Positive and negative aspects of GRI reporting as perceived by Brazilian organizations

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the positive and negative aspects in the sustainability reporting framework proposed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The research was conducted through content analysis of 27 companies’ responses to three questions: “Why does the company where you work prepare a sustainability report?” “What are the positive aspects you identify in the framework for GRI reporting?” and “What are the negative aspects you identify in the framework for GRI reporting?” The questionnaire was sent to all Brazilian companies that published sustainability reports using the GRI guidelines between 2011 and 2013 related to the base year 2010. We found that respondents viewed the GRI guidelines and the reports they created as management tools for sustainability and that they assist in benchmarking sustainability performance and legitimizing the sustainability actions of the organization. Furthermore, some respondents indicated that the reports themselves are marketing tools. On the other hand, the respondents reported difficulties in understanding the proposed GRI guidelines. They considered the guidelines complex, ambiguous, and too flexible, which undermined both the standardization of the reports and the ability to compare reports. Based on these comments, it is recommended that the GRI develop a simpler and less flexible reporting methodology.

Sustainability reporting practices: an explorative analysis of luxury fashion brands

“…(2013). More harmonised GRI reports and a more user-friendly reporting mechanism were suggested by Quilice et al . (2018).…”

Missing voices in GRI standards? Distinct material concerns of Latin American stakeholders revealed by COVID-19

“…(2018) who surveyed Brazilian organisations to learn about their perceptions of the positive and negative aspects of GRI reporting. Although Brazil is a developing country, Ferreira Quilice et al. (2018) neither explicitly sought out GRI limitations specific to a developing country, nor did they find any negative GRI aspects that are likely specific to developing countries.…”

“…Unfortunately, the paper provides no specific examples of which indicators are inappropriate for Sri Lanka, and why they are not appropriate. Another paper which comes close to investigating the appropriateness of GRI standards in developed countries is Ferreira Quilice et al. (2018) who surveyed Brazilian organisations to learn about their perceptions of the positive and negative aspects of GRI reporting.…”

“…Unfortunately, the paper provides no specific examples of which indicators are inappropriate for Sri Lanka, and why they are not appropriate. Another paper which comes close to investigating the appropriateness of GRI standards in developed countries is Ferreira Quilice et al (2018) who surveyed Brazilian organisations to learn about their perceptions of the positive and negative aspects of GRI reporting. Although Brazil is a developing country, Ferreira Quilice et al (2018) neither explicitly sought out GRI limitations specific to a developing country, nor did they find any negative GRI aspects that are likely specific to developing countries.…”

Sustainability reporting in Vietnam: evolutionary or revolutionary? A case study of five public companies

“…Internal bene ts for companies and organizations resulting from su cient sustainability reporting can include: holistically understanding risks and opportunities (Ferreira et al, 2018); emphasizing the link between nancial and non-nancial performance, which has been backed up by previous empirical research with suggestion that a company's pro cient sustainability management and nancial performance have a positive and signi cant relationship (Ioannou and Serafeim, 2015;Przychodzen and Przychodzen, 2018); in uencing long-term management strategy and policy and business plans; and benchmarking and assessing sustainability performance concerning laws, norms, codes, performance standards and voluntary initiatives (Ferreira et al, 2018).…”