Measurement of Environmental Reporting Practices of the Selected Index based Indian Companies: An Integral Part of Triple Bottom Line Reporting

Abstract

The Triple Bottom Line reporting (TBL) is an accounting framework that incorporates three dimensions of performance: social, environmental and financial. This differs from traditional reporting (financial) frameworks as it includes environmental and social reporting. Environmental reporting is one of the key parts of TBL reporting. Environmental Reporting is an area where our country requires a boost. A lot of work has been done by other developed countries in this area. India is believed to be still at its infancy stage so far as Environmental Reporting (an integral part of triple bottom line reporting) is concerned. The objective of this study is to investigate the quantity and quality of voluntary environmental disclosures in the annual reports or sustainability reports of the few selected index based Indian companies listed on the stock exchange. In order to evaluate the environmental reporting practices, the categorization contained in the Global Reporting Initiatives guidelines has been used to an extent. We found that all the companies selected for the study were found to be at their progress towards better environmental reporting practices year by year, which is a positive sign for the country as well as a benchmark for the other companies who still have not taken initiative in this area. The result may serve a base or the path towards better Environmental disclosures in India.

Keywords: Triple Bottom Line, Environmental Reports, Sustainability, Disclosures.

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