Non-human animals in corporate social responsibility? Evidence from companies in the Nordic region

Abstract

Corporations wield considerable influence over the lives and well-being of diverse non-human animal groups through practices like land and material utilization. Responding to burgeoning societal expectations, there is a heightened emphasis on incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into corporate actions and reporting, encompassing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations. However, the specific attention given to the lives and well-being of individual non-human animals within this framework remains relatively limited. This paper scrutinizes the quality and scope of representations of non-human animals and in sustainability reporting within the Nordic countries. These include discussions on the moral status of non-human animals, incorporating considerations of the degree of rights that animals are seen to possess as well as the system levels of such approaches. Additionally, it examines the diverse categories of animal groups under discussion. The analysis draws from annual or sustainability reports from the 30 largest corporations in the Nordic region in 2022, spanning six distinct business sectors: (1) Food Industry; (2) Natural Resources; (3) Trade and Well-being; (4) Energy and Fuels; (5) Industry and Construction; and (6) Communication and Transportation. The analysis shows how the intrinsic-level approaches are typically tied to system level framings concerning ecosystems and biodiversity, whereas welfare is discussed mostly by the Food industry in the context of farmed animals. Yet the instrumental approach is present across the sectors, where nature and non-human animals are generally seen as valuable human resources. Overall, the reports define the value of non-human animals almost completely on a system or species level instead of discussing individual animals’ interests.