scholarly journals Sustainability reporting and strategic legitimacy: The influence of operating in emerging economies on the level of GRI reporting in Canada’s largest companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53
Author(s):  
Philip R. Walsh ◽  
Ranjita Singh ◽  
Matthew Malinsky
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Publicly Traded Companies ◽  
Level Of Activity ◽  
Asset Size

Corporate sustainability reporting is a contributor to strategic legitimacy (Chelli, Durocher, & Fortin, 2018) and certain traditional corporate characteristics (size, industry vulnerability) can influence the level of sustainability reporting (Drempetic, Klein, & Zwergel, 2020). However, limited literature exists in regards to sustainability reporting by Canadian companies operating in emerging countries. Content analysis of sustainability reports examined the current use of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Principal component analysis (PCA) provided a sustainability reporting index (SRI) measure for each firm using factor scores. Correlations and independent-samples t-testing tested the association of the level of reporting to a firm’s size, industry, level of internationalization, and level of activity in emerging economies. A review of 234 large Canadian-based, publicly-traded companies found a total of 86 companies employed the GRI framework, and data from these companies was used in this study. Asset size and vulnerable industries had no significant association with the level of sustainability reporting contrary to prior studies. Operating in emerging economies resulted in greater levels of sustainability reporting when compared to firms that do not. This finding is consistent with the external legitimacy strategy and contributes to the limited literature in this area

Determinants of GRI-based sustainability reporting: evidence from an emerging economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurlan Orazalin ◽  
Monowar Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Publicly Traded Companies ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Sustainability Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent and determinants of sustainability performance disclosures reported by publicly traded companies in Kazakhstan by using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Among the different possible determinants, stand-alone sustainability reporting (SR), reporting language, leverage, cash flow capacity, profitability, size, age and auditor type were selected to investigate their impacts on the quality and scope of sustainability information. Design/methodology/approach The study analyzes data from publicly traded companies at the Kazakhstani Stock Exchange for the years 2013–2015. To investigate the extent, nature and quality of sustainability reports, the study measures and analyzes economic, environmental and social performance parameters, as suggested in the GRI guidelines. Findings The results indicate that determinants such as stand-alone reporting, reporting language, firm profitability, firm size and auditor type substantially influence the extent, nature and quality of sustainability-reporting practices of Kazakhstani companies. Practical implications The findings of the study suggest that managers, practitioners, regulators and policy makers in emerging economies should adopt the GRI guidelines to report sustainability performance disclosures and focus on specific factors to improve the quality of sustainability disclosures. Originality/value This study is one of the first studies to investigate the extent, nature and possible determinants of corporate SR in central Asian-emerging economies.

scholarly journals Approaches on the Screening Methods for Materiality in Sustainability Reporting

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Wu ◽  
Changliang Shao ◽  
Jiquan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure ◽  
Different Levels

Recent decades have seen a surge in corporate sustainability reports (SRs); their proliferation, however, does not ensure effective and consistent reporting on materiality. To improve the completeness, consistency and uniformity of SRs, this study aims at providing a review on the definition and identification of materiality and to propose screening methods for materiality assessments using publicly available resources. We found that most acknowledged standards and initiatives diverge in their definitions and approaches towards materiality. Four screening methods are proposed, including two that are directly usable: (1) Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Materiality Map™ and (2) Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Topics for Sectors; and two involving more desktop research: (3) GRI’s Sustainability Disclosure Database and (4) modeling from a life-cycle perspective. The second and third approaches are tested through a comparison study for the apparel and energy industries in selected regions using content analysis. The results indicate that the two approaches, with different levels of complexity, yield inconsistency in obtaining the most (i.e., the top three) material topics. The GRI’s Sustainability Disclosure Database is recommended for practitioners due to its balanced disclosure on management, economic, environmental and social sustainability themes.

