Using a case study of the tea producer Eastern Produce Malawi, this research investigates
which factors influence companies upstream in global tea supply chains to adopt a corporate
social responsibility (CSR) agenda. Although external pressures, such as demands from
Western consumers or international organizations and their related initiatives, may have
shaped Eastern Produce Malawi’s CSR agenda, strong internal organizational contingencies,
including transformational leaders who recognize the significance of ethical issues and strong
organizational values, led it to adopt this CSR agenda in practice. This study underscores the
significance of using an integrative framework to explain various CSR drivers for companies.
It concludes with managerial and public policy implications, as well as areas for further
research.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility; Malawi; global supply chain; sustainable
development; stakeholder engagement.