Titel: Hållbarhetsrapportering - En kvantitativ studie om företag som påverkas av de nya direktiven i årsredovisningslagen väljer att presentera sin hållbarhetsrapport i årsredovisningen eller i en separat publikation. Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i företagsekonomi, 15 HP Författare: Kristoffer Saglind & Egzon Selimi Handledare: Fredrik Hartwig Datum: 2019 – Januari Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka om de svenska företag som påverkas av den nya reformen (SFS 2016:947) väljer att presentera sin hållbarhetsrapport i årsredovisningen eller i en separat publikation. Studien undersöker även om branschtillhörighet, antalet kvinnor i styrelsen och skuldsättningsgrad kan förklara om hållbarhetsrapporten presenteras i årsredovisningen eller i en separat publikation. Metod: Undersökningen utgår från den positivistiska traditionen och tillämpar en deduktiv ansats. För att besvara syftet har en kvantitativ forskningsstrategi tillämpats genom en innehållsanalys samt att hypoteser har utformats för att sedan testas i en regressionsanalys. Datainsamlingen för undersökningen har inhämtats från databasen Retriever där alla aktiebolag som påverkas av den nya lagstiftningen undersöks. Resultat & slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att 45,42% av alla de undersökta företagen väljer att placera sin hållbarhetsrapport i årsredovisningen medan 54,58% presenterar den i ett separat dokument. Vidare så finner studien ett positivt signifikant samband mellan 2 av de 28 undersökta branscherna och att integrera hållbarhetsrapporten i årsredovisningen. Studien finner även ett positivt signifikant samband mellan antalet kvinnor i styrelsen och att ha en integrerad hållbarhetsrapport. Skuldsättningsgrad visar inget signifikant samband i undersökningen. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studiens praktiska bidrag är att sannolikheten är högre att ett företag inkluderar hållbarhetsrapporten i årsredovisningen ju fler kvinnor som finns i styrelsen. Vidare så tenderar företag verksamma inom branscherna ”företagstjänster” och ”fastighetsverksamhet” att placera hållbarhetsrapporten i årsredovisningen. Det teoretiska bidraget är att det finns ett positivt signifikant samband mellan antalet kvinnor i styrelsen, och till viss del branschtillhörighet med att integrera hållbarhetsrapporten i årsredovisningen. Vidare fann faktorerna skuldsättningsgrad och företagsstorlek inte något signifikant samband och kan därför inte förklara något. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Vi föreslår att vidare forskning bör undersöka huruvida andra faktorer kan förklara var ett företag väljer att placera sin hållbarhetsrapport. Vidare föreslår vi att vidare forskning bör undersöka hur det skiljer sig mellan olika länder där en liknande reglering finns. Denna undersökning bör då använda samma oberoende variabler för att studien skall bli jämförbar. / Title: Sustainability reporting - A quantitative study on how companies affected by the new directives regarding the annual report choose to present their sustainability report either in the annual report or in a separate document. Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 HP Author: Kristoffer Saglind & Egzon Selimi Supervisor: Fredrik Hartwig Date: 2019 – Januari Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate whether Swedish companies affected by the new reform (SFS 2016: 947) choose to present their sustainability report in the annual report or in a separate publication. The study also investigates whether industry affiliation, the number of women on the board and leverage can explain if the sustainability report is presented in the annual report or in a separate publication. Method: The study is based on a positivist philosophy and applies a deductive approach. In order to respond to the aim of the study a quantitative research strategy has been applied through a content analysis. Thus, hypothesis has been designed to then be tested in a regression analysis. Data collection for the survey has been retrieved from the database Retriever where all companies affected by the new legislation are being investigated. Result & Conclusions: The results of the study shows that 45.42% of all the companies investigated choose to place their sustainability report in their annual report, while 54.58% present it in a separate document. Furthermore, the study finds a positive significant correlation between 2 of the 28 investigated industries and integrating the sustainability report into the annual report. The study also finds a positive significant correlation between the number of women on the board and an integrated sustainability report. Finally, leverage show no significant correlation in the study. Contribution of the thesis: The practical contribution of the study is that the probability is higher that more women present on the board makes the probability higher that the sustainability report is included in the annual report. Furthermore, companies active in the sectors of "business services" and "real estate activities" tend to place the sustainability report in the annual report. The theoretical contribution is that there is a positive significant correlation between the factors number of women on the board, and to some extent the industry of the company in integrating the sustainability report in the annual report. Furthermore, the factors leverage and company size did not find any significant correlation and therefore can not explain anything. Suggestions for future research:  We propose that further research should investigate whether other factors can explain where a company chooses to place its sustainability report. Furthermore, we suggest that further research should investigate how it differs between different countries where a similar regulation exists. This study should then use the same independent variables to make the study comparable.

