Innovative NGO-business cooperation

The “great transformation” towards a sustainable economy can only be achieved with the participation of all social stakeholders and requires change processes at all levels. Cooperation between companies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could open up the potential to promote corresponding change processes in the direction of socially responsible corporate management and the design of sustainable business models. Cooperation could help to develop social innovations and thus meet social and ecological challenges by promoting new ways of thinking, enabling the use of complementary resources and skills and opening up a change of perspective for the partners. In this sense, some hopes are pinned on cooperation between companies and environmental NGOs. However, cooperation between companies and NGOs is also viewed critically: For example, there are fears of a loss of independence and credibility on the part of NGOs. The danger of “greenwashing” is also seen, whereby companies acquire a “green veneer” with marketing measures. Cooperation between NGOs and companies is also becoming increasingly common in the environmental sector. However, a systematic, scientifically sound and independent analysis of such cooperation in the field of environmental protection has not yet been carried out. This is precisely where the research project “Innovative NGO-business cooperation for sustainable management” came in. The focus of the study was on the special features and specific requirements of cooperation in the environmental sector. On the basis of theoretical assumptions and the evaluation of empirical material, evaluation standards were determined which can be used to determine the success of corporate cooperation in the environmental sector. As part of the research project

• the state of the art in science and practice
• Different types of cooperation defined
• developed a definition of success and success criteria
• exemplary case studies for good practice presented
• the positive and negative potentials (benefits and damage) are systematized.

The results of the analysis were presented to stakeholders from companies and environmental NGOs at an expert discussion and critically reflected upon. Furthermore, recommendations for action were developed and published as part of the research project. Finally, all the results were compiled in a research report.