Part of the Problem or Solution? : The Drivers and Barriers from CSR to CSR 2.0 in Companies Operating in Sweden

Abstract: At present, humanity faces one of its most pressing and daunting challenges: climate change. For this reason, sustainable development is a topic more urgent now than ever. CSR 2.0 is a model introduced to tackle the limitations of traditional CSR practices that have been shown to be ineffective over time. As Sweden is a country that leads with a great sustainability standpoint, the purpose of this thesis is, therefore, to gain insight and knowledge on the drivers and barriers from CSR to CSR 2.0 in companies operating in Sweden. This study observes an interpretive philosophy through a qualitative study that aims to understand the drivers' contrary barriers to the shift. With a mixed methods methodology and use of triangulation, the empirical data is collected in accordance with four companies from semi-structured interviews, annual and sustainability reports, as well as from website information. The empirical findings are analyzed thematically through coding, where eleven sub-themes and two themes emerged. This study discovers the practices that occur within companies through an inductive approach and proposes that the companies have evolved and currently pursue and perform certain CSR 2.0 practices. The findings justify that all companies experience drivers of their fundamentals, long-term vision, climate action, value chains, innovation, organizational culture, competitive advantage as well as internal and external pressure which adhere to CSR 2.0. Additionally, barriers of risk aversion, lack of resources as well as monitoring and evaluation were identified. This thesis has contributed to existing literature to fill the gap on what acts as drivers and barriers to how companies pursue CSR 2.0. The findings may be valuable for companies that feel the need to adapt their CSR approaches in response to our evolving world.