<p>The environment has become an important part in people´s lives, and in today´s society stakeholders demands have increased upon companies when it comes to sustainability reports. How these sustainability reports are designed depends on whom it’s for, laws and regulations, and the companies own norms and values. The purpose of sustainability reports is to measure, monitor and compare a company´s enviromental impact. It’s not only about integrating economics, but also enviromental and social standards together to get both financial and competitive advantages.</p><p><em>Sustainable Value method</em> is a new model and is the first real method that can be used to evaluate a company´s resources, both financial, social and enviromental to a sustainable value.This model is used to compare the resource efficiency between companies.</p><p>In this thesis, a documentary study with an experimental approach has been made.Sustainability reports from six selected companies (in the engineering and forestry sector) have been investigated with respect to their accounting for carbon dioxide, and an experiment using the method “Sustainable Value Approach” was subsequently performed. The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of sustainability reports by using the <em>Sustainable Value methodology</em>. As a bonus, we determined how effective the six firms used their carbon resources, in monetary terms.</p><p>We found out, that all sustainability reports have been useful to make calculations under the <em>Sustainable Value methodology</em>. Only Atlas Copco gave a positive sustainable value (SV),which means that only Atlas Copco has generated higher returns with its carbon emissions compared to our benchmark had with the same emissions.</p> / <p>Miljön har blivit en viktig del i människans liv och i dagens samhälle har intressenternas krav på företagen ökat när det gäller miljöredovisningar. Hur dessa hållbarhetsredovisningar utformas beror på vilka intressenter de vänder sig till, lagar och regler samt egna normer och värderingar. Syftet med hållbarhetsredovisningar är att mäta, bevaka och jämföra ett företags miljöpåverkan. Det gäller att företagen kan integrera, inte bara ekonomi, utan också miljö och det sociala tillsammans för att få både ekonomiska fördelar och konkurrensfördelar.</p><p>Sustainable Value metoden är en ny modell och är den första riktiga metoden som kan användas för att värdera ett företags resurser, såväl ekonomiska som sociala och miljörelaterade till ett hållbart monetärt värde. Denna modell används för att kunna jämföra resurseffektivitet mellan företagen.</p><p>I arbetet har en dokumentstudie med experimentiell ansats gjorts. Hållbarhetsredovisningar från sex utvalda företag (inom verkstad- och skogsbranschen) har undersökts med avseende på redovisning av koldioxidutsläpp. Experiment med en metod <em>Sustainable Value –metoden </em>har därefter utförts. Studiens syfte har varit att undersöka hur användbara hållbarhetsredovisningar är vid en beräkning av Sustainable Value. Som bonus på arbetet får vi (genom <em>Sustainable Value –metoden</em>) reda på hur effektiva företagen är på att nyttja resursen koldioxid.</p><p>Vi kom fram till att samtliga hållbarhetsredovisningar varit användbara till att göra beräkningar enligt <em>Sustainable Value-metoden</em>. Endast Atlas Copco gav ett positivt hållbart värde (SV), vilket innebär att Atlas Copco har skapat högre avkastning med sina koldioxidutsläpp jämfört med vad vårt benchmark skulle gjort med samma utsläpp.</p>

Fokus på hållbarhet i företag ökat kraftigt på senare år. Ett resultat av denna hållbarhetsutveckling är GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), en organisation som utvecklar ramverk och ger vägledning för innehållet i företagens hållbarhetsredovisningar. Svenska Regeringen på initiativ av Maud Olofsson var först i världen med att kräva att alla svenska statliga företag, från och med räkenskapsåret 2008, ska upprätta en externt granskad hållbarhetsredovisning i enighet med GRI:s riktlinjer G3.  Den här studien syftar till att undersöka hur de svenska statliga företagen har påverkats av regeringens nya krav.   