IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i12p3456-d189463.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Institutionalization of the Consistency and Comparability Principle in the European Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Viorel Avram

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

  • Daniela Artemisa Calu

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

  • Valentin Florentin Dumitru

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

  • Mădălina Dumitru

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

  • Mariana Elena Glăvan

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

  • Gabriel Jinga

    (Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 014576, Romania)

Abstract

There is a general tendency in reporting nowadays, represented by the institutionalization of the environmental reporting in an increasing number of companies. The novelty of our work resides in the fact that this is the first study which analyses the consistency and comparability of the information included in integrated reports. The objective of this research is to determine to what extent the reporting of the environmental performance indicators, including energy, prescribed by the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines is in line with the consistency and comparability principle. We analysed the reports published by the European organisations included in the Pilot Programme of the International Integrated Reporting Council. We used the following methodology. First, we compared the environmental reporting of 2016 from one company to another, splitting the sample in accordance with the industries. Second, we analysed the reporting practices of the environmentally-sensitive companies, including energy, in 2010, 2013 and 2016, in order to analyse the consistency of the information published. The results of the research show that the environmentally-sensitive companies, including energy, publish more information. Also, the score of information consistency is above average. The best consistency level is registered in the Basic Materials industry, followed by Oil & Gas and Industrials. Emissions and energy indicators are the most disclosed. This research is useful to understand how companies apply the consistency and comparability principle in practice. The importance of this article is given by the fact that consistency and comparability improve the quality of the sustainability reporting. Without consistency and comparability the information’s relevance is very low.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:12:p:3456-:d:189463
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/12/3456/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/12/3456/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Scarlat, Nicolae & Dallemand, Jean-François & Monforti-Ferrario, Fabio & Banja, Manjola & Motola, Vincenzo, 2015. "Renewable energy policy framework and bioenergy contribution in the European Union – An overview from National Renewable Energy Action Plans and Progress Reports," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 969-985.
    2. Noushi Rahman & Corinne Post, 2012. "Measurement Issues in Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR): Toward a Transparent, Reliable, and Construct Valid Instrument," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 105(3), pages 307-319, February.
    3. Richard Helliwell & Julia Tomei, 2017. "Practicing stewardship: EU biofuels policy and certification in the UK and Guatemala," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(2), pages 473-484, June.
    4. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge, 2011. "Beyond the Bounded Instrumentality in Current Corporate Sustainability Research: Toward an Inclusive Notion of Profitability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 325-345, December.
    5. Barbu, Elena M. & Dumontier, Pascal & Feleagă, Niculae & Feleagă, Liliana, 2014. "Mandatory Environmental Disclosures by Companies Complying with IASs/IFRSs: The Cases of France, Germany, and the UK," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 231-247.
    6. Rüdiger Hahn & Regina Lülfs, 2014. "Legitimizing Negative Aspects in GRI-Oriented Sustainability Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Corporate Disclosure Strategies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 401-420, September.
    7. Robert G. Eccles & Michael P. Krzus & Jean Rogers & George Serafeim, 2012. "The Need for Sector-Specific Materiality and Sustainability Reporting Standards," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 24(2), pages 65-71, June.
    8. Magali Delmas & Vered Doctori Blass, 2010. "Measuring corporate environmental performance: the trade‐offs of sustainability ratings," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 245-260, May.
    9. Sarasa-Maestro, Carlos J. & Dufo-López, Rodolfo & Bernal-Agustín, José L., 2013. "Photovoltaic remuneration policies in the European Union," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 317-328.
    10. Muhammad Islam & Craig Deegan, 2010. "Media pressures and corporate disclosure of social responsibility performance information: A study of two global clothing and sports retail companies," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 131-148.
