scholarly journals Sustainability Reporting and Firm Performance: The Demonstration of Pakistani Firms

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402095318
Author(s):  
Xie Hongming ◽  
Bilal Ahmed ◽  
Arif Hussain ◽  
Alam Rehman ◽  
Irfan Ullah ◽  
...  

The nexus between sustainability and firm performance is an area of debate among researchers and academicians. The objective of this study is to examine the level and extent of sustainable financial reporting for non-financial firms in Pakistan and to assess the level of the impact of sustainable financial reporting on firm performance in Pakistan. This study is a novel research work as the sustainability practices are not mandatory in many Pakistani firms. Rather kinds of mix sustainability reporting practices are being practiced. The dilemma still exists whether sustainability practices affect the performance of Pakistani firms positively or not. We collect data from the sustainability reports as well as annual reports of 50 non-financial public limited companies listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange for the period 2013 to 2017. We calculate sustainability reporting index using content analysis procedure based on 42 indicators. The index is based on three subindices, namely, environmental, health and safety, and social indicators. We apply two regression models with a view to ascertain the individual effect of each indicator of the sustainability as well as the composite effect of sustainability reporting index on firm performance. The results confirm positive effects of all three individual indicators as well as the composite form of sustainability reporting index on firm performance. The findings of the study clearly outline the economic relevance for introducing the corporate sustainability reporting practices in corporate strategy.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najul Laskar ◽  
Santi Gopal Maji

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look into the sustainability practices of Indian firms in terms of the quality of disclosure, the impact of corporate sustainability performance (CSP) on firm performance and the appropriateness of the sustainability reporting guidelines followed by the firms. Design/methodology/approach The present study is based on secondary data collected from annual reports and corporate sustainability reports of 28 listed Indian non-financial firms from 2008-2009 to 2013-2014. Content analysis is used to calculate the score in terms of level (binary coding system) and quality of disclosure (four-point scale). These scores are further used to examine the impact of CSP on firm performance by using an appropriate regression model. Findings The study finds that the average level of disclosure is 88 per cent, whereas the quality of disclosure is nearly 80 per cent. The influence of CSP (in terms of level and quality disclosure) on firm performance is positive and significant. Moreover, the study also reveals that the Global Reporting Initiatives framework is not sufficient enough to publish the sustainability report of any business concern. The outcomes of the study, thus, indicate that sustainability practices of Indian firms are not myth but approaching toward reality. Originality/value It is the first comprehensive study in India to analyze the corporate sustainability reporting practices encompassing different dimensions of sustainability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
Prem Sagar Mishra ◽  
◽  
Ajay Kumar ◽  
Niladri Das

In recent years, the tilt of the corporate world towards non-financial reporting can be clearly seen from traditional accounting practices. Sustainability reporting disclosures are an important tool for providing information about the environmental and social performance of companies to their various stakeholders. From a financial perspective, for any firm, there is always a possibility of reporting more of the information that favours their interests or conceal that which is not in their favour. This study evaluates the annual and sustainability reports of 380 Indian, 400 Chinese and 400 USA companies from five highly polluting industries on the basis of GRI (global reporting initiatives) guidelines. From the result, it is inferred that the findings are consistent with the legitimacy theory. The result shows that the profitability and capital structure of firms in the sample do not affect the sustainability reporting practices significantly. In addition, larger firms have a tendency to disclose more information in their annual and sustainability reports than smaller firms.


Author(s):  
Gabrielle Niehaus ◽  
Heinrich W. Feiboth ◽  
Leila L. Goedhals-Gerber

