Advances in Environmental Reporting among Australian MNEs using GRI Guidelines

Abstract

Recognising corporate social responsibility as an important part of corporate governance, this paper examines changes in environmental reporting between 2004 and 2007 among Australian multinational companies (MNEs) using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and explains the changes by company size, profitability, industry sector and changes within the guidelines. Twenty companies from the Australian SAM Sustainability Index (AuSSI) were examined and Wilcoxon matched pair signed ranked tests and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess changes in reporting between the two years. The findings show significant increases in reporting for energy; emissions, effluents and waste; overall; transport; water; materials and products and services. The majority of changes occurred in companies operating in environmentally sensitive industries and the rising disclosures for the water aspect were associated with large and profitable companies. A shift in emphasis from compliance and biodiversity aspects of environmental reporting to aspects associated with climate changes and resource preservation was evident. We argue this shift is in response to public expectations, enhanced image and competitive pressure rather than to changes in the GRI guidelines that lead to enhancing market value of the firm.