The historical development of sustainability reporting: a periodic approach

Abstract

History is the main backbone of understanding the reasons behind developments, and sustainability re-porting is one of the most important developments in accounting. In this sense, the purpose of this study is to provide a chronology of the historical development of sustainability reporting. The historical re-search method with a periodic approach was applied. This paper divides the development history of sustainability reporting into three main periods: the pre-standardization period, between 1962 and 1998, the standardization (institutionalization) period, between 1999 and 2016, and the post-standardization period, which started after 2016. In addition, based on events, three sub-periods are defined for the pre-standardization period. This paper is one of the rare studies in the literature that identifies the chronologi-cal process of sustainability reporting’s historical development.

The use of accounting system to assess the pursuit of sustainable development in environmental protection by the Polish listed companies from the energy sector

“…The history of evolution in the area of sustainable development reporting was examined by S. Gokten, Y. Ozehan and P. O. Gokten (2020), who presented the development of reporting changes in time.…”

“…The economic literature suggests many indicators to assess the condition of an undertaking, dominated by financial indicators (Sierpińska and Jachna, 2020;Nowak, 2017;Gołębiowski et al 2020;Jerzemowska (ed.). 2018;Gabrusewicz 2019).…”

The companies’ characteristics impact on the performance’s sustainable reporting. Case study on Bucharest Stock Exchange listed companies

“…Numerous authors believe that sustainability can truly be integrated within the entity's strategy and opportunities if it goes through every stage of the sustainable development process [21]. Some authors consider that the sustainable reports represent the key towards a process composed of five stages to achieve general sustainability, them being: before compliance, compliance, after compliance, the integrated strategy, passion and purpose [19,22].…”

“…Though, this course of action is no longer considered fit, for it does not attract by itself a sustainable approach [1]. Pressure appears on the economic entity regarding the impact on resources and climate change, aspects which exceed the limits of the traditional approach [2]. A sustainable approach represents a development concept through which all the activities are environmentally friendly, correct form a social point of view and possible from an economic point of view [3,4].…”

Sustainability reporting in banks: History of studies and a conceptual framework for thinking about the future by learning from the past

“…Furthermore, in the field of accounting and neighboring ones, there is currently a lack of methodological models suitable for researching the history of a phenomenon, through the lenses of the studies that have dealt with it. This research gaps are only partially filled by a few studies referring to banks that use the bibliometric method in a time perspective (Hassan et al, 2022) and by others not specifically referring to the banking sector (Alrazi et al, 2015;Buhr, 2007;Gokten et al, 2020;Lamberton, 2005;Larrinaga & Bebbington, 2021).…”