scholarly journals Impact of Sustainability Reporting on Brand Value: An Examination of 100 Leading Brands in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7392
Author(s):  
Lawrence Loh ◽  
Sharmine Tan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Brand Value ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Local Companies ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Lagged Effect

The recent sustainability reporting (SR) mandate by the Singapore Exchange has heightened stakeholder awareness and propelled sustainability disclosures. Albeit encouraging, more than half of listed companies in Singapore do not produce sustainability reports. This signifies a lack of sustainability commitment, or perhaps, local companies have limited understanding on the potential value of sustainability. Our study aims to fill this gap by examining if (1) the 100 leading brands in Singapore similarly benefit from a higher brand value when they produce sustainability reports; (2) if more disclosure leads to higher brand value; (3) if a lagged effect is present. The methodology of this study included the collation of sustainability information from the 100 leading brands in Singapore, scoring each company’s sustainability performance using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Finally, we examine the correlations using regression analysis to compare the companies’ sustainability performance with the reputed brand rankings by Brand Finance. Our findings revealed that one-fifth of the 100 leading brands in Singapore do not engage in sustainability, despite the positive correlation between sustainability reporting and brand value. Our results also suggest that greater disclosure leads to higher brand value, yet social and environmental indicators are undermanaged. Moreover, there is a lagged effect as public perceptions take time to shape. Internalising a company’s sustainability vision through a multi-stakeholder consultative approach is critical. Brand managers and sustainability practitioners must be aware that failures to meet stakeholder expectations today may consequently impact investors’ decisions.

scholarly journals Analyzing the quality disclosure of Global Reporting Initiative G4 sustainability report in Indonesian companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-468
Author(s):  
Wika Harisa Putri ◽  
Handoko Arwi Hasthoro ◽  
Ghea Maudhia Putri
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Economic Indicator ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Corporate Accountability ◽  
Financial Industry ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Industry Classification ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Sustainability Report

The establishment of a company cannot be separated from its environmental and social factors. Sustainability reports start from those applied to current companies because there are forms of corporate accountability to stakeholders and community considerations of the company to provide social responsibility. This study finds out and empirically proves that there are differences in each Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 indicator in the company’s sustainability report in each industry classification. The authors investigate the dominant indicators in each industry classification based on sustainability reports. The data are obtained from 28 GRI G4-based company sustainability reports in 2016 and 2017. The analytical method in the study is the K-means clustering analysis. The results of study indicate the differences in GRI G4 in 2016 and 2017. The researchers find out that the dominant indicator expressed in the financial industry is an economic indicator. Meanwhile, in the mining, transportation and infrastructure industries, basic and chemical industries etc. the dominant indicators to be disclosed are environmental indicators. This research provides a theoretical basis for sustainability and environmental reporting, particularly in the context of developing countries. It is expected that this study should also inform business practitioners as well as policymakers vis-à-vis sustainability reporting in practice.

scholarly journals Sustainability Reporting in India – A Study of Infosys Sustainability Reports

2020 ◽  
pp. 336-346
Author(s):  
Priyanka Nayak ◽  
Narayan Kayarkatte
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Effective Medium ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Indian Company ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Sustainability Report ◽  
Policies And Practices

Sustainability reporting is becoming more prevalent, driven by a growing recognition that sustainability-related issues can materially affect a company’s performance. In India, with the Companies Act 2013 making CSR mandatory in specified areas, more and more companies are undertaking sustainability and CSR initiatives. However, accounting and reporting of these activities are still at a nascent stage, with nearly 40 companies disclosing their sustainability performance. One such Indian company to report on CSR operations is Infosys. Infosys Ltd has proved to be the first IT firm in the globe to publish a sustainability report under the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) G4 framework. This case study aims to explore the reporting methods followed by Infosys and to comprehend the effect it has on the synergy and development of the business. It studies the sustainability report of Infosys for 10 years and tries to understand the reporting policies and practices. Infosys has been one of the pioneers in sustainable development and reporting the same. Sustainability reports help not only to showcase the CSR activities but also serve as an effective medium for reaching nations sustainability goals.

scholarly journals The quality of sustainability reports and impression management

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Diouf ◽  
Olivier Boiral
Keyword(s):  
Impression Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Responsible Investment ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Sustainability Reports

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyze the perceptions of stakeholders – more specifically, socially responsible investment (SRI) practitioners – of the quality of sustainability reports using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on 33 semi-structured interviews carried out with different stakeholders and experts (e.g. consultants, fund managers, analysts, consultants) in the field of SRI in Canada. Findings The perceptions of SRI practitioners shed more light on the elastic and uncertain application of the GRI principles in determining the quality of sustainability reports. Their perceptions tend to support the argument that sustainability reports reflect the impression management strategies used by companies to highlight the positive aspects of their sustainability performance and to obfuscate negative outcomes. Originality/value First, undertake empirical research on stakeholders’ perceptions – which have been largely overlooked – of the quality of sustainability reports. Second, shed new light on the impression management strategies used in sustainability reporting. Third, show the reflexivity and the degree of skepticism of practitioners with regard to the reliability of information on sustainability performance.

