Title: Water stewardship and North America's food and beverage companies: a case study in corporate sustainability

Authors: Peter Jones; Daphne Comfort; David Hillier

Addresses: The Business School, University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, GL 50 2RH, UK ' The Business School, University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, GL 50 2RH, UK ' Centre for Police Sciences, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales, CF 37 1DL, UK

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide an exploratory review of the extent to which the leading North American food and beverage companies are publicly addressing water stewardship. The findings reveal that the vast majority of the selected companies address a number of elements concerning water stewardship as part of their more general approach to CSR. However, corporate commitments to water stewardship can be interpreted as being driven as much by business imperatives as by any specific concerns for CSR or a fundamental desire to maintain the viability and integrity of natural ecosystems. More critically the authors suggest that the selected companies' commitments to water stewardship are framed within existing business models focused on technological improvements in eco-efficiency and continuing economic growth.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; water stewardship; food and beverage industry; North America; food and drinks industry; case study; corporate sustainability; sustainable development; business models; technological improvements; eco-efficiency; economic growth; business imperatives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCSSR.2016.077546

International Journal of Corporate Strategy and Social Responsibility, 2016 Vol.1 No.1, pp.26 - 43

Received: 06 Nov 2014
Accepted: 28 Jul 2015
Published online: 05 Jul 2016 *