Uncovering the Evolution of Brand Transparency in Corporate Social Responsibility: A Holistic Perspective

ABSTRACT Brand transparency has emerged as a critical pillar in corporate social responsibility (CSR), enabling firms to foster trust, bolster reputational capital, and drive ethical stakeholder engagement. Drawing on 499 peer‐reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2025 in the Web of Science Core Collection, this study offers the first comprehensive bibliometric map of the field. Using VOSviewer for co‐citation, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co‐occurrence analyses, we identify six thematic clusters that span technology‐enabled supply chain visibility, CSR‐driven reputation management, consumer attitudes toward authenticity, and influencer‐marketing disclosures. Publication output has accelerated markedly since 2016, mirroring rising public demands for corporate accountability and the proliferation of digital communication channels. Notably, CSR emerges as the pivotal domain in which transparent business practices mitigate stakeholder skepticism, reinforce ethical standards, and strengthen consumer trust. Regional dynamics are also evident, with particularly active scholarship in the United States, the Netherlands, and China, alongside growing cross‐border collaborations. We close by outlining future research directions—most notably, cross‐cultural examinations of “green transparency,” deeper partnerships with external validation bodies, and life‐cycle assessment studies. By situating brand transparency within a multidimensional, data‐driven framework, this review aims to guide both academic inquiry and managerial practice in building robust, credible CSR strategies.