Abstract
This study unpacks the environmental and social dimensions of supplier responsibility and links each dimension to distinct drivers. We distinguish between two main types of drivers: stakeholder pressures (i.e., from government, NGOs and customers) and relational drivers applied by Western buying firms (i.e., through lean training and trust). The results of a multi-method study of Philips Lighting and 144 of its Chinese suppliers show that supplier environmental responsibility can be fostered through both stakeholder pressures and relational drivers. In contrast, supplier social responsibility is harder to address, and suppliers respond only if they perceive eminent threats to their business. Our study provides a nuanced perspective on the development of supplier environmental and social responsibility in China and the specific challenges for Western buying firms seeking to improve it.
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