IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2022i1p571-d1018524.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Blockchain and Sustainability Disclosure: A Scenario-Based Application for Supply Chains

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Corazza

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

  • Junru Zhang

    (School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6026, Australia)

  • Dilhani Kapu Arachchilage

    (School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6026, Australia)

  • Simone Domenico Scagnelli

    (School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6026, Australia)

Abstract

This paper presents the implications of blockchain technologies on sustainability reporting and disclosure, and specifically proposes blockchain use-cases as a possible solution for problems experienced in the field of supply chain carbon information. This study addresses how the reliability of supply chains’ carbon-related information can become more transparent and reliable through a decentralized approach based on blockchain thinking (BT), issues that have been identified as a gap in the literature and in the practice. Scenario analysis and design science research (DSR) are used as a methodological driver to conceptualize over the nature of practical solutions using unified modeling language (UML) diagrams. The resulting use-case focuses on data retrieval in the supply chain. The paper also presents implications for the audit industry and their role in the assurance of such technological architecture implementations. The study is visionary as it offers a conceptualization based on scenario analysis. Developing a scenario enables researchers to depict a prospective situation, develop ability to solve future problems, and to back cast them in current policies, technologies, and actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Corazza & Junru Zhang & Dilhani Kapu Arachchilage & Simone Domenico Scagnelli, 2022. "Blockchain and Sustainability Disclosure: A Scenario-Based Application for Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:571-:d:1018524
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/571/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/571/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:eme:aaaj00:09513571011080144 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Rashid Zaman & Muhammad Bilal Farooq & Fahad Khalid & Zeeshan Mahmood, 2021. "Examining the extent of and determinants for sustainability assurance quality: The role of audit committees," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 2887-2906, November.
    3. Laura Corazza & Elisa Truant & Simone Domenico Scagnelli & Chiara Mio, 2020. "Sustainability reporting after the Costa Concordia disaster: a multi-theory study on legitimacy, impression management and image restoration," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(8), pages 1909-1941, July.
    4. Kanbaty, Majid & Hellmann, Andreas & He, Liyu, 2020. "Infographics in corporate sustainability reports: Providing useful information or used for impression management?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    5. Burritt, Roger & Schaltegger, Stefan, 2014. "Accounting towards sustainability in production and supply chains," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 327-343.
    6. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-05-2018-3488 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Roger L. Burritt & Stefan Schaltegger, 2010. "Sustainability accounting and reporting: fad or trend?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(7), pages 829-846, September.
    8. Flower, John, 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A story of failure," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-17.
    9. Geerts, Guido L., 2011. "A design science research methodology and its application to accounting information systems research," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 142-151.
    10. repec:eme:aaaj00:09513570510627739 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. James Guthrie & Lee D. Parker & John Dumay & Markus J. Milne, 2019. "What counts for quality in interdisciplinary accounting research in the next decade," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(1), pages 2-25, January.
    12. Elisa Truant & Laura Corazza & Simone Domenico Scagnelli, 2017. "Sustainability and Risk Disclosure: An Exploratory Study on Sustainability Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-20, April.
    13. Khaldoon Al-Htaybat & Larissa von Alberti-Alhtaybat, 2017. "Big Data and corporate reporting: impacts and paradoxes," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(4), pages 850-873, May.
    14. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-05-2017-2929 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-07-2015-2139 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-01-2019-036 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Sophie Cockcroft & Mark Russell, 2018. "Big Data Opportunities for Accounting and Finance Practice and Research," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(3), pages 323-333, September.
    18. Michela Arnaboldi & Cristiano Busco & Suresh Cuganesan, 2017. "Accounting, accountability, social media and big data: revolution or hype?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(4), pages 762-776, May.
    19. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-03-2017-2880 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michele Galeotti & Rosa Lombardi & Paola Paoloni & Fabiana Roberto, 2022. "Big data and sustainability reports: The current approach to non-accounting data management," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(2 Suppl.), pages 95-116.
    2. Mohamed Saeudy & Ali Meftah Gerged & Khaldoon Albitar, 2022. "Accounting Perspectives on The Business Value of Big Data During and Beyond The COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems, Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 174-199, June.
    3. Alnoor Bhimani, 2020. "Digital data and management accounting: why we need to rethink research methods," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 9-23, April.
    4. Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Delia Deliu, 2021. "Big Data’s Disruptive Effect on Job Profiles: Management Accountants’ Case Study," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Francis Aboagye‐Otchere & Cletus Agyenim‐Boateng & Abdulai Enusah & Theodora Ekua Aryee, 2021. "A Review of Big Data Research in Accounting," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 268-283, October.
    6. Jochen Fähndrich, 2023. "A literature review on the impact of digitalisation on management control," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 9-65, March.
    7. Moll, Jodie & Yigitbasioglu, Ogan, 2019. "The role of internet-related technologies in shaping the work of accountants: New directions for accounting research," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(6).
    8. Pei‐Chi Kelly Hsiao & Charl de Villiers & Claire Horner & Hein Oosthuizen, 2022. "A review and synthesis of contemporary sustainability accounting research and the development of a research agenda," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(4), pages 4453-4483, December.
    9. Bismark Kusi Appiah & Zhang Donghui & Shapan Chandra Majumder & Malepekola Precious Monaheng, 2020. "Effects of Environmental Strategy, Uncertainty and Top Management Commitment on the Environmental Performance: Role of Environmental Management Accounting and Environmental Management Control System," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(1), pages 360-370.
    10. Estibaliz Goicoechea & Fernando Gómez-Bezares & José Vicente Ugarte, 2019. "Integrated Reporting Assurance: Perceptions of Auditors and Users in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Ibrahim, Awad Elsayed Awad & Elamer, Ahmed A. & Ezat, Amr Nazieh, 2021. "The convergence of big data and accounting: innovative research opportunities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    12. Knudsen, Dan-Richard, 2020. "Elusive boundaries, power relations, and knowledge production: A systematic review of the literature on digitalization in accounting," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    13. Francesca Manes-Rossi & Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Giuseppe Nicolò & Gianluca Zanellato, 2018. "Ensuring More Sustainable Reporting in Europe Using Non-Financial Disclosure—De Facto and De Jure Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    14. Marco Bellucci & Damiano Cesa Bianchi & Giacomo Manetti, 2021. "A literature review on blockchain in accounting research," Working Papers - Business wp2021_04.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    15. Nuradhi Kalpani Jayasiri & Sriyalatha Kumarasinghe & Rakesh Pandey, 2023. "12 years of integrated reporting: A review of research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2187-2243, June.
    16. Yuqian Zhang, 2023. "Using Google Trends to track the global interest in International Financial Reporting Standards: Evidence from big data," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 87-100, April.
    17. Stefan Schaltegger & Roger Burritt, 2018. "Business Cases and Corporate Engagement with Sustainability: Differentiating Ethical Motivations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 241-259, January.
    18. Andrew, Jane & Baker, Max, 2020. "The radical potential of leaks in the shadow accounting project: The case of US oil interests in Nigeria," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    19. Manita, Riadh & Elommal, Najoua & Baudier, Patricia & Hikkerova, Lubica, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    20. Sofia Garcia-Torres & Marta Rey-Garcia & Laura Albareda-Vivo, 2017. "Effective Disclosure in the Fast-Fashion Industry: from Sustainability Reporting to Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-27, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:571-:d:1018524. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.