Stakeholder value derived from sustainability reporting

Abstract

Sustainability reporting by companies can serve as a communication tool with potential to build trust, influence the attitudes and perceptions of stakeholders. However, reporting without adding value and meeting the needs of the targeted stakeholders has been labelled a fad or meaningless by some scholars. The objective of this research was therefore to understand from a stakeholder‟s perspective; if indeed sustainability reporting is meeting their needs and creating value for them. A qualitative approach was used to illicit perspectives of multiple stakeholder groups on the value of sustainability reporting by two companies belonging to the mining sector. A total of sixteen different stakeholders belonging to different stakeholder groups and two sustainability experts from the two companies were interviewed to compare the company perspectives on value created with that of other stakeholders. The results highlighted that the relationship between the company and a stakeholder group, influences how that particular stakeholder group is prioritised and engaged. Stakeholder groups that are economically powerful, have higher saliency and those with potential to influence the business were prioritised and effectively engaged compared to those with low economic power and low legitimate claim over the company. The perceived benefit of sustainability reporting varied per stakeholder group and the company perspective of value differed from stakeholder perspective for some stakeholder groups.