Article: Corporate social responsibility and innovation: boosting consumer satisfaction through reputation Journal: Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE) 2025 Vol.18 No.2/3 pp.298 - 331 Abstract: This study investigates the influence that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and innovations adopted by companies have over their own reputation and consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, it explores the mediating role of corporate reputation in the relationships between CSR, innovation initiatives and consumer satisfaction. To evaluate these relationships, a questionnaire was used to collect the information needed to test the conceptual model developed using the PLS-SEM technique. The results prove the positive influence that both CSR activities and innovation initiatives have over consumer satisfaction and business reputation. This study's conclusions contribute with further knowledge to existent literature and, with new information which allows the development of theory in the corporate reputation domain. Besides, it can help companies in choosing which action to adopt given that, in this study, CSR activities are considered a successful method to boost public perceptions and firms and stakeholders' outcomes. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Corporate social responsibility and innovation: boosting consumer satisfaction through reputation

Authors: Carla Campos; Rui Gonçalves; Renato Lopes da Costa; Leandro F. Pereira; Álvaro Dias

Addresses: Universidade Nova IMS, Campus de Campolide, 1070-312 Lisboa, Portugal ' PIAGET Almada, Almada, Portugal ' Business Research Unit – BRU-IUL, ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ' BRU-Business Research Unit, ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ' BRU-Business Research Unit, ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract: This study investigates the influence that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and innovations adopted by companies have over their own reputation and consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, it explores the mediating role of corporate reputation in the relationships between CSR, innovation initiatives and consumer satisfaction. To evaluate these relationships, a questionnaire was used to collect the information needed to test the conceptual model developed using the PLS-SEM technique. The results prove the positive influence that both CSR activities and innovation initiatives have over consumer satisfaction and business reputation. This study's conclusions contribute with further knowledge to existent literature and, with new information which allows the development of theory in the corporate reputation domain. Besides, it can help companies in choosing which action to adopt given that, in this study, CSR activities are considered a successful method to boost public perceptions and firms and stakeholders' outcomes.

Keywords: corporate reputation; consumer satisfaction; innovation; corporate social responsibility; CSR.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2025.151199

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2025 Vol.18 No.2/3, pp.298 - 331

Received: 16 Apr 2023
Accepted: 27 Oct 2023
Published online: 19 Jan 2026 *

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Title: Corporate social responsibility and innovation: boosting consumer satisfaction through reputation

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