CSR in the UK nanotechnology industry: Attitudes and prospects

This paper aims to provide a clearer understanding of the role which corporate social responsibility (CSR) currently plays in influencing the activities of companies involved in the nanotechnologies industry in the UK, and how CSR may contribute to building the material and social sustainability of the industry as part of a regime of adaptive and anticipatory governance. The paper employs a conceptual framework in which a model of continuous improvement and a classification of “modes” of CSR (“do no harm”, “positive social force”) are used to evaluate the extent to which nanotechnology companies report on their impact management activities (based on an online survey of 78 companies), and to interpret attitudes towards CSR (drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews with company representatives). It is argued that the general level of CSR reporting is low, although companies themselves often demonstrate awareness of the requirements of a “do no harm” model of CSR. It is suggested that, if CSR is to be positioned as contributing to an adaptive and anticipatory governance framework for nanotechnology in the UK, serious shortcomings and obstacles need to be addressed in order to move closer to the “positive social force” mode of CSR.