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Corporate responsibility or corporate illusion? An integrative review analysis of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) shortcomings and greenwashing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Prosper Mutswiri

    (ZESA National Training Centre, 16676 Ganges Road, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Limkile Mpofu

    (Department of Public Management & Economics, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology (DUT), KZN, South Africa, 4000)

  • Zamokuhle Mbandlwa

    (Department of Public Management and Economics, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Abstract

This study examines how environmental, social, and governance malpractices manifest as selective disclosure and weak assurance, enabling greenwashing across corporations in sub–Saharan Africa, and delineates governance and policy levers to curb these behaviors. Following integrative review standards, the study screens Scopus and Web of Science outputs and synthesizes 22 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 using a transparent PRISMA-informed pipeline and thematic coding to ensure replicability and analytic depth. The evidence shows that greenwashing is driven by regulatory gaps, voluntary compliance regimes, and narrative heavy self-reporting, while quality of integrated reporting is unevenly translated into real performance, signalling persistent decoupling between disclosure and outcomes; the preponderance of studies identifies governance weaknesses and selective disclosures as recurrent enablers across sectors including certification schemes and the built environment, corroborating the dominance of symbolic over substantive implementation in many African settings. The review argues for stronger ESG legislation, independent third-party auditing, and digital monitoring tools to restore investor confidence, protect public trust, and align corporate behaviour with the Sustainable Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa Key Words:ESG, Greenwashing, corporate governance, sub-Saharan Africa, sustainability

Suggested Citation

  • Prosper Mutswiri & Limkile Mpofu & Zamokuhle Mbandlwa, 2025. "Corporate responsibility or corporate illusion? An integrative review analysis of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) shortcomings and greenwashing in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(6), pages 686-698, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:adi:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:6:p:686-698
    DOI: 10.36096/ijbes.v7i6.1038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Snyder, Hannah, 2019. "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 333-339.
    2. Olubunmi Florence Osemene & Paulina Adinnu & Temitope Olamide Fagbemi & Johnson K. Olowookere, 2024. "Corporate Governance and Environmental Accounting Reporting in Selected Quoted African Companies," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(4), pages 1096-1119, August.
    3. Agnese, Paolo & Arduino, Francesca Romana & Bruno, Emma & Vento, Gianfranco Antonio, 2024. "On the road to sustainability: The role of board characteristics in driving ESG performance in Africa," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Tetyana Pimonenko & Yuriy Bilan & Jakub Horák & Liudmyla Starchenko & Waldemar Gajda, 2020. "Green Brand of Companies and Greenwashing under Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Antonio Corvino & Federica Doni & Silvio Bianchi Martini, 2020. "Corporate Governance, Integrated Reporting and Environmental Disclosure: Evidence from the South African Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Addisu A. Lashitew, 2021. "Corporate uptake of the Sustainable Development Goals: Mere greenwashing or an advent of institutional change?," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 184-200, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Limkile Mpofu & Zamokuhle Mbandlwa, 2026. "Digital transformation and e-government adoption in the public sector: Leveraging technology to improve service delivery and transparency," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 8(2), pages 25-34, April.

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