RESEARCH ARTICLE
Introducing fundamental accountability principles in sustainability reporting assessment: A cross-sectoral analysis from the Greek business sector
Panagiotis Vouros,
Stylianos Nomikos,
George Halkos,
Konstantinos Evangelinos,
Eleni Sfakianaki,
Foteini Konstandakopoulou,
Stefanos Fotiadis,
Ioannis Karagiannis,
Antonis Skouloudis,
Ioannis E. Nikolaou,
Panagiotis Vouros
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStylianos Nomikos
University of Thessaly, Department of Economics, Laboratory of Operations Research, 28 Octovriou 78, Volos, 38333 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Halkos
University of Thessaly, Department of Economics, Laboratory of Operations Research, 28 Octovriou 78, Volos, 38333 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorKonstantinos Evangelinos
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorEleni Sfakianaki
Hellenic Open University, ParodosAristotelous 18, Patra, 26335 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorFoteini Konstandakopoulou
Hellenic Open University, ParodosAristotelous 18, Patra, 26335 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStefanos Fotiadis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorIoannis Karagiannis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorAntonis Skouloudis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ioannis E. Nikolaou
Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Correspondence
Ioannis E. Nikolaou, Corporate Environmental Management, Department of Environmental Engineering at University of Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece.
Email: inikol@env.duth.gr
Search for more papers by this authorPanagiotis Vouros,
Stylianos Nomikos,
George Halkos,
Konstantinos Evangelinos,
Eleni Sfakianaki,
Foteini Konstandakopoulou,
Stefanos Fotiadis,
Ioannis Karagiannis,
Antonis Skouloudis,
Ioannis E. Nikolaou,
Panagiotis Vouros
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStylianos Nomikos
University of Thessaly, Department of Economics, Laboratory of Operations Research, 28 Octovriou 78, Volos, 38333 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Halkos
University of Thessaly, Department of Economics, Laboratory of Operations Research, 28 Octovriou 78, Volos, 38333 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorKonstantinos Evangelinos
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorEleni Sfakianaki
Hellenic Open University, ParodosAristotelous 18, Patra, 26335 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorFoteini Konstandakopoulou
Hellenic Open University, ParodosAristotelous 18, Patra, 26335 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStefanos Fotiadis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorIoannis Karagiannis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorAntonis Skouloudis
Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos, 81100 Greece
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ioannis E. Nikolaou
Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Correspondence
Ioannis E. Nikolaou, Corporate Environmental Management, Department of Environmental Engineering at University of Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece.
Email: inikol@env.duth.gr
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
In recent years, sustainability reports have been gradually adopted by businesses and organizations in order to enhance their preparedness, competitiveness, and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The aim of this study was to assess the comprehensiveness of 44 Greek companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports published in 2016. For this purpose, an evaluation methodology was developed in line with the accountability reporting principles suggested by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-G4 guidelines for preparing and publishing sustainability reports. The overall findings indicate moderate levels of satisfaction as the sample Greek firms performed adequately at embedding the GRI reporting principles into their corporate disclosures. Most firms’ integration of the “accuracy” and “reliability” principles was poor. Emerging from the latter outcome, together with the low integration of some materiality issues, are problems of transparency, credibility, balance, and completeness related to the publishing of CSR reports. It is likely that operational features such as type, size, and sector have the potential to influence the style and comprehensiveness of reports.
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