Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Environment in Lublin Region, Poland: A Comparative Study of 2009 and 2019

Abstract

Today’s businesses have a huge impact on the environment. Enterprises overuse available natural resources, and emit hazardous pollutants; thus, they contribute to the advancing degradation of existing ecosystems, causing serious threats to the biological diversity of our planet. Hence, there is an urgent need to undertake diverse actions to reduce the adverse impact of businesses, households, and whole societies on the environment, and stop its degradation. The goal of this paper is to present research findings from the study carried out in 2019 and compare these findings with the study carried out in 2009, in order to identify and analyze the most frequent environmental activities undertaken by enterprises operating in the Lublin region. The ranking method was used in the study. The research findings show that over the last 10 years respondents’ opinions on the most effective economic instruments used in pursuing ecological policies remained unchanged. Moreover, respondents point to numerous tangible benefits resulting from ecological activity. In 2019, like in 2009, most pro-ecological investments were financed with enterprises’ own funds. Over the 10-year period between 2009 and 2019, the most frequent pro-environmental activities, as well as the returns on ecological investment periods, have changed. The study showed that enterprises responsibly consider environmental impacts of their activities and undertake actions aimed at preserving the environment and its resources.

THE PERCEPTION OF COMPANY EMPLOYEES BY SMEs WITH CSR CONCEPT IMPLEMENTATION

“…Some CSR issues are focused on community, corporate governance, public -private partnerships, and prosperity. The most common reasons, why companies do not implement CSR in V4 countries are: lack of employees with relevant knowledge in this area, lack of information or benefits from the government, or lack of company's financial resources (Zelazna et al, 2020;Nagypál, 2014;Slabá, 2020;Lušňáková et al, 2019). Li et al (2020) highlighted that most of the studies are focused on companies' financial performance.…”

Beliefs about Climate Change and Their Relationship with Environmental Beliefs and Sustainable Behavior: A View from Rural Communities

“…Clerici et al [12] show how deforestation is affecting Colombian protected areas during post-conflict periods and how the leading role of communities, their leadership, and organization, are starting points to contribute to solving this problem. Zelazna et al [13] and Esteban-Salvador et al [14] describe the most frequent environmental activities carried out by companies operating in the Lublin region (Poland) and rural areas of Spain, respectively, aimed at protecting the environment. In addition, Barclay and Barker [15] showed how environmentalism contributes to the recognition of how people see the value in others, and therefore, contributes to the intention of carrying out collective and collaborative actions.…”

Corporate social responsibility and environmental protection

“…A. Zelazna, M. Bojar and E. Bojar [9] showed that social responsibility associated with conducting economic activities in compliance with environmental protection requirements for local enterprises makes it possible to implement the principles of sustainable development and introduce environmental management. Enterprises responsibly analyze their impact on the use of a variety of resources in production activities and look for solutions that minimize the environmental burden on the company's activities.…”