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Evaluating the corporate environmental profile by analyzing corporate social responsibility reports

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  • Tsalis, Thomas A.
  • Nikolaou, Ioannis E.
  • Konstantakopoulou, Fotini
  • Zhang, Ying
  • Evangelinos, Konstantinos I.

Abstract

The environmental dimension of corporate sustainability is a key factor in firms’ success and viability. This implies that firms put emphasis on resource conservation strategies in order to protect their financial position. In recent years, the environmental aspects of firms have been examined with respect to their corporate environmental profile. This paper proposes a new approach for assessing the corporate environmental profile in light of environmental management practices, the environmental performance and reporting practices. To do so, a flexible benchmarking–scoring methodology was developed. It is based on a set of well-defined indexes and environmental indicators proposed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in order to assess information published in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports. A sample of firms was used to test the proposed methodology so as to highlight its advantages and disadvantages.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsalis, Thomas A. & Nikolaou, Ioannis E. & Konstantakopoulou, Fotini & Zhang, Ying & Evangelinos, Konstantinos I., 2020. "Evaluating the corporate environmental profile by analyzing corporate social responsibility reports," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 63-75.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:66:y:2020:i:c:p:63-75
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2020.02.009
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    5. Stefanos Fotiadis & Konstantinos I. Evangelinos & Foteini Konstantakopoulou & Ioannis E. Nikolaou, 2023. "Assessing CSR Reports of Top UK Construction Companies: The Case of Occupational Health and Safety Disclosures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-32, April.
    6. Lou, Yang & Zhou, Wei & Ma, Ying, 2023. "The impact of involvement in targeted poverty alleviation on corporate investment efficiency," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 418-434.
    7. Peggy M. L. Ng & Tai Ming Wut & Kam Kong Lit & Cherry T. Y. Cheung, 2022. "Drivers of corporate social responsibility and firm performance for sustainable development—An institutional theory approach," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 871-886, July.
    8. Liqi Yi & Tao Li & Xiangyi Wang & Gentana Ge & Ting Zhang, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility performance evaluation from the perspective of stakeholder heterogeneity based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process integrated TOPSIS," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 918-935, July.

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