Tamed Transparency: How Information Disclosure under the Global Reporting Initiative Fails to Empower

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Dingwerth ◽  
Margot Eichinger
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Reporting Scheme ◽  
Corporate World ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
The Relationship

In this contribution, we explore the tensions that seem inherent in the claim that transparency policies “empower” the users of disclosed information vis-àvis those who are asked to provide the information. Since these tensions are particularly relevant in relation to voluntary disclosure, our analysis focuses on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as the world's leading voluntary corporate non-financial reporting scheme. Corporate sustainability reporting is often hailed as a powerful instrument to improve the environmental performance of business and to empower societal groups, including consumers, in their relations with the corporate world. Yet, our analysis illustrates that the relationship between transparency and empowerment is conflictual at all four levels of activity examined in this article: in the rhetoric and policies of the GRI as well as in the actual reporting practice and in the activities of intermediaries in response to the organization's disclosure standard.

Planning and Evaluation of Assurance Services for Sustainability Reporting: An Evidential Reasoning Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra P. Srivastava ◽  
Sunita S. Rao ◽  
Theodore J. Mock
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Belief Function ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Bayesian Probability ◽  
Dempster Shafer Theory ◽  
Shafer Theory ◽  
Different Levels

ABSTRACT This study develops a framework for planning, performing, and evaluating evidence obtained to assess and control the risks of providing assurance on sustainability reports. Sustainability reporting, or corporate sustainability reporting (CSR), provides stakeholders with important information on both financial and non-financial factors related to environmental, social, and economic performance. Importantly, the presented framework is developed from both a Bayesian (probability-based theory) and Belief Function (Dempster-Shafer theory) perspective. This facilitates application of the framework to cases where the assurance provider prefers to assess risk in terms of probability versus in terms of beliefs. To demonstrate the application of this framework we evaluate assertions, sub-assertions, and audit evidence relevant to CSR based on the G3 Reporting framework developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The paper contributes to the literature in three main areas. First, it demonstrates how evidence-based reasoning can be used for engagements where different levels of assurance are provided for the assertions being audited. Second, it shows how various items of evidence at different levels may be aggregated. Third, it presents a generic theoretical model for assuring information based on belief-based assessments, which is then contrasted with a theoretical model based on probability theory. In contrasting the two approaches, we show that in cases where initial uncertainty is substantial, the use of Dempster-Shafer theory has advantages over probability theory in terms of efficiency in achieving a targeted low level of assurance.

Corporate sustainability disclosure’s importance in China: financial analysts’ perception

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1169-1189
Author(s):  
Jhunru Zhang ◽  
Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta ◽  
Terri Trireksani
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Financial Analysts ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Environmental Aspect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Level Of Importance

Purpose Corporate sustainability in China has become a subject of increasing international concern. Corporate sustainability disclosure (CSD) is considered a useful tool to facilitate the empowerment and acknowledgement of stakeholders in the quest for sustainability. However, the degree of cultural and political influences for being sustainably orientated can be significantly different between countries. This study aims to examine the perception of financial analysts, as CSD report users, in China about the level of importance of various indicators of corporate sustainability described in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Design/methodology/approach A set of questionnaires was developed based on GRI G4 guidelines to measure the perception of financial analysts in China on the level of importance of each sustainability indicator described in the GRI G4. A five-point Likert scale was used to measure the report users’ perceptions of each of the indicators. Findings The findings of this study increase our understanding of how Chinese CSD report users perceive corporate sustainability differently from the GRI guidelines. The main results show that the environmental aspect of sustainability was seen to be important in China, followed by the social and economic aspects. Indicator-wise, “water”, “effluents and waste”, “emissions”, “compliance” and “energy” were perceived as vital in the environmental category, while “customer health and safety”, “customer privacy” and “compliance” were considered significant in the social category. Originality/value This study addresses the need for differing corporate sustainability guidelines for different nations and cultures, specifically within the Chinese context. It also contributes to the corporate sustainability literature by adding to our understanding of how financial analysts in China, as CSD report users, perceive aspects of sustainability.