Background: The need for sustainable supply chain management has become a necessity given the growing impact of climate change and global warming. The South African (SA) government is planning to implement a carbon tax in the future, which will present financial challenges for organisations already facing social and environmental difficulties.Objectives: The main objective of this article was to investigate the current sustainability reporting practices in supply chains of SA organisations. The focus was specifically on the supply chain sustainability practices of organisations listed in selected sectors on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). A secondary objective was to investigate preparation efforts by SA companies for the impending carbon tax.Method: Data collected from sustainability and integrated annual reports of organisations in the sample were analysed using non-parametric statistical tests to compare sectors on the JSE and to compare companies listed on the socially responsible investment (SRI) Index with those that are not.Results: The results showed that there is insufficient data for some of the sectors; however, there are differences in the supply chain and sustainability practices for the remaining sectors. There are also differences in these practices between SRI and non-SRI companies. The research also showed that companies are discussing important concepts relating to the implementation of the impending carbon tax.Research impact: SA organisations need to increase their focus on sustainable supply chain practices. Further investigation into the preparation efforts of companies to reduce their emissions and/or footprint and mitigate the impact of the impending carbon tax is necessary.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Malarvizhi ◽  
Sangeeta Yadav

The impact of industrialization, on natural resources, human health and environment was not clear till 1960s. Rachel Carson for the first time in 1962 raised important questions about human impact on nature in her book, Silent Spring. With the growing awareness towards sustainable<br />development, industries and corporations have a major role in environmental degradation and protection thereof. In the past, accounting theories emphasized primarily on financial performance. This awareness<br />on sustainable development is visible through varied environmental<br />management mechanisms practiced amongst companies across the world. Environmental concerns are addressed by corporate giants through identification and estimation of environmental costs, benefits, investments, assets and liabilities into main stream accounting and reporting practices, for varied managerial decisions. These focused environmental efforts have sharpened and improved the global reporting<br />standards. In India, the incorporation of environmental costs and benefits<br />into mainstream financial reporting is at its nascent stage at present - but it is certain to grow.  Indian companies have not yet developed a holistic approach to environmental reporting, as there is lack of environmental reporting guidelines. On the other hand environmental awareness among<br />Indian stakeholders gets strengthened with advancement in communication technology. High propensity of environmental awareness ensures a more cautious approach among Indian corporations to be environmentally responsible.  With the advancement of information and communications technologies, global corporate information disclosures<br />have been on rise through the medium of internet, as confirmed by various recent national and international surveys. This research has observed that Indian companies follow diverse reporting practices on the internet viz., stand alone environmental reporting (satellite accounts) or<br />reporting along with the Annual/Financial Reports, or Sustainability Reporting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5467
Author(s):  
Barbara Grabinska ◽  
Dorota Kedzior ◽  
Marcin Kedzior ◽  
Konrad Grabinski

So far, CSR’s role in the high-tech industry is not fully explained by academic research, especially concerning the most burdensome obstacle to firms’ growth: acquiring debt financing. The paper aims to solve this puzzle and investigate whether young high-tech companies can attract more debt by engaging in CSR activity. To address the high-tech industry specificity, we divided CSR-reporting practice into three broad categories: employee, social, and environmental and analyzed their impact on the capital structure. Our sample consists of 92 firm-year observations covering the period 2014–2018. Using a regression method, we found out that only employee CSR plays a statistically significant role in shaping capital structure. We did not find evidence for the influence of the other types of CSR-reporting practices. The results suggest that employees are the key resource of high-tech companies, and, for this reason, they are at the management’s focus. This fact is visible at the financial reporting level and, as we interpret results, is also considered by credit providers. In a more general way, our results suggest that firms tend to choose CSR based on the importance of crucial resources.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 913-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeen-Su Lim ◽  
William K. Darley ◽  
David Marion

Purpose The study aims to explore supply chain influence (SCI) on the linkages among market orientation, innovation capabilities and firm performance (FP), using the resource-based view as a theoretical backdrop. Design Survey data from 182 top managers who are involved in strategy formulation and innovative direction of their companies was collected and analyzed using moderated multiple regression analysis. Findings Results revealed a moderating role of the SCI in that the proactive market orientation (PMO) and FP relationship is stronger when SCI is high, and innovation commercialization capability (ICC) and FP relationship is stronger when SCI is low. Practical implications Firms pursuing high PMO strategy must collaborate with supply chain function to achieve the full effect of PMO. Additionally, as supply chain is critical to meeting customers’ needs, these firms should allow supply chain to exert greater influence to enjoy the positive effects of PMO in addition to ensuring full integration into marketing strategy implementation. Also, firms with high ICC need to limit SCI to maximize the benefit of ICC on FP, just as innovation management needs to be cognizant of other functional areas. Originality/value The study investigates the potential moderating role of SCI on the relationships among market orientation, ICC and FP. The study fills a gap in the understanding of the nature and role of supply chain in the marketing–supply chain interaction, and the impact on FP.


