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Why Do Companies Not Produce Sustainability Reports?
Author(s) -
Stubbs Wendy,
Higgins Colin,
Milne Markus
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
business strategy and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.123
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1099-0836
pISSN - 0964-4733
DOI - 10.1002/bse.1756
Subject(s) - sustainability , legitimacy , context (archaeology) , business , situated , sustainability reporting , corporate sustainability , public relations , accountability , sustainability organizations , corporate social responsibility , accounting , marketing , political science , politics , ecology , paleontology , artificial intelligence , computer science , law , biology
Sustainability reporting emerged on the corporate scene nearly 30 years ago as a key mechanism through which business organisations would manage a transition to a new business landscape dominated by greater concern and consciousness about sustainability. While it has become something of a feature on the corporate agenda in some parts of the world, the majority of business organisations do not undertake this type of reporting. This paper explores why 23 of Australia's top 200 companies do not undertake sustainability reporting. The study is situated in the context of a considerable literature that promised numerous benefits to be derived from this type of reporting. The paper uncovers various social and organisational factors that raise some new questions about legitimacy theory, corporate accountability and the spread and uptake of this organisational practice. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.