Sustainability reporting

Abstract

Purpose Sustainability reporting serves as a means of communication between corporations and their stakeholders on sustainability issues. This study aims to identify and account for the contents of sustainability reporting communicated through the websites of the plants in five continents of the same multinational mining corporation. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data published by Newmont Mining Corporation. The corporation has regional headquarters in five continents: Africa, Asia, Australia and North America and South America. The data were drawn from the websites of the five plants adjacent to those regional headquarters. Economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability as reported by each plant were identified; to do so, a disclosure analysis based on the elements of the Global Reporting Initiative and the United Nations Division for Sustainability Development was used. These aspects were then compared and contrasted to highlight if, and to what extent, institutional isomorphism influences variations in sustainability disclosures among plants compared with the parent company. Findings It was found that most of the reporting about sustainability matters comprises narratives; there were also a few physical measures but very little financial information. Notwithstanding that the websites of all five plants used similar headings, the contents of reports differed. The reports from the plants in Australia, South America and Africa were more comprehensive than those from the plants in Asia and North America. The authors attribute these differences to institutionalisation of location-specific characteristics, including management discretion, legislation and societal pressures influencing sustainability reporting. The authors argue that managers responsible for preparing sustainability reports and who work essentially as sustainability accountants should develop templates and measures to raise the standard and comprehensiveness of reports for improved communication, information and behaviour. Originality/value Extant studies on sustainability reporting have focused mainly on comparisons between sustainability reports published by different corporations or sustainability reports published in different years by the same corporation. The authors believe that this is one of the first studies to have examined differences in sustainability information published by different subsidiaries within the same large corporation and the first to show how concurrent disclosures can differ.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a rising tide lifts all boats? Global reporting implications in a post SDGs world

“…In agreement with other studies, for instance, on the UN Global Compact (Janney et al , 2009), we found differences in SDG reporting across regions. In addition to a high adoption rate in Europe, we found the highest rate in South America, which stems from the higher governmental regulations and institutional isomorphism (Amoako et al , 2017). Nevertheless, if we add firm characteristics and accountability measures, such as external auditing, the regional effect becomes nonsignificant.…”

Sustainability reporting in Africa: A systematic review and agenda for future research

“…A few studies reported that the extent of sustainability and SDGs disclosure is gradually increasing in the region (Arthur et al, 2017; Bananuka, Tauringana, & Tumwebaze, 2022; Injeni et al, 2021; Kabir & Akinnusi, 2012; Soobaroyen et al, 2023; Stolowy & Paugam, 2018; Tumwebaze et al, 2022). The vast majority, however, denied this evidence and rather noted that the extent of reporting in the continent is very low and unsatisfactory (Ahmad & Gao, 2005; Akrout & Ben Othman, 2016; Alshbili et al, 2020; Amoako et al, 2017; Baba & Baba, 2021; Bhatia & Makkar, 2020; Bose & Khan, 2022; Crous et al, 2021; Erin & Bamigboye, 2022; Haladu & Bin‐Nashwan, 2022; Iredele, 2020; Lauesen, 2016; Marx & van Dyk, 2011; Mathuva & Kiweu, 2016; Taiwo et al, 2021; Tilt et al, 2021).…”

Understanding Sustainability Reporting in Non-Governmental Organisations: A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices, Drivers, Barriers and Paths for Future Research

“…Among these groups, the understanding of philanthropy and accountability is different and there is also a mismatch between the operational scope of these NGOs and the real intention for their existence. While most of the local NGOs are owned by politicians or their cronies [101] whose interest on behalf of the general public is questionable, others may not really understand the concept or mechanisms for pursuing sustainability and/or accountability. This implies that the population of the less privileged and the deprived will continue to suffer, and the targeted need will remain unaddressed, thereby reducing the quality of life, and fuelling underdevelopment and poverty all of which negates the NGOs' existence ab initio since they are primarily set up to fight these by improving the quality of life.…”

“…Other than providing a platform for entrenching accountability and transparency as well as setting an example for others to follow, SR by NGOs can result in several benefits for both the NGOs and the society at large [25,101]. SR has the capacity to highlight hidden organisational values that might not be recognised through traditional reporting [17].…”