Chapter 15, Problem 15.43ACT

Corporate Sustainability Reports

Note: In the following activity, the word “sustainability” is used. You may need to search for “green” or “environmental accounting” or other similar terms, depending on the organization and the industry.

Locate an annual report for a company in which you are interested. Look through the annual report for a report on “Corporate Social Responsibility,” “Sustainability,” “Green,” or other similar heading. Also skim the “Chairperson’s Letter” or “Letter to Shareholders” for additional information on the organization’s sustainability efforts. Additionally, many firms issue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports; you may use that report if you find that a CSR is available.

Basic Discussion Questions

1. 1. What environmental accounting information does this company report?
2. 2. What environmental goals does this company have for the upcoming five to ten years?
3. 3. Judging from the information in the report(s) from the company, does the company appear to emphasize profits, environment, or society? Or does the company appear to give equal emphasis to each component of the triple bottom line? Justify your answer.
4. 4. What types of EMA information might be reported internally by this company? Make reasonable “guesses”; the annual report will not give this information directly. Use your imagination.
5. 5. Perform an online search to find other sources of information about this company’s sustainability efforts other than its own publications. What news articles can you find? Summarize the sustainability news about this company.
6. 6. Perform an online search for sustainability issues in the industry in which this organization operates. Does the company appear to be addressing the sustainability issues of the industry?
7. 7. What is your overall sense of the company’s commitment to sustainability from everything you have seen? Be specific and give details to justify your response.