Sustainability Reporting Practice and its Impact on Corporate Sustainability Performance - A Danish Case Study
Author
Sørensen, Alberte Rørbæk Kokholm
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-06-03
Pages
93
Abstract
This thesis examines the significance and impact of sustainability reporting in Europe and Denmark. A state-of-the-art review first identifies a gap in academic knowledge about the actual effect of reporting on companies’ performance. Based on this, the study asks: How can sustainability reporting support corporate sustainability performance in large Danish corporations, and how can upcoming regulation help ensure this? Seven case studies of large Danish C25 companies enable a practical look at reporting practices and an assessment of their Corporate Sustainability Performance (how well companies perform on sustainability). The assessment is grounded in a conceptual framework drawing on sustainable business model theory and identifies ten key parameters. The case studies show that reporting, used as a tool, does not automatically improve performance but has the potential to do so. An analysis of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the EU Taxonomy, and the forthcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) indicates that these EU rules can help overcome barriers and drive sustainability when implemented strategically. To help companies tap the potential of reporting and related regulation, the thesis provides a guide with solutions and recommendations.
Formålet med afhandlingen er at undersøge betydningen og effekten af bæredygtighedsrapportering i Europa og Danmark. Indledningsvis gennemføres en forskningsoversigt (state-of-the-art review), som viser et videnshul om rapporteringens faktiske påvirkning af virksomheders præstation. På den baggrund undersøges: Hvordan kan bæredygtighedsrapportering støtte den bæredygtige præstation i store danske virksomheder, og hvordan kan kommende regulering medvirke til at sikre dette? Syv casestudier af store danske C25-virksomheder muliggør en praktisk analyse af rapporteringspraksis og en vurdering af deres Corporate Sustainability Performance (virksomheders bæredygtige præstation). Vurderingen bygger på et konceptuelt rammeværk med teorier om bæredygtige forretningsmodeller, der identificerer ti centrale parametre. Casene viser, at rapportering som værktøj ikke i sig selv forbedrer præstationen, men rummer potentiale til det. En analyse af Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), EU-taksonomien og den kommende Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) viser desuden, at disse EU-regler kan hjælpe med at overvinde barrierer og fremme bæredygtighed, hvis de implementeres strategisk. For at gøre det muligt for virksomheder at udnytte potentialet i rapportering og den relaterede regulering er der udarbejdet en guide med løsninger og anbefalinger.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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