Green CSR: A Conceptual Framework for Corporate Environmental Stewardship

Abstract

Environmental degradation, climate vulnerability, and intensifying regulatory scrutiny have increased the need for corporations to engage in environmentally responsible practices. Green Corporate Social Responsibility (Green CSR) has evolved as a strategic extension of traditional CSR, shifting the focus from philanthropic initiatives toward proactive and integrated environmental stewardship. Although Green CSR has received growing scholarly attention, existing studies often examine its drivers, practices, and outcomes in isolation, resulting in a fragmented understanding of how environmental responsibility is embedded within organizational strategy. Addressing this gap, the present conceptual paper develops a comprehensive, multi-layered framework that links external and internal drivers of Green CSR with organizational practices and their environmental, strategic, and reputational outcomes. Drawing on Stakeholder Theory, Institutional Theory, and the Natural Resource-Based View, the paper synthesizes insights from sustainability, environmental management, and CSR literature to propose an integrative model of corporate environmental stewardship. This conceptual approach offers theoretical clarity on the mechanisms through which Green CSR creates long-term value and highlights practical pathways for strengthening sustainability-oriented organizational behaviour. The study contributes to the growing discourse on corporate environmental responsibility and provides a foundation for future empirical research.