Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Dairy Sector: Integrating Environmental, Social, and Animal Welfare Practices

ABSTRACT This study explores how green, social welfare, and animal welfare practices can contribute to an ethically responsible production and consumption system in the dairy industry. The aims are (i) to map green, social well‐being, and animal welfare practices; (ii) to investigate good corporate responsibility practices that are operated by the dairy industry in Brazil; and (iii) to propose a system of best CSR practices regarding green practices, social well‐being, and animal welfare that dairy industries of different sizes can adopt. We adopted a qualitative exploratory approach, developed in two stages: (i) a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA method, and (ii) multiple case studies with Brazilian dairy sector companies of different sizes. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews and documentary research. In both stages, content analysis was applied to analyze and interpret the data. The findings reveal that while many dairy companies acknowledge the need to improve CSR practices, actions often remain isolated due to a lack of systematization and formal policies. Key commitments include quality control, social support, animal welfare, and environmental initiatives. The study highlights a favorable environment driven by external policies and changing consumer behaviors, encouraging both new and traditional businesses to enhance responsible production and consumption. This study combines theoretical and empirical approaches to investigate ethically responsible production and consumption in the dairy industry. It advances research on CSR in the dairy industry and proposes a system connecting best CSR practices related to green practices, social well‐being, and animal welfare to be used for different companies. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of promoting ethically responsible production and consumption, contributing to the understanding of the roles of companies and individuals in achieving SDG 12.