Private companies contributing to environmental justice : An Exploratory Study of Stena Fastigheter and the LONAproject in Lindängen, Malmö

Sammanfattning: The research question „How do privately owned companies contribute to environmental justice through green measures in socially deprived neighbourhoods?“ was used in this Master‘s thesis to examine the role of private economies and their potential contribution to more just living environments in cities. The study used an analytical framework to explore the theories of environmental justice and corporate social responsibility in a real-world context. A qualitative case study was conducted on the Lokala Naturvårdssatsningen outdoor development project in Lindängen, Malmö, led by the private housing company Stena Fastigheter. Through document analyses, expert interviews, and resident surveys, the project‘s positive impacts on equitable development were identified, including implemented plantings and the collaboration with the NGO Hållbar Utveckling Skåne. Certain factors such as the reliance on external funding and limited civic participation were identified as hindrances to environmental justice. The company‘s Relationship Management approach showed promise in enhancing social sustainability within its portfolio. By addressing the research gap of private corporations‘ societal responsibility in context of providing equictable and health promoting green spaces, this study contributes to the environmental justice and corporate social responsibility discourse and offers insights for designing sustainable and socially just cities.