Studien innefattar en undersökning av sju statliga företag som idag redovisar hållbarhet i enighet med GRI:s riktlinjer. En kvalitativ fallstudie har använts för undersökningen. Efter intervjuer med företagen kan det fastslås att det nya regeringskravet till viss del är en kostsam process. Det kan även konstateras att redovisning enligt GRI:s riktlinjer medför positiva förändringar i företagens interna processer. Företagen har även blivit mer medvetna om vilken påverkan de har på den hållbara utvecklingen. / Focus on sustainability in companies has increased sharply the last couple of years. A result of this development in sustainability is GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), an organization that develops frames and gives guidance for sustainability reports in the companies. The Swedish government on the initiative of Minister Maud Olofsson was first in the world to demand that all Swedish state-owned companies, from the fiscal year 2008, shall establish an externally audited sustainability reports in agreement with the GRI guidelines G3. This study aims to examine how the Swedish state-owned companies have been affected by the new government requirements.   The study includes an examination of seven state-owned companies, which today reports sustainability in agreement with GRI guidelines. A qualitative case study has been used for the thesis. After interviews with companies it can be stated that the new governmental requirement in some extent is a costly process. It can also be noted that accounting in accordance to GRI guidelines leads to positive changes in the companies internal processes. The companies have also become more aware of the impact they have on sustainable development.

The environment has become an important part in people´s lives, and in today´s society stakeholders demands have increased upon companies when it comes to sustainability reports. How these sustainability reports are designed depends on whom it’s for, laws and regulations, and the companies own norms and values. The purpose of sustainability reports is to measure, monitor and compare a company´s enviromental impact. It’s not only about integrating economics, but also enviromental and social standards together to get both financial and competitive advantages. Sustainable Value method is a new model and is the first real method that can be used to evaluate a company´s resources, both financial, social and enviromental to a sustainable value.This model is used to compare the resource efficiency between companies. In this thesis, a documentary study with an experimental approach has been made.Sustainability reports from six selected companies (in the engineering and forestry sector) have been investigated with respect to their accounting for carbon dioxide, and an experiment using the method “Sustainable Value Approach” was subsequently performed. The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of sustainability reports by using the Sustainable Value methodology. As a bonus, we determined how effective the six firms used their carbon resources, in monetary terms. We found out, that all sustainability reports have been useful to make calculations under the Sustainable Value methodology. Only Atlas Copco gave a positive sustainable value (SV),which means that only Atlas Copco has generated higher returns with its carbon emissions compared to our benchmark had with the same emissions. / Miljön har blivit en viktig del i människans liv och i dagens samhälle har intressenternas krav på företagen ökat när det gäller miljöredovisningar. Hur dessa hållbarhetsredovisningar utformas beror på vilka intressenter de vänder sig till, lagar och regler samt egna normer och värderingar. Syftet med hållbarhetsredovisningar är att mäta, bevaka och jämföra ett företags miljöpåverkan. Det gäller att företagen kan integrera, inte bara ekonomi, utan också miljö och det sociala tillsammans för att få både ekonomiska fördelar och konkurrensfördelar. Sustainable Value metoden är en ny modell och är den första riktiga metoden som kan användas för att värdera ett företags resurser, såväl ekonomiska som sociala och miljörelaterade till ett hållbart monetärt värde. Denna modell används för att kunna jämföra resurseffektivitet mellan företagen. I arbetet har en dokumentstudie med experimentiell ansats gjorts. Hållbarhetsredovisningar från sex utvalda företag (inom verkstad- och skogsbranschen) har undersökts med avseende på redovisning av koldioxidutsläpp. Experiment med en metod Sustainable Value –metoden har därefter utförts. Studiens syfte har varit att undersöka hur användbara hållbarhetsredovisningar är vid en beräkning av Sustainable Value. Som bonus på arbetet får vi (genom Sustainable Value –metoden) reda på hur effektiva företagen är på att nyttja resursen koldioxid. Vi kom fram till att samtliga hållbarhetsredovisningar varit användbara till att göra beräkningar enligt Sustainable Value-metoden. Endast Atlas Copco gav ett positivt hållbart värde (SV), vilket innebär att Atlas Copco har skapat högre avkastning med sina koldioxidutsläpp jämfört med vad vårt benchmark skulle gjort med samma utsläpp.

