The Management of CSR within the plastic industry : A study of plastic producing companies within the Gnosjö region in Sweden

Sammanfattning: Background: The matter of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has more and more become a topic of interest today. As the concept has gained attention, the emphasis on its different concepts has shifted from the focus lying on the social responsibilities, to being more about the environmental responsibilities and impact of companies. Although the attention put on CSR and the environment has increased, an increase in the amount of plastic waste is still seen in the world. In Sweden, corporations accounts for as much as 50% of the total amount of plastic waste every year.   Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the management of environmental Corporate Social Responsibility in plastic producing companies, specifically the management of CSR within the Gnosjö region in Sweden   Method: This qualitative study involves multiple case studies primarily based on semi-structured interviews with managers of plastic producing companies in the Gnosjö region of Sweden.   Findings: The study showed that plastic companies are challenged in several ways, like re-using their production waste, caring for their employees, switching to more sustainable energy sources, and adhering to sustainable standards. Thus, companies’ goals are required to satisfy environmental demands by positioning their CSR-work towards customers’ environmental needs.   Conclusion: This thesis conclude that companies’ have different views on the meaning of CSR. It was found that sales and profit were the main motivators of adopting CSR practices, followed by some ethical aspects. Companies will continue to experience an increased demand for recycled plastics and that the importance of CSR will persistently grow. New knowledge demands the development of new materials and better strategies for recycling.