Brand strategies that align their communication with social and environmental causes and their impact
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36390/s0nk5055Keywords:
Brand strategies, communication with purposeAbstract
The purpose of this article is to analyze the strategies with which brands align their communication with social and environmental causes, exploring how such actions strengthen consumer loyalty. Based on a bibliographic review and comparative analysis of emblematic cases (Patagonia, Nike and KLM), which show positive impacts on reputation, legitimacy and brand value, which in turn increase satisfaction, trust and loyalty (Chi & Phan, 2025), we also have the reviewed meta-analyses (Aguinis & Glavas, 2012; Han, Guo & Zhang, 2025) which propose a conceptual model that explains the relationship between authenticity, congruence and trust as mediators of loyalty. A qualitative, documentary and descriptive methodological approach was adopted, which constitutes a systematic scientific procedure oriented to the search, collection, organization, analysis and interpretation of information related to the phenomenon under study. The findings show that congruence and authenticity are key factors in building credibility and lasting relationships. They also indicate that cause-related communication is a strategic tool capable of boosting consumer loyalty, provided it meets two conditions: congruence with the brand's identity and verifiable authenticity.
Downloads
References
Aaker, D. A. (1996). Building Strong Brands. Free Press. Nueva York, Estados Unidos.
Aguinis, H., & Glavas, A. (2012). What we know and don’t know about corporate social responsibility: A review and research agenda. Journal of Management, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 932–968. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206311436079
Becker-Olsen, K L., Cudmore, BA. & Hill, R.P. (2006). The impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior. Journal of Business Research, Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2005.01.001
Bhattacharya, CB., & Sen, S. (2003). Consumer–Company Identification: A Framework for Understanding Consumers’ Relationships with Companies. Journal of Marketing, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 76–88. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.67.2.76.18609
Bhattacharya, CB., & Sen, S. (2004). Doing better at doing good: When, why, and how consumers respond to corporate social initiatives. California Management Review, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 9–24. https://doi.org/10.2307/41166284
Coombs, WT. (2020). Ongoing Crisis Communication: Planning, Managing, and Responding (5ta ed.). SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks, Estados Unidos.
Chi, H. K., & Phan, H. T. (2025). Corporate social responsibility and consumer loyalty: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 186, No. 2, pp. 255–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05620-1
Deloitte. (2022). Purpose is everything: How brands that lead with purpose build deeper consumer connections and grow. Deloitte Insights. Disponible en: https://www2.deloitte.com
Du, S., Bhattacharya, CB., & Sen, S. (2010). Maximizing business returns to corporate social responsibility (CSR): The role of CSR communication. International Journal of Management Reviews, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 8–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00276.x
First Insight. (2023). The State of Consumer Spending: Gen Z Shoppers Demand Sustainable Retail. First Insight Report. https://www.firstinsight.com
Gleim, MR., McCullough, H., Sreen, N., & Pant, LG. (2023). Advancing the understanding of consumer responses to corporate sustainability: A systematic review. Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 421–440. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-10-2022-5476
Han, S., Guo, R., & Zhang, W. (2025). How corporate social responsibility affects customer loyalty: A longitudinal meta-analysis. Journal of Business Research, Vol. 162, pp. 113826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113826
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations (2da ed.). SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks, Estados Unidos.
Kim, S., & He, H. (2015). How authenticity works for brand activism: The role of perceived sacrifice. Journal of Business Research, Vol. 68, No. 1, pp. 38–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2014.05.001
Kim, S., & He, H. (2025). Perceived authenticity in brand activism: Longitudinal effects on trust and advocacy. Journal of Consumer Psychology, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 91–108.
Kim, J., & Kim, J. (2023). Negative spillover effects of corporate hypocrisy: The mediating role of consumer anger. Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 182, No. 3, pp. 647–664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-05053-7
KPMG. (2023). The Time Has Come: The KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2023. KPMG International. https://home.kpmg
Lafferty, BA. & Edmondson, DR. (2014). A note on the role of cause–brand fit in cause-related marketing. Journal of Business Research, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.01.008
McKinsey & Company. (2023). State of Sustainability 2023: Linking ESG to Long-Term Value. McKinsey Insights. https://www.mckinsey.com
Molinillo, S., Mercadé-Melé, P., & De Noronha, T. (2020). Cause-related marketing and brand image: A cross-channel analysis. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Vol. 55, pp. 102132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102132
Moorman, C. (2020). Commentary: Brand Activism in a Political World. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 388–392. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743915620945260
Morgan, RM., & Hunt, SD. (1994). The Commitment-Trust Theory of Relationship Marketing. Journal of Marketing, Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 20–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299405800302
Mukherjee, S., & Althuizen, N. (2020). Brand activism: Does courting controversy help or hurt a brand? International Journal of Research in Marketing, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 772–788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijresmar.2020.01.003
Nan, X., & Heo, K. (2007). Consumer responses to corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives: Examining the role of brand–cause fit in cause‐related marketing. Journal of Advertising, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 63–74. https://doi.org/10.2753/JOA0091-3367360204
Porter, ME., & Kramer, MR. (2011). Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, Vol. 89, No. 1/2, pp. 62–77.
Reuters. (2024). Dutch court rules KLM’s ‘Fly Responsibly’ ads misleading. Reuters News Service. Publicado el 15 de abril de 2024. Pa
Sarkar, C., & Kotler, P. (2018). Brand activism: From purpose to action. Journal of Brand Strategy, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 315–326.
Schamp, C., Heitmann, M., & Katzenstein, R. (2023). The role of channel congruence in cause-related marketing effectiveness: A meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 415–437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-022-00882-3
Vredenburg, J., Kapitan, S., Spry, A., & Kemper, J. A. (2020). Brands Taking a Stand: Authentic Brand Activism or Woke Washing? Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 444–460. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743915620947359