    11. 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.
    12. Frédérique Déjean & Jean-Pascal Gond & Bernard Leca, 2004. "Measuring the unmeasured : An institutional entrepreneur strategy in an emerging industry," Post-Print halshs-00151270, HAL.
    13. Jan Bebbington & Carlos Larrinaga & Jose M. Moneva, 2008. "Corporate social reporting and reputation risk management," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(3), pages 337-361, March.
    14. repec:dau:papers:123456789/1478 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Madalina Dumitru & Raluca Gina Guse & Liliana Feleaga & Dragos Marian Mangiuc, 2015. "Marketing Communications of Value Creation in Sustainable Organizations. The Practice of Integrated Reports," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(40), pages 955-955, August.
    16. Elena Barbu & Pascal Dumontier & Liliana Feleagă & Niculae Feleagă, 2014. "Mandatory environmental disclosures by companies complying with IASs/IFRSs. The cases of France, Germany and UK," Post-Print halshs-01319288, HAL.
    17. Daniela Artemisa Calu & Madalina Dumitru & Mariana Elena Glavan & Raluca Gina Gu?e, 2016. "(Non)Financial Reporting (A)Symmetries in the Case of Amusement Parks in Europe," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 18(S10), pages 1015-1015, November.
    18. García-Álvarez, María Teresa & Cabeza-García, Laura & Soares, Isabel, 2018. "Assessment of energy policies to promote photovoltaic generation in the European Union," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 864-874.
    19. Matthew V. Tilling & Carol A. Tilt, 2010. "The edge of legitimacy," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(1), pages 55-81, January.
    20. Judith Saghroun & Jean-Yves Eglem, 2008. "À la recherche de la performance globale de l'entreprise : la perception des analystes financiers," Comptabilité - Contrôle - Audit, Association francophone de comptabilité, vol. 14(1), pages 93-118.
    21. Lori Holder-Webb & Jeffrey Cohen & Leda Nath & David Wood, 2009. "The Supply of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures Among U.S. Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(4), pages 497-527, February.
    22. Cristian Carini & Laura Rocca & Monica Veneziani & Claudio Teodori, 2018. "Ex-Ante Impact Assessment of Sustainability Information–The Directive 2014/95," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, February.
    23. Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj & Tisdell, Clement Allan, 2017. "On environmental impacts of market-based reforms: Evidence from the European and Central Asian transition economies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 44-52.
    24. Marek Reuter & Martin Messner, 2015. "Lobbying on the integrated reporting framework," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(3), pages 365-402, March.
    25. Adriana Calu & Costel Negrei & Daniela Artemisa Calu & Viorel Avram, 2015. "Reporting of Non-Financial Performance Indicators – a Useful Tool for a Sustainable Marketing Strategy," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(40), pages 977-977, August.
    26. E. Barbu & P. Dumontier & Niculae Feleagă & Liliana Feleagă, 2014. "Mandatory Environmental Disclosures by Companies Complying with IASs/IFRSs: The Cases of France, Germany, and the UK," Post-Print halshs-01025802, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Olivier Boiral & Marie‐Christine Brotherton & Léo Rivaud & David Talbot, 2022. "Comparing the uncomparable? An investigation of car manufacturers' climate performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2213-2229, July.
    2. Rozalia Kicsi & Aurel Burciu & Ionel Bostan & Raluca Zoltan & Simona Buta, 2023. "Energy Poverty: Macroeconomic Insight on Romania, Bulgaria and the Vi?egrad Group within the European Context," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(63), pages 413-413, April.
    3. Dumitru Valentin-Florentin & Jinga Gabriel & Stănilă Oana Georgiana & Dumitru Mădălina, 2019. "The impact of the European Directive 2014/95/EU on the energy companies’ disclosures," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 268-276, May.
    4. Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Cristina Silvia Nistor & Cristina Alexandrina ªtefãnescu & Gianluca Zanellato, 2019. "Encompassing Non-Financial Reporting in A Coercive Framework for Enhancing Social Responsibility: Romanian Listed Companies’ Case," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(52), pages 590-590, August.
    5. Eva Cerioni & Alessia D’Andrea & Marco Giuliani & Stefano Marasca, 2021. "Non-Financial Disclosure and Intra-Industry Comparability: A Macro, Meso and Micro Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Marko Milojević & Mariusz Urbański & Ivica Terzić & Valeriy Prasolov, 2020. "Impact of Non-Financial Factors on the Effectiveness of Audits in Energy Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Aureliana-Geta Roman & Mihaela Mocanu & Răzvan Hoinaru, 2019. "Disclosure Style and Its Determinants in Integrated Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Maja Piesiewicz & Marlena Ciechan-Kujawa & Paweł Kufel, 2021. "Differences in Disclosure of Integrated Reports at Energy and Non-Energy Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ali M Gerged & Christopher J Cowton & Eshani S Beddewela, 2018. "Towards Sustainable Development in the Arab Middle East and North Africa Region: A Longitudinal Analysis of Environmental Disclosure in Corporate Annual Reports," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 572-587, May.
