Honey Adulteration and Corporate Irresponsibility in India: Visualizing Corporate Sustainability

Abstract

Responsibility is a crucial component of corporate sustainability. Deviation from responsibility is considered as irresponsible corporate practice. The present article highlights the issue of honey adulteration as an irresponsible corporate practice. The study is based on the Centre for Science and Environment investigation report on honey adulteration business in India. The article uses thematic analysis through descriptive research design with an inductive approach to show how honey adulteration is an irresponsible practice within the core area of corporate responsibilities—economic, legal and ethical domains. Honey adulteration is an irresponsible practice by the corporate in its core areas of responsibility and simultaneously affects all the stakeholders in its business relationship. Eventually, it would affect the business’s credibility and sustainability in the long run, if the issues are not appropriately addressed. The findings of the article suggest that to achieve business sustainability, corporations need to internalize and institutionalize the core responsibilities and government guidelines in their business operation. On the basis of the findings, the article offers relevant policy and practical implications for corporate to stay away from irresponsible business practices and suggests scopes for future research in the domain.