Developing a Sustainability Reporting Index using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Sri Lankan Business Firms

Soysa, R.N.K. and Pallegedara, Asankha and Ajantha, Sisira Kumara and Jayasena, D.M. and Samaranayake, M.K.S.M. (2023): Developing a Sustainability Reporting Index using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Sri Lankan Business Firms.

Abstract

While many listed firms in Sri Lanka adapt sustainability reporting into their annual reports, a few firms use a combination of both Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and SDGs when preparing sustainability reports. The current study attempts to develop an index to monitor firms' sustainability reporting practices based on both GRI guidelines and SDGs. A sample of 100 firms listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was chosen to evaluate the extent of firms' sustainability reporting. The principal component analysis was employed in the study to examine the reliability of the formulated scoring methodology by evaluating the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Results indicate that the developed scoring index is efficient for evaluating the sustainability reported content in Sri Lankan firms. The study findings may be useful for organisations and statutory bodies to find a replicable method to measure the sustainable performance of business firms.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sustainable development, Sri Lanka, Principal component analysis, SDGs, Sustainability reporting index
• Subjects: M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M2 - Business Economics > M21 - Business Economics; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M4 - Accounting and Auditing

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