Sustainability Reporting: Format and Disclosure Guidance

Abstract

Sustainability reporting continues to grow in popularity but the lack of standardization in its reporting guidance is a challenge. This archival analysis examines the various formats available for reporting organizational sustainability, highlighting both commonalities and differences. Although no U.S. guidance has been successfully adopted, this does not deter companies from using whatever format meets their organizational reporting needs. The genesis of various sustainability nonfinancial reporting presentations is provided with a discussion of their format and content. Reporting goals, disclosure guidance and auditor review proposals are presented together with the status of U S sustainability reporting guidelines and pending accounting rules for environmental credits.