OMXH15 entities’ application of principles and requirements of GRI in sustainability reporting

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent the sustainability reports of OMXH15 listed entities apply the GRI principles and requirements, and thus potentially signal more positive image of their activities than is justified.

Sustainability reporting of organisations has evolved particularly since the publication of Brundtland report (1987). Moreover, increasing demands from various stakeholders in relation to companies’ sustainability disclosures in addition to developments in sustainability related reporting requirements have influenced the sustainability reporting of entities. This study is relevant because stakeholders are dependent on the disclosed information made by the organisation.

Similar studies have been conducted in relation to sustainability reporting. Particularly the research of Boiral (2013) which studied the extent to which sustainability reporting can be camouflaged to hide real sustainable development issues and display idealized prospect of the organisation’s activities, was of importance to this study. In addition, signaling theory has been utilized as a reference point to explain the information asymmetry.

The research material is the sustainability reports of 15 listed entities which are listed on OMXH15 index. These organisations have disclosed that they report in accordance with GRI Standards, which signifies that they are supposed to present information in conformity with principles and requirements of GRI Standards. The study is conducted as a qualitative content analysis with theory-driven perspective.

The findings of the study suggest that organisations are applying in-accordance requirements of GRI standards for the most part. However, that compliance does not extend to principles of GRI standards. The findings are in consonant with study of Boiral (2013) as companies are presenting information in an unbalanced way, overstating positive impacts.