    2. Mădălina Dumitru & Justyna Dyduch & Raluca-Gina Gușe & Joanna Krasodomska, 2017. "Corporate Reporting Practices in Poland and Romania – An Ex-ante Study to the New Non-financial Reporting European Directive," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 279-304, September.
    3. 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.
    4. Viorel Avram & Daniela Artemisa Calu & Valentin Florentin Dumitru & Tatiana Danescu, 2019. "The Clarity of the Information Regarding the Bioeconomy: An Analysis of the Reports Published by the Organizations," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 1-41, February.
    5. Ali Meftah Gerged & Eshani Beddewela & Christopher J. Cowton, 2021. "Is corporate environmental disclosure associated with firm value? A multicountry study of Gulf Cooperation Council firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 185-203, January.
    6. Alina Almã?an & Cristina Circa & Mãdãlina Dumitru & Raluca Gina Gu?e & Drago? Marian Mangiuc, 2019. "Effects of Integrated Reporting on Corporate Disclosure Practices regarding the Capitals and Performance," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(52), pages 572-572, August.
    7. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:50:p:41 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Ali Meftah Gerged & Eshani S. Beddewela & Christopher J. Cowton, 2023. "Does the quality of country‐level governance have an impact on corporate environmental disclosure? Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 1179-1200, April.
    9. Philipp Borgstedt & Ann-Marie Nienaber & Bernd Liesenkötter & Gerhard Schewe, 2019. "Legitimacy Strategies in Corporate Environmental Reporting: A Longitudinal Analysis of German DAX Companies’ Disclosed Objectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 177-200, August.
    10. Thomas Schneider & Giovanna Michelon & Mari Paananen, 2018. "Environmental and Social Matters in Mandatory Corporate Reporting: An Academic Note," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 275-305, June.
    11. Silvia Ruiz-Blanco & Silvia Romero & Belen Fernandez-Feijoo, 2022. "Green, blue or black, but washing–What company characteristics determine greenwashing?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4024-4045, March.
    12. Rohaida Abdul Latif & Nurul Huda Yahya & Kamarun Nisham Taufil Mohd & Hasnah Kamardin & Arifatul Husna Mohd Ariffin, 2020. "The Influence of Board Diversity on Environmental Disclosures and Sustainability Performance in Malaysia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 287-296.
    13. Florence Depoers & Tiphaine Jérôme, 2017. "Environmental expenditure disclosure strategies in a regulated context [Stratégies de publication des dépenses environnementales dans un cadre réglementaire]," Post-Print hal-01576195, HAL.
    14. Radhakrishnan, Suresh & Tsang, Albert & Liu, Rubing, 2018. "A Corporate Social Responsibility Framework for Accounting Research," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 274-294.
    15. Mihaela Turturea, 2015. "Social and Environmental Reporting as a Part of the Integrated Reporting," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(6), pages 2161-2170.
    16. Patten, Dennis M. & Zhao, Na, 2014. "Standalone CSR reporting by U.S. retail companies," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 132-144.
    17. Ali Meftah Gerged, 2021. "Factors affecting corporate environmental disclosure in emerging markets: The role of corporate governance structures," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 609-629, January.
    18. Madalina Dumitru & Nadia Albu & Valentin Florentin Dumitru & Catalin Nicolae Albu, 2014. "Practices Regarding the Forms of Communication with the Consumers used by a Multinational Company at Global and Local Level," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 16(35), pages 1-41, February.
    19. Raphaela Helbig & Sven von Höveling & Andreas Solsbach & Jorge Marx Gómez, 2021. "Strategic analysis of providing corporate sustainability open data," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 195-214, July.
    20. Xiaofang Chen & P.R. Weerathunga & Mohammad Nurunnabi & K.M.M.C.B. Kulathunga & W.H.M.S. Samarathunga, 2020. "Influences of Behavioral Intention to Engage in Environmental Accounting Practices for Corporate Sustainability: Managerial Perspectives from a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-30, June.
    21. Alexander, David & Blum, Véronique, 2016. "Ecological economics: A Luhmannian analysis of integrated reporting," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 241-251.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:12:p:3456-:d:189463. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.