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Circular Economy Disclosure in Sustainability Reporting: The Effect of Firm Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Filippo Vitolla

    (Department of Management, Finance and Technology, LUM University, 70010 Casamassima, Italy)

  • Vitiana L’Abate

    (Department of Management, Finance and Technology, LUM University, 70010 Casamassima, Italy)

  • Felice Petruzzella

    (Department of Corporate Finance, Giustino Fortunato Telematic University, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Nicola Raimo

    (Department of Management, Finance and Technology, LUM University, 70010 Casamassima, Italy)

  • Antonio Salvi

    (Department of Management, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

The circular economy is increasingly establishing itself as a model capable of overcoming the current linear economy of production and consumption recognized as unsustainable by society. Its relevance has also attracted the attention of academics, interested not only in the implementation methods of the circular economy, but also in the ways in which companies communicate information about them. However, although in recent years some scholars have begun to investigate the circular economy disclosure (CED), research on this topic is still in an embryonic state. In fact, in the academic literature there are only a few studies related to the CED and its drivers. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating, under the lens of stakeholder theory, the effect of firm characteristics on the level of CED. To this end, it firstly involves the use of a manual content analysis of the sustainability reports drawn up by 88 international companies to measure the level of CED and, secondly, a regression model to test the impact of the firm characteristics. Empirical results demonstrate a positive effect of firm size, financial leverage and firm profitability on the level of CED. The results have important practical implications for firms and policymakers.

Suggested Citation

  • Filippo Vitolla & Vitiana L’Abate & Felice Petruzzella & Nicola Raimo & Antonio Salvi, 2023. "Circular Economy Disclosure in Sustainability Reporting: The Effect of Firm Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2200-:d:1045939
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    1. Vitiana L'Abate & Nicola Raimo & Francesco Albergo & Filippo Vitolla, 2024. "Social media to disseminate circular economy information. An empirical analysis on Twitter," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 528-539, January.
    2. Márcia R. C. Santos & Ana Rolo & Dulce Matos & Luisa Carvalho, 2023. "The Circular Economy in Corporate Reporting: Text Mining of Energy Companies’ Management Reports," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Vitiana L'Abate & Nicola Raimo & Benedetta Esposito & Filippo Vitolla, 2024. "Examining the impact of circular economy disclosure on the cost of debt: A signaling theory approach via social media," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4007-4019, September.
    4. Vitolla, Filippo & Raimo, Nicola & Campobasso, Francesco & Giakoumelou, Anastasia, 2023. "Risk disclosure in sustainability reports: Empirical evidence from the energy sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Sarfraz Nazir & Federica Doni, 2024. "Nexus of circular economy R0 to R9 principles in integrated reporting: Insights from a multiple case study comparison," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4058-4085, July.
    6. Filippo Vitolla & Vitiana L?Abate & Nicola Raimo & Arcangelo Marrone, 2024. "Gli effetti della pandemia da COVID-19 sulla disclosure aziendale. Un?analisi empirica nella prospettiva dell?Integrated Reporting," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2024(1), pages 155-177.
    7. Francesco Avallone & Costanza Di Fabio & Shekerta Aliu & Elisa Roncagliolo, 2023. "Shedding light on the preconditions for circular economy: Evidence from SMEs in the agri-food sector," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 141-163.
    8. Benedetta Esposito & Nicola Raimo & Ornella Malandrino & Filippo Vitolla, 2023. "Circular economy disclosure and integrated reporting: The role of corporate governance mechanisms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5403-5419, December.
    9. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Esther Ortiz‐Martínez & Salvador Marín‐Hernández & Beatriz Aibar‐Guzmán, 2023. "How does the European Green Deal affect the disclosure of environmental information?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2766-2782, November.
    10. Mattia Iotti & Elisa Manghi & Giuseppe Bonazzi, 2024. "Debt Sustainability Assessment in the Biogas Sector: Application of Interest Coverage Ratios in a Sample of Agricultural Firms in Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-34, March.

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