"… en utveckling som tillfredsställer dagens behov utan att äventyra kommande generationers möjligheter att tillfredsställa sina behov". Så definieras enligt Brundtlandkommissionen begreppet hållbar utveckling. Det handlar om att företag låter balansera ekonomiska, sociala och miljömässiga frågor i sin verksamhet. Tre ansvarsområden som på senare tid kommit att spela en allt mer betydande roll i såväl företag som samhälle. I Sverige lyder våra statligt ägda bolag under direktiv att redovisa sitt beaktande av ovanstående ansvarsområden i form av en hållbarhetsredovisning vilken dessutom ska kvalitetssäkras av oberoende tredje part. Studien syftar till att beskriva och förklara vilka upplevda fördelar ovanstående direktiv frambringar. Vidare vill vi beskriva om de bolag som låter utföra kombinerad granskning upplever fördelar i större utsträckning än de som enbart låter utföra översiktlig granskning. Med hjälp av kvalitativ och kvantitativ undersökningsmetod avser vi förklara huruvida upplevda fördelar kan likställas med de incitament diverse teorier menar driver bolag att rapportera hållbarhetsarbete. Resultatet visar att granskningen upplevs bland bolagen medföra fördelar oavsett granskningsprincip. Några större signifikanta skillnader har dock inte kunnat konstateras; varken avseende skillnader i upplevda fördelar eller fördelaktighet utifrån nyttjad granskningsprincip. Däremot kunde signifikanta skillnader påvisas i huruvida omsättningen varit påverkande faktor vid implementering av hållbarhetsrapportering. Dessutom framkom att bolag som rapporterat längre upplevde effektiviserade processer i större mån. / "… development that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The above quote is how The Brundtland Report defines sustainable development. It is all about the importance of companies implementing and balancing economic, social and environmental dimensions. Lately these fields of responsibility have become a more and more important function for businesses as well as in society. In Sweden, governmentally owned companies are under the obligation to report their consideration of the above mentioned fields of responsibility. Furthermore the obligation also includes ensuring the quality of the sustainability report. The purpose of this thesis is to describe and explain advantages companies perceive with the governmental obligation. In addition to this, the thesis intends to describe whether companies with an audit engagement review are able to emphasize advantages to a greater extent than companies with a review engagement. By means of qualitative and quantitative inquiry we explain whether perceived advantages can be placed on a level with those incentives various theories consider to drive companies into reporting sustainability or not. Results of the study indicate that the review assignment results in perceived advantages irrespective of which review engagement that have been used. Any significant differences were however not able to state; neither between perceived advantages or advantageous because of applied review assignment. However we did find significant differences when it comes to businesses yearly turnover and its impact when deciding whether to begin sustainability reporting or not. We also found that companies that have used the sustainability report for a longer time, before the governmentally obligation, were able to bring out more effective processes as an advantage to a greater extent than companies that quite recently started reporting sustainability.

