The objective of the presentation is to elaborate the interaction between the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Law within the scope of environmental protection. Examining the Environmental Crime Directive and Environmental Liability Directive in their effectivity, the paper explores if the CSR can supplement legally binding measures. It concludes that notwithstanding the CSR΄s essential role in the prevention of environmental damage, the CSR should not be regarded as a law substitute: The more effective a regime for the environmental liability is, the more it appears to have the potential to encourage CRS, since the CSR decreases the exposure of companies to the legal consequences.

The paper further examines the legislative intervention into the concept of the CSR and argues that such development (CRS through Law) may contribute to the combat against greenwashing.