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Planetary Boundaries and Sustainability Indicators. A Survey of Corporate Reporting Boundaries

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  • Igor Álvarez Etxeberria
  • Eduardo Ortas
  • Stefan Schaltegger
  • Carla Antonini
  • Carlos Larrinaga

Abstract

The aim of this research is twofold: (a) to inquire into the methodological foundations of boundary setting for improved sustainability reporting and (b) to explore current corporate practice in this area, with a particular emphasis on environmental indicators. The paper contends that the boundaries of significant sustainability indicators should encompass all entities over which there is sustainability control, together with indirect impacts arising from activities across the supply chain, and not merely direct impacts caused by entities within boundaries based on financial control. The paper explores, through an empirical study of the sustainability reports disclosed by some of the top FT500 companies, how corporations are setting environmental boundaries in practice. Results show a lack of ambition in the practice of setting organizational and operational boundaries. Most reporting entities define organizational boundaries restricted to financial control, and most of the indirect environmental impacts sought remain undisclosed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Álvarez Etxeberria & Eduardo Ortas & Stefan Schaltegger & Carla Antonini & Carlos Larrinaga, 2017. "Planetary Boundaries and Sustainability Indicators. A Survey of Corporate Reporting Boundaries," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(2), pages 123-137, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:25:y:2017:i:2:p:123-137
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Sasse-Werhahn, 2019. "The Practical Wisdom behind the GRI," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 71-84, July.
    2. Francisco J. López‐Arceiz & Cristina Del Río & Ana J. Bellostas, 2020. "Sustainability performance indicators: Definition, interaction, and influence of contextual characteristics," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2615-2630, November.
    3. Darren D. Lee & John Hua Fan & Victor S. H. Wong, 2021. "No more excuses! Performance of ESG‐integrated portfolios in Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(S1), pages 2407-2450, April.
    4. Cho, Charles H. & Senn, Juliette & Sobkowiak, Madlen, 2022. "Sustainability at stake during COVID-19: Exploring the role of accounting in addressing environmental crises," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Murat Kucukvar & Khalel Ahmed Alawi & Galal M. Abdella & Muhammet Enis Bulak & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu & Murat Yalçıntaş, 2021. "A frontier‐based managerial approach for relative sustainability performance assessment of the world's airports," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 89-107, January.
    6. Nicolai Abramovich & Alexandru Vasiliu, 2023. "Sustainability as fairness: A Rawlsian framework linking intergenerational equity and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) with business practices," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1328-1342, June.
    7. Steve J. Bickley & Alison Macintyre & Benno Torgler, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Sustainable Entrepreneurship," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-11, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).

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