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Plurality or convergence in sustainability reporting standards?

Author

Listed:
  • Nadia Albu

    (The Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

  • Catalin Nicolae Albu

    (The Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

  • Madalina Dumitru

    (The Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

  • Valentin Florentin Dumitru

    (The Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

Abstract

Over the last years an increasing number of companies issued Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Sustainability Reports to complement their traditional financial reporting. Companies use various sustainability reporting standards or develop their own reporting frameworks starting from the existing ones. This variation of practices pointed out by empirical research raises questions about the quality and comparability of sustainability reporting, its role in the sustainable development, and also about the suitability of accepting the plurality of reporting frameworks or the need for convergence. This study aims to investigate the issues of plurality and convergence in sustainability reporting standards, by mobilizing the discourses on regulation and the case of a group of companies in the IT industry in order to shed some light on the current challenges in this area. We frame a discussion on the opportunities and pitfalls of convergence in sustainability reporting regulations and contribute to a better understanding of this issue by academics, preparers, users and standard setters.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadia Albu & Catalin Nicolae Albu & Madalina Dumitru & Valentin Florentin Dumitru, 2013. "Plurality or convergence in sustainability reporting standards?," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(Special 7), pages 729-742, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aes:amfeco:v:3:y:2013:i:special7:p:729-742
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    2. Maria-Silvia Sandulescu & Drago? Andrei Stoica & Catalin-Nicolae Albu & Nadia Albu, 2018. "Types of Intellectual Capital Employed in Bioeconomic Projects – A Longitudinal Case Study," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 20(49), pages 667-667, August.
    3. Annalisa Baldissera, 2023. "Sustainability reporting in banks: History of studies and a conceptual framework for thinking about the future by learning from the past," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2385-2405, September.
    4. repec:aud:audfin:v:20:y:2018:i:48:p:356 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Daniel Zdolšek & Sabina Taškar Beloglavec, 2023. "Sustainability Reporting Ecosystem: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Overhaul during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Elena NECHITA, 2021. "The Value Relevance of Non-Financial Reporting in Determining the Market Value of Equity," The Audit Financiar journal, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, vol. 19(162), pages 320-320, May.
    7. Dragos Andrei Stoica, 2021. "General Opinions about the Adoption of IAS/IFRS in Romania," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 24(82), pages 132-139, December,.
    8. Ion Ionascu & Mihaela Iona?cu, 2018. "Business Models for Circular Economy and Sustainable Development: the Case of Lease Transactions," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 20(48), pages 356-356.
    9. Mansour Stoian Lăcrămioara & Spătariu Elena Cerasela, 2023. "Green Accounting and Reporting – Achievements So Far and Opportunities Ahead: Critical Research of Sustainability Reports of Romanian Companies," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 728-740, July.
    10. Mariana Man & Maria-Mădălina Bogeanu-Popa, 2020. "Impact of Non-Financial Information on Sustainable Reporting of Organisations’ Performance: Case Study on the Companies Listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, March.
    11. Radka MacGregor Pelikánová & Robert K. MacGregor, 2020. "The EU Puzzling CSR Regime and the Confused Perception by Ambassadors of Luxury Fashion Businesses: A Case Study from Pařížská," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2020(3), pages 74-108.
    12. Ioana Sofian & Mădălina Dumitru, 2017. "The Compliance of the Integrated Reports Issued by European Financial Companies with the International Integrated Reporting Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Viorel Avram & Daniela Artemisa Calu & Valentin Florentin Dumitru & Mădălina Dumitru & Mariana Elena Glăvan & Gabriel Jinga, 2018. "The Institutionalization of the Consistency and Comparability Principle in the European Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-24, December.
    14. Radka MacGregor Pelikánová, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility Information in Annual Reports in the EU—A Czech Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    15. Radka MacGregor Pelikánová & Tereza Němečková & Robert K. MacGregor, 2021. "CSR Statements in International and Czech Luxury Fashion Industry at the Onset and during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Slowing Down the Fast Fashion Business?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    16. Nicoleta Cristache & Marian Nãstase & Radu Petrariu & Margareta Florescu, 2019. "Analysis of Congruency Effects of Corporate Responsibility Code Implementation on Corporate Sustainability in Bio-Economy," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(52), pages 536-536, August.
    17. Higgins, Colin & Tang, Samuel & Stubbs, Wendy, 2020. "On managing hypocrisy: The transparency of sustainability reports," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 395-407.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainability reports; sustainability reporting standards; plurality; convergence; IT companies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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