scholarly journals Corporate Sustainability Reporting in the BIST Sustainability Index

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcu Demirel ◽  
Murat Erdogan
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Working Day ◽  
Sustainability Report ◽  
Day By Day

<p>In recent years, there is a growing focus on corporate operations especially since the publication of the first environmental reports in 1989. Companies have started to publish information about its environmental, social and sustainability policies. The study examines the sustainability reporting elements of Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index (BIST) in Turkey and to evaluate which elements is most vital in this context. This study will begin with the sustainability reporting that will be examined under the roof of corporation sustainability and end with the examination of sustainability reports of 15 firms, which are included in the BIST Sustainability Index in Turkey, and a content analysis. The reports of companies under study were taken from special web site and GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) database of companies. Being the first study in examining the sustainability report of companies in BIST Sustainability Index, it is expected to contribute in literature about sustainability reporting recently started to gain importance in Turkey. Overall our findings suggest that the sustainability index established in Turkey is still in development stage, but the enterprises in the endeavor are working day by day to develop the sustainability qualities.</p>

scholarly journals Sustainability Reporting in Turkey: Analysis of Companies in the BIST Sustainability Index

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuğçe Uzun Kocamiş ◽  
Gülçin Yildirim
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Reporting Framework ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Voluntary Basis

Sustainability reporting is a responsibility practice that towards sustainable development goals as related to corporate performance measurement, explaining and being accountable to internal and external stakeholders. Non-financial information relating to operating activities can be disclosed through sustainability reports. Sustainability reporting is a vital step of managing change towards a sustainable global economy—one that combines long-term profitability with environmental care and social justice. Sustainability reports developed using the GRI Reporting Framework covers results and consequences the emerged in the context of organization's commitments, strategy and management approach during the reporting period. Through the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Framework, the GRI works to increase the transparency and exchange of sustainability-related information. The Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index, published since 2014 is an important development for the business in Turkey which is aimed sustainable development. Sustainability reports have been prepared on a voluntary basis in Turkey and in many countries. In line with global developments the number of business is increasing who prefer to explain activities of economic, environmental and social dimensions through corporate sustainability reports in Turkey as well. This study conceptually reviews sustainability reporting and its benefits for the business. In order to see the effectiveness of the sustainability reports, sustainability reports of business in the BIST sustainability index will be subjected to content analysis basis GRI Reporting Principles on voluntary basis.

scholarly journals MATERIALITY ANALYSIS IN SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING: A TOOL FOR DIRECTING CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY TOWARDS EMERGING ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1016-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Calabres ◽  
Roberta Costa ◽  
Nathan Levialdi Ghiron ◽  
Tamara Menichini
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Consistency Test ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
Structured Approach ◽  
Illustrative Application ◽  
Social And Environmental Risks

Materiality analysis is a multi-purpose tool for prioritising sustainability issues from the double perspective of companies and stakeholders, meaning that both parties contribute to identifying the present and emerging social and environmental risks and opportunities. The current study proposes a practical and structured approach for performing materiality analysis, integrating the well-known Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) materiality matrix and a new “adequacy matrix”. The purpose of the GRI materiality matrix is to prioritize sustainability issues in terms of relevance to both companies and stakeholders. The adequacy matrix supports evaluation of the transparency and effectiveness of corporate sustainability (CS) communication. Particularly, the paper aims to give indications to companies that want to prepare a sustainability report according to the GRI guidelines by planning the allocation of resources to reporting activities: the comparison between the positioning of GRI sustainability aspects in the two matrices serves in identifying the most critical issues for improving accountability. The proposed method includes a consistency test, to overcome the subjectivity, uncertainty and vagueness affecting judgements. The results provide managers with useful information for aligning CS strategic decision-making, sustainability reporting, and accountability to stakeholders. An illustrative application to a small and medium-sized (SME) company completes the paper.

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