This article analyzes the extent to which stakeholder pressure contributes to the CSR‐washing phenomena and its impact on the organizational outcomes. To that end, this work analyzes the relationships involved using primary data obtained from a survey of 130 Italian organizations that have implemented the SA8000 international CSR standard. The article contributes to both the theoretical and empirical literature on CSR‐washing by proposing an integrated approach that sheds more light on the driving factors behind and outcomes from the internationalization of a well‐defined and comprehensively monitored set of CSR practices, namely the SA8000 standard. The implications for managers, policy makers and other stakeholders are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment