The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting

This article asks how politicization changes the standardization of biodiversity in the realm of corporate sustainable reporting (CSR) frameworks. The study encompasses three areas: First, the participatory processes in standardization; second, the substantive prioritization of conservation consider...

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Main Author: Florian Zenglein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1433799/full
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author Florian Zenglein
author_facet Florian Zenglein
author_sort Florian Zenglein
collection DOAJ
description This article asks how politicization changes the standardization of biodiversity in the realm of corporate sustainable reporting (CSR) frameworks. The study encompasses three areas: First, the participatory processes in standardization; second, the substantive prioritization of conservation considerations over economic aspects within standards; and third, the interplay between private and public standard-setting bodies. It argues that the European Union (EU) is taking on a more assertive role, shaping corporate reporting practices and the standards established by private organizations. Additionally, the standard-setting process is evolving from a technical exercise to a more politicized undertaking. The introduction of the EU Green Deal (EUG) brought in new biodiversity regulations, CSR frameworks, and standards, resulting in a new dynamic in politicizing biodiversity standardization. As a result, the number of actors with opposing interests is increasing, thereby intensifying the contestation of the standardization of biodiversity. Therefore, political rather than technical considerations increasingly drive biodiversity standardization processes in the EU. The EU is progressively expanding its role in two distinct yet complementary ways. Firstly, it is implementing political objectives through targeted reporting. Secondly, it provides an arena in which various actors are included. To elaborate on this argument, a qualitative analysis in the European context is conducted, highlighting the dynamics in the development of standards in CSR frameworks. Accordingly, the analysis encompasses standards and frameworks proposed by the EU, as well as by private standard-setting bodies GRI, ISO, ISBB, and CDP.
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spelling doaj-art-01c7321b3c6f4c0694b37b00b1bdd4352025-01-07T06:43:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainability2673-45242025-01-01510.3389/frsus.2024.14337991433799The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reportingFlorian ZengleinThis article asks how politicization changes the standardization of biodiversity in the realm of corporate sustainable reporting (CSR) frameworks. The study encompasses three areas: First, the participatory processes in standardization; second, the substantive prioritization of conservation considerations over economic aspects within standards; and third, the interplay between private and public standard-setting bodies. It argues that the European Union (EU) is taking on a more assertive role, shaping corporate reporting practices and the standards established by private organizations. Additionally, the standard-setting process is evolving from a technical exercise to a more politicized undertaking. The introduction of the EU Green Deal (EUG) brought in new biodiversity regulations, CSR frameworks, and standards, resulting in a new dynamic in politicizing biodiversity standardization. As a result, the number of actors with opposing interests is increasing, thereby intensifying the contestation of the standardization of biodiversity. Therefore, political rather than technical considerations increasingly drive biodiversity standardization processes in the EU. The EU is progressively expanding its role in two distinct yet complementary ways. Firstly, it is implementing political objectives through targeted reporting. Secondly, it provides an arena in which various actors are included. To elaborate on this argument, a qualitative analysis in the European context is conducted, highlighting the dynamics in the development of standards in CSR frameworks. Accordingly, the analysis encompasses standards and frameworks proposed by the EU, as well as by private standard-setting bodies GRI, ISO, ISBB, and CDP.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1433799/fullbiodiversitystandardizationpoliticizationbiodiversity policyEuropean Green Dealcorporate reporting
spellingShingle Florian Zenglein
The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
Frontiers in Sustainability
biodiversity
standardization
politicization
biodiversity policy
European Green Deal
corporate reporting
title The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
title_full The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
title_fullStr The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
title_full_unstemmed The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
title_short The standardization of biodiversity: how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
title_sort standardization of biodiversity how politicization changes standardization for corporate sustainability reporting
topic biodiversity
standardization
politicization
biodiversity policy
European Green Deal
corporate reporting
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1433799/full
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