Hassan, A., Robert, L. and Atkins, J. orcid.org/0000-0001-8727-0019 (2020) Exploring factors relating to extinction disclosures : what motivates companies to report on biodiversity and species protection? Business Strategy and the Environment, 29 (3). pp. 1419-1436. ISSN 0964-4733
Abstract
This paper seeks to contribute to the existing business strategy and the environment literature by investigating the disclosure practices of Biodiversity/Extinction (B/E) and threatened species. We use greenwashing theory to understand global companies’ motivation to report on B/E information. Data is collected from 200 Fortune Global companies for 3 years. We develop our comprehensive 53 disclosure index and create and test OLS Regression model to measure the relationships between B/E disclosures and its determinants factors including; environmental performance, industry sector, country, assurance, environmental awards, presence of biodiversity partners and the number of species’ related disclosure. Our results reveal that there are positive significant relationships between B/E disclosure and: assurance provided by the Big 4; gaining an environmental award; companies from high biodiversity risk sectors; developing countries; presence of biodiversity partners, and; how many specific biodiversity words are published in companies’ reports. On the other hand, there are positive insignificant relationships between B/E disclosure and: assurance; poor performers, and; the number of species disclosed in companies’ reports. Our findings have important implications for regulators and policymakers. Our evidence appears to be robust when controlling for possible endogeneities.
Metadata
Authors/Creators: |
|
---|---|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and ERP Environment. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Business Strategy and the Environment. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Content analysis; Biodiversity/Extinction disclosures; Greenwashing; Performance; Industry sector |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Management School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 29 Nov 2019 12:30 |
Last Modified: | 27 Jan 2022 01:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2442 |