Responsible Competitiveness - Linking CSR and Competitive Advantage in three European Industrial Sectors

Our paper deals with sectoral links of Corporate Social Responsbility (CSR) and competitive advantage in the chemical, construction and textile sectors. It is based on an analysis of sector specific research findings and a series of qualitative interviews with experts from business associations all across Europe. In our project, we analysed the competitive situation and the most important societal concerns of each sector, and identified CSR issues that simultaneously address societal and environmental concerns and improve competitiveness. Our results show the importance of future sector specific CSR policies, business initiatives and research projects.