Author(s):  
Adel M. Sarea

This chapter explores the impact of Islamic finance on sustainability reporting, and the mediator role of green accounting. Sustainability focuses on balancing present and future consumption to ensure basic needs of coming generations will be met. The mediator role of green accounting could positively impact sustainability financial reporting and sustainability reporting. The chapter employs content analysis approaches to explore the environmental impact of Islamic finance on sustainability reporting. Sustainability enhances future environmental aspects of reducing costs and risk management. The proposed model is based on the literature review to conceptualize the mediator role of green accounting. The chapter adds value to the literature on green accounting and sustainability reporting by considering the role of Islamic finance to promote a friendly environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 06002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guzaliya Klychova ◽  
Alsou Zakirova ◽  
Elvira Sadrieva ◽  
Fayaz Avkhadiev ◽  
Aigul Klychova

The aim of the present article is substantiation of theoretical provisions and development of practical recommendations for reporting in the field of sustainable development formation in compliance with the international standard “Guidelines for sustainability reporting” elaborated within the scope of Global Reporting Initiative. The research objectives are as follows: to study the content of non-financial reporting generated in compliance with the GRI guidelines and to offer new methodological approaches towards sustainability reporting formation. Using such general scientific methods as systematic approach, comparison, method of systematization and generalization of data, the research work revealed the essence, content, principles of formation and reporting structure in the field of sustainable development. The work contains recommendations on social activity of accounting organization with the use of information technology, such as: supplementary invoices application for accounting and development of forms for reports containing information of social character.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian R. Loza Adaui

Regulations establishing mandatory sustainability reporting practices are proliferating around the world. The empirical evidence comparing sustainability reporting quality (SRQ) in the context of mandatory and voluntary institutional frameworks does not show consensus. Similarly, this occurs with studies addressing the effects of regulatory shocks on SRQ. Moreover, empirical evidence addressing SRQ in Latin American countries is scarce. To fill this gap, this study aims to explore the consequences of introducing new regulatory requirements for sustainability disclosure on SRQ of Peruvian companies. To reach that goal, 81 sustainability disclosure documents published between 2014 and 2016 by 27 companies included in the S&P/BVL Peru General Index of Lima’s Stock Exchange were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods and adopting a multidimensional approach for SRQ evaluation. The findings show a constant improvement of SRQ regardless of the introduction of the new regulatory requirements. Furthermore, after the entry into force of new sustainability reporting obligations, the number of companies providing third-party independent assurance of the information contained in their sustainability disclosure documents decreases, suggesting that for the Peruvian case, regulatory requirements tend to discourage companies to invest in the credibility of their sustainability disclosure documents, and promote a symbolic application of sustainability disclosure standards.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renard Y.J. Siew ◽  
Maria C.A. Balatbat ◽  
David G. Carmichael

PurposeOver recent years, a number of companies have committed to sharing information relating to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities, in response to a higher demand for transparency from stakeholders. This paper aims to explore the impact of such reporting on the financial performance of construction companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper first examines the state of non‐financial reporting of publicly‐listed construction companies on climate change, environmental management, environmental efficiency, health and safety, human capital, conduct, stakeholder engagement, governance and other matters deemed to be of concern to institutional investors. It then presents the results of an empirical study on the impact of issuing non‐financial reports and the extent of companies’ sustainability practices (represented by ESG scores) on the financial performance of the companies. Financial performance is measured via a range of financial ratios.FindingsThe paper finds that a majority of the publicly‐listed construction companies studied have low levels of reporting, while construction companies issuing non‐financial reports largely outperform those which do not in a number of selected financial ratios, although the correlation between financial performance and ESG scores is not strong.Originality/valueThe originality of this research lies in its use of “hard data”, and it is supported by a wide range of financial ratios; this is distinguished from the existing, largely qualitative literature.


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