scholarly journals Corporate Sustainability Reporting

2005 ◽  
pp. 164-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Isenmann
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Ict Infrastructure ◽  
Corporate Environmental Reporting

Corporate environmental reporting using the Internet – especially the WWW – is a rapidly emerging and increasingly popular method. Today, online environmental reporting has become part of business practices and daily affairs for a number of companies, and thus many of the environmental communication vehicles provided for companies’ target groups and other stakeholders (users) are available on the WWW: reports, brochures, leaflets, newsletters, press releases, slides, presentations, audio sequences, video clips and so forth are accessible via download and/or online, prepared for being pulled or automatically disseminated via e-mail or other current push technologies. Despite the considerable progress companies have made in recent years, however, it is not yet clear just how environmental reporting will advance to the next stage. In particular, the role of the Internet as an emerging computer-based medium and its unique capabilities in form and content need to be understood better. This chapter describes how to develop from early environmental reporting stages towards the more advanced sustainability reporting, while exploiting the Internet’s specific capabilities properly. This path is illustrated as a progression in environmental reporting along three dimensions: integration of financial and social issues into environmental reporting, provision of reporting instruments on various media and fine tuning communication vehicles according to users’ needs and preferences. These trends in terms of a more balanced reporting approach, cross media availability and customization seem to be converging to push the field towards sustainability reporting based on the Internet as a backbone for companies’ underlying ICT infrastructure. Without support from ICT, progress in the field toward sustainability reporting is seen as quite difficult, as moving away from orthodox environmental reporting is a complex task. Hence, a framework on how to use the Internet and its associated technologies is proposed, including four conceptual components: stakeholder analysis, information requirement analysis, XML-based document engineering and ICT architecture of an Internet-based reporting system. When employing such an Internet-based approach, it is argued here, the company will be in a position to carry out its tasks of information management well, using its human and organizational resources more efficiently, and communicating on environmental and sustainability issues in a meaningful way; that is, facilitating stakeholder dialogue, interactivity, feedback possibilities and tailor-made reports that respond precisely to the requirements of certain reporting standards and guidelines, or exactly to the information needs of the target groups.

scholarly journals Environmental Reporting and Sustainbility Reports in Oil Companies in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 310
Author(s):  
Joseph U. Madugba ◽  
E. Ben-Caleb ◽  
T. U. Agburuga ◽  
W. C. Ani ◽  
S. L. Jegede ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Petroleum Companies ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Corporate Environmental Reporting

Environmental reporting is crucial for corporate survival as it builds corporate image, but certain procedures and regulations must be put in place to guide such reporting. Accordingly, this study examined environmental reporting and sustainability reports by oil companies in Nigeria with the aim of assessing the relationship between corporate environmental reporting and determinant of sustainability reports. Ex-post-facto and survey research design were adopted and data were sourced from structured questionnaires administered to corporate respondents and a 56 item sustainability reporting index adapted from the Global Reporting Initiative. Descriptive statistics were carried out, one way and two factors ANOVA and Post hoc test were all conducted. The study provided evidence of a positive and significant variation between corporate environmental reporting and determinants of sustainability reports in petroleum companies in Nigeria. The study recommended that management of petroleum companies should ensure compliance with corporate sustainability reporting.

scholarly journals Sustainability Reporting of REIT Companies in Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-408
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Real Estate Investment Trust ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Reporting Framework ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Active Contribution

Although there is growing awareness of corporate social responsibility, sustainability reporting is still not commonly practiced by companies in Malaysia. Sustainability reporting consists of three dimensions, which include economic, environmental and social sustainability disclosure. The objective of the present study is to examine the extensiveness of sustainability reporting by 17 public listed real estate investment trust (REIT) companies. REIT sector has been chosen because it is closely related to construction activities, which could affect the environment but still plays an important role in boosting the country’s economic growth. Besides, sustainability reporting of REIT companies will also be examined based on application level of GRI. GRI is a corporate sustainability reporting framework that provides various indicators to measure these aspects comprehensively. The findings from content analysis reveals that economic aspect is highly disclosed as compared to environmental and social aspects of sustainability reporting by REIT companies. It also shows that REIT companies in Malaysia do not apply GRI in annual reports for sustainability reporting as they fail to achieve minimum application level of GRI. As there are only a few papers investigating the use of GRI for sustainability reporting by REIT sector in Malaysia, the findings from this study contribute to increase awareness among companies in REIT sector to make active contribution and increase their disclosure for economic, environmental and social aspects. Additionally, the regulators have the responsibility to enforce rules and regulations for higher disclosure of sustainability information as one mean of delivering accountability to wider stakeholders

scholarly journals Exploring the quality of corporate environmental reporting

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akrum Helfaya ◽  
Mark Whittington ◽  
Chandana Alawattage
Keyword(s):  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Environmental Reporting ◽  
High Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a multidimensional model for assessing the quality of corporate environmental reporting (CER) incorporating both preparer- and user-based views. Design/methodology/approach As opposed to frequently used researcher-chosen proxies, the authors used an online questionnaire asking preparers and users how they assess the quality of a company’s environmental report. Findings The analysis of the responses of 177 users and 86 preparers shows that quantity was not perceived as the most significant element in determining quality. Besides quantity, the respondents also perceived information types, measures used, themes disclosed, adopting reporting guidelines, inclusion of assurance statement and the use of visual tools as significant dimensions/features of reporting quality. Research limitations/implications The online questionnaire has some limitations, especially in terms of researcher being absent to clarify meanings and, hence, possibilities that respondents may misinterpret the questionnaire elements. Practical implications Considering that robust, reliable measurement of reporting quality is difficult, preparers, standard setters and policy makers need multidimensional quality models that incorporate both users’ perceptions of quality and preparers’ pragmatic understanding of the quality delivery process. These will make the preparers informed of whether their disclosure may be falling short of users’ expectations. Originality/value Amid, increasing complexity of CER, the research contributes to the growing body of literature on assessing the quality of CER by developing a less subjective, multidimensional, preparer–user-based quality model. This innovative quality model goes beyond the traditional quality models, subjective author-based quality measures. Focussing on the three dimensions of reporting quality – content, credibility and communication – it also offers a high-level resolution of meaning of CER quality.

