From global goals to local action: Mapping CSR–SDG alignment in a commercial port

Ports occupy a strategic position in global trade, serving as critical nodes that keep the world's supply chains moving. At the same time, they face mounting pressure to align with broader international sustainability frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet despite this growing expectation, little research has explored how commercial ports actually incorporate these global sustainability agendas into their corporate social responsibility (CSR) portfolios. Corporate Citizenship and Stakeholder Theory provide a useful lens for understanding this tension between economic performance and societal responsibility. From this conceptual foundation, this research investigates how a major commercial port translates global sustainability goals into localized CSR practices. To investigate this, the study focuses on MIP (Mersin International Port) through a single-case study design, applying a structured SDG-based content analysis to a longitudinal dataset of the port's CSR initiatives. Each activity is systematically coded across several dimensions, including SDG alignment, stakeholder focus, implementation type, and geographic scope. Rather than treating SDG alignment as a reporting exercise, the study examines whether it reflects strategic prioritization. In this sense, the analysis moves beyond surface-level compliance to uncover the underlying strategic logic shaping CSR decision-making in commercial port contexts. The study contributes to the literature by offering a replicable framework for evaluating CSR–SDG coherence in commercial ports.