The Determinants of Sustainability Reporting of the Portuguese Public Sector Entities

2019 ◽  
pp. 653-678
Author(s):  
Maria da Conceição C. Tavares ◽  
Lúcia Lima Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social

Based on legitimacy and on stakeholder theories, this study analyses the level of disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the sustainability reports of the Portuguese public sector entities for the years 2008 and 2012, prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The authors also aim to determine the factors that influence this level of disclosure. Using content analysis, an index of CSR disclosure was constructed based on the sustainability reports of 58 public sector entities. It was concluded that the level of sustainability disclosure is related to the organisation's size, industry, awards and certifications received, and visibility measured in terms of consumer proximity. This study offers new empirical evidence of a different context – public sector entities in Portugal, providing valuable insights into the factors that explain CSR disclosures in public sector entities.

scholarly journals Coverage of G4-indicators in GRI-sustainability reports by electric utilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Slacik ◽  
Dorothea Greiling
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Electric Utility ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Coverage Rates

PurposeElectric utility companies (EUC) are expected to play a key role toward implementing ambitious climate change aims being under critical scrutiny by regulators and stakeholders. However, EUC provide an under-researched field regarding sustainability reporting with the focus on economic, social and ecological concerns. This paper aims to gain insights of the sustainability reporting practice of EUC and the coverage of indicators based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-Guidelines.Design/methodology/approachA twofold documentary analysis of 186 GRI-G4 sustainability reports by EUC globally is conducted to investigate the coverage rates of G4-indicators. Neo-institutionalism and strategic stakeholder theory serve as theoretical lenses. A regression analysis is used to examine ownership, stock-exchange listing, area of activity and region as potential drivers of sustainability reporting.FindingsResults show that the coverage of indicators based on triple-bottom-line dimensions is moderate in EUC leaving room for improvement. The coverage of sector-specific indicators lacks behind the coverage of standard disclosure indicators. Results show that private and listed EUC show better coverage rates than public and not-listed EUC.Research limitations/implicationsNeo-institutionalism shows limited homogenization in the sector. Strategic stakeholder theory demonstrates insufficient stakeholder compliance of public and not-listed EUC.Originality/valueThis study contributes to sustainability reporting research by focusing on the under-researched electricity sector. It provides practical reporting insights for EUC, the GRI and regulators.

Assessing the materiality of university G4-sustainability reports

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lubinger ◽  
Judith Frei ◽  
Dorothea Greiling
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Sociological Institutionalism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Stakeholder ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Content Selection ◽  
Reporting Practice ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
The University

Purpose Materiality, as a content-selection principle, is an emerging trend in sustainability reporting for making sustainability reports (SRs) more relevant for stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether materiality matters in the reporting practice of universities which have adopted the Global Reporting Initiative G4 Guidelines. Design/methodology/approach Strategic stakeholder theory and sociological institutionalism serve for deriving conflicting expectations about the compliance of universities with the materiality principle. In the empirical section of this paper, content analyses are conducted on the documented material aspects, followed by a correlation analysis for examining to which extent the identified material aspects are reported in the SRs. Findings Although universities document G4-19 stakeholder-material aspects according to different relevance levels and for internal and external stakeholder groups, the identified material aspects are not appropriately reported in the SRs. The adoption of the materiality principle is a superficial one and therefore more in line with the expectations of sociological institutionalism. Research limitations/implications The main limitation for this study is the small number of university SRs available. The chance to make SRs more relevant by focusing on stakeholder-material aspects is not used. Originality/value This paper reports the first study looking at the compliance between the documented material aspects and the content of SRs in a particular challenging organisational field, the university sector. This paper also adds to the emerging theoretical discussion about the extent universities implement materiality in SRs.

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.

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 Sustainability Reporting in Cooperatives

Risks ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Gamze Yakar Pritchard ◽  
Kıymet Tunca Çalıyurt
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure ◽  
Sustainability Reports

The aim of the present study is to examine the sustainability reports of cooperatives, which may play an important role in achieving the sustainable development goals and help to identify which economic, environmental, and social sustainability indicators cooperatives are currently reporting. For this purpose, a total of 168 sustainability reports were examined for cooperatives that use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 reporting, and that are included in the Sustainability Disclosure Database (SDD-GRI). As a result of this study, it was determined that the economic performance indicator disclosure levels of cooperatives that are active in the financial services sector are higher compared with those of cooperatives that are active in other sectors. In addition, it was also observed that the labor practices and decent work sub-category indicator disclosure levels of cooperatives active in the agriculture sector are lower compared to those of cooperatives that are active in the healthcare services and financial services sectors. Another outcome of this study was the finding that the social performance indicator disclosure levels for large-scale cooperatives are greater than those of small- and medium-sized (SME) cooperatives.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document