Role of ENGOs in Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Legal Study of Some Facets,Especially Environment Protection and e-Waste Management

Abstract

Environment protection has become an area of grave significance in the present century, due to new developments, for saving the planet from the evils of pollution, climate change and so on. However, a new kind of pollutant, called ‘e-waste,’ has emerged due to the Internet revolution, otherwise a boon for development, but which is fast becoming one of the biggest threats to environment in the knowledge society of 21st century. It is significant to note that even the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has admitted that the amount of e-waste generated per year grows rapidly. E-waste is dangerous and poses a threat to human health and environment. What is more shocking is its transportation from developed to developing countries, which is being done on a large scale and such e-waste there is being handled and disposed of unscientifically creating environmental damage. It is noteworthy that protection of the environment and e-waste management is fast becoming a major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In promoting CSR as well as other responsibilities such as in the health or education sectors or poverty reduction, roughly 80 non-governmental organ sations (NGOs) (international or national) in collaboration with other actors have made sincere efforts raising awareness through campaigns by lobbying and so on. However, only a few of them are engaged in e-waste management related activates. This article is an attempt to study the role of Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) in promoting CSR, especially with regard to environment protection and e-waste management.