudbegrepp inom området; sustainability reporting/accounting, TBL reporting/accounting, CSR reporting, FCA och environmental accounting som tillsammans kan anses representera huvuddragen för vad hållbarhetsredovisning egentligen är. / Companies claiming to be accounting for sustainability are becoming more and more common. However, within the research on the area there are some disagreements regarding what accounting for sustainability really is. A large quantity of terms and concepts are being used interchangeably and there are no clearly established definitions. The purpose with this study is therefore to constitute an investigative screening on the different terms and concepts used within the global, academic, sustainability accounting literature to investigate the meaning of these terms and concepts and also investigate how these terms and concepts are relating to each other. The study is conducted by performing a study of literature where 12 articles are chosen with the help of an intensity sample. Thereafter the articles are analyzed and compared. This results in a clarification of the meaning of the terms and concepts, and of the internal relations in between them.  The study leads to the establishment of five main terms and concepts within the area; sustainability reporting/accounting, TBL reporting/accounting, CSR reporting, FCA and environmental accounting that together can be seen to form a foundation of what accounting for sustainability really is.

<p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to interview four legal jurists in order to explore how they conduct CSR activities within their service corpora-tion, with primary focus on SME law firms.</p><p>Background: A current issue to address concerning the conduct of business these days is CSR activities. Although, the previous research concerning CSR activities and the service sector is limited.</p><p>Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework is divided into four parts; a general part concerning the concept of CSR activities, a review of earlier studies of CSR activities, the stakeholder theory and finally the theory about the triple bottom line.</p><p>Method: A qualitative case study was employed in order to answer the purpose. The most suitable research approach was a combination of a deductive and partially an inductive approach. The primary data consisted of semi-structured interviews. The secondary data were used in order make a comparison in relation to manufacturing corporations.</p><p>Empirical findings & Analysis: As for all corporations an integration of voluntary social and environmental concerns in their business operations are considered as CSR activities. A significant concern is CSR activities that the inter-viewed service corporations experienced was the lack of human and economic resources to deal with CSR activities. Furthermore, the lack of stakeholder pressure does not facilitate the matter of implementing more CSR strategies into the corporations‟ business conduct. As a result of the lack of stakeholder pressure the interviewed corporations tend to only take part in CSR activities that create goodwill value for the corporation. According to the interviewed service corporations CSR activities is a new phenomenon that is likely to become a bigger part of their business conduct in the future.</p><p>Conclusion: The interviewed corporations tend to focus their CSR activities to-wards the social activities since this is the kind of activities that is closely connected to the core business.</p>

<p>The history of environmental reporting began in the early 1990’s when some companies included the environmental issue in their annual report. The increased interest of ethical and sustainable investments and demands from different stakeholders conjure a change of the report design. To develop the environmental reports and create design guidance for sustainability reports an organisation called Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was born. The GRI is environmental reporting taken to another level, a level that is according to sustainable development. This qualitative study concerns sustainability reporting in general and the GRI-guidelines in particular. The question is why the Swedish companies, which are already using the guidelines, have chosen to use the guidelines and what type of behavioral changes within the company it has lead to? From my study, I have found that the GRI-report could help corporations to be able to see what actually has been done in the organisation. My conclusion is that the GRI-guideline is a potential tool for gaining control and visibility of the triple bottom line on a corporate level, and it highlights the importance of collecting internal information.</p>