Beyond Legitimacy: A Case Study in BP’s “Green Lashing”

Matejek, Sabine; Gößling, Tobias

doi:10.1007/s10551-013-2006-6

Cited by 97 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Following Lange and Washburn (), subjective interpretations of corporate behavior can lead to different perceptions of corporate social irresponsibility. This might underlie, for instance, the greater degree of public indignation toward BP after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill relative to the public disdain directed at Shell, despite Shell's greater amounts of oil spilled over the past 50 years (Nossiter, ; Matejek and Gössling, ; for a study on oil in general see Ihlen, ). Hence, to be considered greenwashing, a green message must combine falsity (information‐related element) with an accusation of being misleading (external‐distortion element).…”

Section: What Is Greenwashing?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenwashing Revisited: In Search of a Typology and Accusation‐Based Definition Incorporating Legitimacy Strategies

2015

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Is greenwashing a concept describing companies using misleading communication or is it co‐constructed in the eye of the beholder? By discussing the literature, we find that existing definitions of greenwashing overemphasize the strategic intention to mislead and do not incorporate unjust allegations. Then, by combining signaling theory with legitimacy theory, we frame the communication process of the greenwashing accusation and the emergence of a negative narrative caused by the accusation and its effect on legitimacy. Hence, in this paper we argue that greenwashing epistemologically is constituted in the eye of the beholder, depending on an external accusation. Following this view, the greenwashing accusation is understood as a distortion factor altering the signal reliability of green messages. Based on our conceptual analysis, we provide a conceptual framework introducing a new typology of case‐based greenwashing (greenwashing, false greenwashing, potential greenwashing and no greenwashing) and the effects of these types on corporate legitimacy. Finally, we propose a revised definition of greenwashing as co‐creation of an external accusation toward an organization with regard to presenting a misleading green message. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

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Section: What Is Greenwashing?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenwashing Revisited: In Search of a Typology and Accusation‐Based Definition Incorporating Legitimacy Strategies

2015

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“…Matejek and Gössling (2014) examine legitimacy in the case of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They find the passive voice is used to avoid "questions of responsibility" (p. 580).…”

Section: Research Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impression management in annual report narratives: the case of the UK private finance initiative

Edgar

Beck

Brennan

2018

AAAJ

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Purpose The UK private finance initiative (PFI) public policy is heavily criticised. PFI contracts are highly profitable leading to incentives for PFI private-sector companies to support PFI public policy. This contested nature of PFIs requires legitimation by PFI private-sector companies, by means of impression management, in terms of the attention to and framing of PFI in PFI private-sector company annual reports. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach PFI-related annual report narratives of three UK PFI private-sector companies, over seven years and across two periods of significant change in the development of the PFI public policy, are analysed using manual content analysis. Findings Results suggest that PFI private-sector companies use impression management to legitimise during periods of uncertainty for PFI public policy, to alleviate concerns, to provide credibility for the policy and to legitimise the private sector’s own involvement in PFI. Research limitations/implications While based on a sizeable database, the research is limited to the study of three PFI private-sector companies. Originality/value The portrayal of public policy in annual report narratives has not been subject to prior research. The research demonstrates how managers of PFI private-sector companies present PFI narratives in support of public policy direction that, in turn, benefits PFI private-sector companies.

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“…Current representation of western companies such as BP and Shell as corporate social responsibility “world leaders,” and Asian state‐owned oil companies as “bottom feeders” (Pegg, ) may increase the significance of the best international voluntary environmental standards as a benchmark for fair global competition in environmental responsibility. However, the case of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico does not support the above‐mentioned statement (Matejek & Gössling, ). Another example is the Russian Surgutneftegaz Oil Company (no foreign shareholders), which demonstrates the highest score in environment responsibility among companies in Russia (E. A. Shvarts, Knizhnikov, Pakhalov, & Kilzie, ; E. A. Shvarts, Pakhalov, & Knizhnikov, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…In contrast to developed countries, firms in developing countries perceive relatively little pressure from the public with regards to corporate social responsibility disclosure (Ali, Frynas, & Mahmood, 2017 feeders" (Pegg, 2012) may increase the significance of the best international voluntary environmental standards as a benchmark for fair global competition in environmental responsibility. However, the case of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico does not support the above-mentioned statement (Matejek & Gössling, 2014). Another example is the Russian Surgutneftegaz Oil Company (no foreign shareholders), which demonstrates the highest score in environment responsibility among companies in Russia (E.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Environmental rating of oil and gas companies in Russia: How assessment affects environmental transparency and performance

Shvarts¹,

Pakhalov

Knizhnikov³

et al. 2018

Bus Strat Env

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The article discusses the evolution and current state of transparency of environmental performance data in the Russian Oil and Gas sector. We build upon our first‐hand experience in a transparent, publicly available information and third‐party‐verified rating system. Based on 2014–16 successive annual ratings, we conclude that implementing “soft” responsibility mechanisms can improve environmental responsibility standards and transparency in the oil and gas industry. At the same time, in terms of improving environmental performance of oil and gas companies it is reasonable to assume an emerging trend. Its full realization will require (1) longer rating time, including that for public exposure to misleading environmental performance information and the use of poorly verified nonfinancial reporting; (2) application of independent analysis of satellite monitoring information to the professional audit and public verification of nonfinancial reporting; and (3) sophistication of guidelines for professional audit and public verification of nonfinancial reports.

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Beyond Legitimacy: A Case Study in BP’s “Green Lashing”

Cited by 97 publications

References 22 publications

Greenwashing Revisited: In Search of a Typology and Accusation‐Based Definition Incorporating Legitimacy Strategies

Greenwashing Revisited: In Search of a Typology and Accusation‐Based Definition Incorporating Legitimacy Strategies

Impression management in annual report narratives: the case of the UK private finance initiative

Environmental rating of oil and gas companies in Russia: How assessment affects environmental transparency and performance

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