Systematic analysis of corporate environmental responsibility: elements,structure, function,and principles

Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) is the subsystem of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which continues to increase prominence in the global economy. Nowadays, CER becomes more important in corporate sustainable development. Based on Carroll’s pyramid mode of CSR, this article explores the systematic feature of CER. From a systematic perspective, it sorts out its elements, structure, function, and principles of CER. And the four levels of economic, legal, ethical, and charitable structure are emphasized. With these considerations interpreted into practice, success will be achieved in potential cost savings, technological innovation, increased public acceptance, and better relations with governments.