Although publication of a vast amount of socially responsible investment policies suggests that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a common feature in today’s global real estate industry, in practice and research, the meaning and implementation of CSR principles remains largely unclear. Therefore, this study examines the use of CSR by comparing real estate investment organizations and practices in the USA, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Findings indicate that the case companies use formal materiality assessments to determine core business-related CSR issues, aim to formulate CSR goals that are distinctive and measurable, strive to find a CSR management structure that fits the company’s characteristics, and use existing CSR and sustainability reporting and certification guidelines as structuring devices for CSR policy setup. A CSR maturity model illustrates different levels of organizational CSR maturity, enables ranking of case companies, and offers practical insights for real estate investment and development.
Rowie Huijbregts, Erwin Heurkens & Fred Hobma, concept paper, April 2019.