Corporate Social Responsibility in the Shipping Business

Abstract: Globalization has brought numerous benefits to the world economy in general. On the one hand, it has contributed by giving opportunities and improving the quality of life of many people. It has also boosted some local markets in developing countries by giving local people employment as well as increasing their GDP, due to the fact that a vast amount of natural resources are found there. From the “first world” perspective it has brought endless possibilities, from the availability of raw materials that are not found locally to the reduction of manufacturing costs of many products. Nevertheless this phenomenon has not come without a cost, and this is, among others, the violation of people’s human rights and the impact that these activities have in the environment. To mitigate these negative effects, CSR emerged as an idea that aimed at constituting a series of measures, voluntarily adopted by corporations, that are designed with the exclusive goal to reduce the impact that their business activities place into the society and the environment. This thesis will explore what is the connection between CSR activities and the shipping industry in the field of the environment and human rights and through a case study analyze practical measures that have been designed and implemented.