On veracity in corporate sustainability claims: why society should be cautious

Abstract

This paper rethinks the veracity in corporate sustainability claims and highlights the need for societal caution in relying on sustainability claims. The paper adopts an opinionated approach but uses existing literature to argue that, whilst genuine corporate sustainability may exist, there may be some pockets of pretentious sustainability claims. Consequently, the paper cautions that false corporate sustainability presents danger to society in that it may prevent societal alertness against corporate unsustainability; these hazards include the danger of obscured escalation of carbon emission, with associated climate change impacts and entrenched socio-economic inequity that may escalate poverty. It concludes by proposing that regulatory agencies should adopt a ‘behind-the-scene’ strategy (beyond paid sustainability assurers) to authenticate corporate claims of sustainability.