scholarly journals Sustainable reporting practices of selected cement companies in

Accounting ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 151-160
Author(s):  
Vineet Chouhan ◽  
Raj Bahadur Sharma ◽  
Shubham Goswami
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Statistical Technique ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Combined Effect ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Reporting Framework

Sustainability reporting, under organizational reporting framework, gives information about economic, environmental, social, and governance performance (GRI). Corporate sustainability reporting has a strong practice of environmental reporting with corporate principles. Despite various guidelines such as GRI, the reporting and presentation of sustainable items are not common in practice. The study aims to analyze the current sustainability of Accounting Practices in Indian Cement Companies. To analyze the same, researchers have taken a case study of five prominent cement companies, JK Cement Ltd., Shree Cement Ltd., ACC Cement Ltd., Binani Cement Ltd., and Ambuja Cement. The study observed the common reporting methods of the selected companies under various common heads in the Indian Cement companies and later to make a comparison amongst them, further by taking the views of the company respondents, with a questionnaire. For measuring combined effect of the selected companies, financial and non-financial disclosure of the selected 13 items for sustainable reporting has been considered, and to analyze the independent variables having influenced upon the combined effect of dependent variables MANOVA statistical technique was applied. It was found that there is a critical difference in the reporting of financial and non-financial sustainability factors by Indian cement companies. The study concluded that the corporations should follow the best standards of environmental sustainability for strengthening their activities and documentation on sustainable growth.

scholarly journals Corporate Environmental Disclosures on the Internet: an Empirical Analysis of Indian Companies

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Malarvizhi ◽  
Sangeeta Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Environmental Awareness ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Environmental Costs ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
The Impact

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.

Governance Disclosure on the Internet by Leading Indian Public Sector Companies

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-187
Author(s):  
Harmandeep Singh ◽  
Arwinder Singh
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Index Approach ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Governance Disclosure ◽  
The Web

Nowadays, internet satisfying people with different services related to different fields. The profit, as well as non-profit organization, uses the internet for various business purposes. One of the major is communicated various financial as well as non-financial information on their respective websites. This study is conducted on the top 30 BSE listed public sector companies, to measure the extent of governance disclosure (non-financial information) on their web pages. The disclosure index approach to examine the extent of governance disclosure on the internet was used. The governance index was constructed and broadly categorized into three dimensions, i.e., organization and structure, strategy & Planning and accountability, compliance, philosophy & risk management. The empirical evidence of the study reveals that all the Indian public sector companies have a website, and on average, 67% of companies disclosed some kind of governance information directly on their websites. Further, we found extreme variations in the web disclosure between the three categories, i.e., The Maharatans, The Navratans, and Miniratans. However, the result of Kruskal-Wallis indicates that there is no such significant difference between the three categories. The study provides valuable insights into the Indian economy. It explored that Indian public sector companies use the internet for governance disclosure to some extent, but lacks symmetry in the disclosure. It is because there is no such regulation for web disclosure. Thus, the recommendation of the study highlighted that there must be such a regulated framework for the web disclosure so that stakeholders ensure the transparency and reliability of the information.

scholarly journals Why “Less is More” in Non-Financial Reporting Initiatives: Concrete Steps Towards Supporting Sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Tsagas ◽  
Charlotte Villiers
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Csr Reporting ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Key Aspects

AbstractCalls are repeatedly made on corporations to respond to the challenges facing the planet from a sustainable development perspective and governments take solace in the idea that corporations' transparency on their corporate activity in relation to sustainability through voluntary reporting is adequately addressing the problem. In practice, however, reporting is failing to deliver truly sustainable results. The article considers the following questions: how does the varied reporting landscape in the field of non-financial reporting impede the objectives of fostering corporations' sustainable practices and which initiative, among the options available, may best meet the sustainability objectives after a decluttering of the landscape takes place?The article argues that the varied corporate reporting landscape constitutes a key obstacle to fostering sustainable corporate behaviour, insofar as the flexible and please all approach followed in the context of corporate sustainability reporting offers little to no real incentive to companies to behave more sustainably and ultimately pleases none in the long run. The case made is that “less is more” in non-financial reporting initiatives and hence the article calls for a revision of key aspects of the European Non-Financial Reporting Directive, which, as is argued, is more likely to achieve the furtherance of sustainable corporate behaviour. Although the different reporting requirements offer the benefits of focussing on different corporate goals and activities, targeting different audiences and allowing for a level of flexibility that respects the individual risks to sustainability associated with each industry, the end result is a landscape that lacks overall consistency and comparability of measurements and accountabilities, making accountability more, rather than less, difficult to achieve.The article acknowledges the existence of several variances relating to the notion of sustainability per se, which continues to remain a contested concept and variances between companies and industries in relation to how each is operating sustainably or unsustainably respectively. Such variances have so far inhibited the legislator from easily outlining through tailored legislation the individual risks to global sustainability in an all-encompassing manner. The end product is a chaotic system of financial reporting, CSR reporting, non-financial reporting and integrated reporting and little progress to increase comparability and credibility in order for companies to be held accountable and to behave in ways that do not harm the planet. A “clean up” of the varied initiatives in the terrain of non-financial reporting is recommended.

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