Social responsibility of fish processing
companies located in Portugal and Spain
Alessandra Julia
˜
o Weyandt, Stella Regina Reis da Costa, Maria Leonor Nunes and
Arlene Gaspar
Abstract
Purpose – The present paper is part of an extensive research project conducted in various fish
processing companies located in the Iberian Peninsula and its purpose is to study corporate social
responsibility (CSR) relating to: management’s perception of the CSR concept; current practice analysis
of the companies studied; and proposal formulation for a company’s CSR implementation plan.
Design/methodology/approach – The study, done during June through October of 2009, utilized a
qualitative method. The data were acquired through questionnaires, industry visits, interviews and
management manuals.
Findings – The results indicate a strong inclination toward a management of quality control, food
security and environment with lower priority given to social responsibility. The results also suggest that
the CSR concept is not fully understood among the companies studied.
Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted at five fish processing companies.
Caution is required in generalizing these results to other fish companies located in other countries.
Practical implications – In view of the positive results in the areas of economic (quality control and food
safety) and environmental management the next step would be to become socially responsible by
developing its social resources (work safety, health, and a polity of human rights).
Originality/value – The study provides an analysis of fish processing companies that have already
implemented an integrated management system which includes a well defined and ample concept of
CSR. This type of study has not been done before to the best knowledge of the authors.
Keywords Social responsibility, Fish processing plants, Environmental management, Spain, Portugal,
Andorra
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
This study aims to develop a cohesive model for implementing integrated management
systems (IMS) in the Brazilian fish manufacturing industry. Our central argument is that the
Brazilian fish manufacturing industry could expand its market and increase global
awareness by adhering to global environmental, food safety, and labor protection standards
in conjunction with corporate social responsibility (CSR). In turn these benefits would
increase Brazilian fish manufacturing profits.
The study was conducted by examining five fish-processing companies located in the
Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). These businesses represent an important industrial
segment of the European Community in relation to the food industry and can serve as
benchmarking for other continents.
Although these companies provide solid examples of a wide-variety of IMS implementations,
including quality management (ISO 9001), food safety (ISO 22000 or IFS 5), environment
management (ISO 14001), and occupational safety and health management (OHSAS
PAGE 100
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY JOURNAL
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VOL. 8 NO. 1 2012, pp. 100-113, Q Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1747-1117 DOI 10.1108/17471111211196601
Alessandra Julia
˜
o Weyandt
is a Researcher at the
National Institute of
Metrology, Quality and
Technology, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
Stella Regina Reis da Costa
is based at the Department
of Food Technology,
Federal Rural University of
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
Maria Leonor Nunes is
based at the Unit Valuation
of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Products,
National Institute of
Biological Resources
L-IPIMAR, Lisbon, Portugal.
Arlene Gaspar is based at
the Department of Food
Technology, Federal Rural
University of Rio de Janeiro,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.