<p>Fokus på hållbarhet i företag ökat kraftigt på senare år. Ett resultat av denna hållbarhetsutveckling är GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), en organisation som utvecklar ramverk och ger vägledning för innehållet i företagens hållbarhetsredovisningar. Svenska Regeringen på initiativ av Maud Olofsson var först i världen med att kräva att alla svenska statliga företag, från och med räkenskapsåret 2008, ska upprätta en externt granskad hållbarhetsredovisning i enighet med GRI:s riktlinjer G3.  Den här studien syftar till att undersöka hur de svenska statliga företagen har påverkats av regeringens nya krav.</p><p> </p><p>Studien innefattar en undersökning av sju statliga företag som idag redovisar hållbarhet i enighet med GRI:s riktlinjer. En kvalitativ fallstudie har använts för undersökningen. Efter intervjuer med företagen kan det fastslås att det nya regeringskravet till viss del är en kostsam process. Det kan även konstateras att redovisning enligt GRI:s riktlinjer medför positiva förändringar i företagens interna processer. Företagen har även blivit mer medvetna om vilken påverkan de har på den hållbara utvecklingen.</p> / <p>Focus on sustainability in companies has increased sharply the last couple of years. A result of this development in sustainability is GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), an organization that develops frames and gives guidance for sustainability reports in the companies. The Swedish government on the initiative of Minister Maud Olofsson was first in the world to demand that all Swedish state-owned companies, from the fiscal year 2008, shall establish an externally audited sustainability reports in agreement with the GRI guidelines G3. This study aims to examine how the Swedish state-owned companies have been affected by the new government requirements.</p><p> </p><p>The study includes an examination of seven state-owned companies, which today reports sustainability in agreement with GRI guidelines. A qualitative case study has been used for the thesis. After interviews with companies it can be stated that the new governmental requirement in some extent is a costly process. It can also be noted that accounting in accordance to GRI guidelines leads to positive changes in the companies internal processes. The companies have also become more aware of the impact they have on sustainable development.</p>

Most multinational enterprises face difficulties regarding what and how to best communicate activities related to corporate social responsibility. Therefore, this master thesis addresses the online communication of corporate social responsibility by Swedish multinational enterprises. The purpose is to contribute to the understanding of the way Swedish multinational enterprises reveal messages regarding corporate social responsibility to their international stakeholders while communicating with them online via their websites and social media. This research is of qualitative nature and follows a multiple case study design. The six Swedish MNEs the Volvo Group, H&amp;M, Atlas Copco, Securitas AB, Svenska Kullagerfabriken, and Svenska Cellulosa AB are included in the sample. Two methods for data collection are combined: online observation of the communication regarding corporate social responsibility on the corporate websites including sustainability reports or alike and in social media as well as qualitative, semi-structured interviews with the employees in charge of corporate social responsibility. The results indicate that the examined multinational enterprises communicated corporate social responsibility in different ways depending on whether they communicate via their corporate websites, their reports or in social media. This master thesis concludes with practical recommendations for multinational enterprises involved in communication of corporate social responsibility.

Företags intressenter ställer allt högre krav på företagens hållbarhetsarbete, där de miljömässiga, sociala och ekonomiska aspekterna är i centrum. För att företag ska kunna visa att de fullföljer ansvaret kring arbetet med hållbarhet, upprättar företagen en hållbarhetsredovisning, där främst riktlinjer från Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) används. I GRI är en av principerna intressentinkludering, som innebär att företag ska föra en dialog med intressenter, för att på så sätt få ta del av intressenters åsikter och genom detta bidra till en mer användbar och trovärdig hållbarhetsredovisning. Med utgångspunkt i företags intressentdialog och vad som tidigare studier behandlar inom ämnet, har denna studie förklarat hur svenska börsnoterade företag identifierar, prioriterar och involverar intressenter i hållbarhetsredovisningen, samt hur företagens intressenter inverkar på hållbarhetsredovisningar.   För att uppfylla studiens syfte samt besvara dess problemformuleringar har studien utförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod, i form av intervjuer, där sju svenska börsnoterade företag har intervjuats som hållbarhetsredovisar enligt GRI. Resultaten av studien visar att de undersökta svenska börsnoterade företagen identifierar och prioriterar intressenter, där de identifierade intressenterna är de intressenter som påverkar eller påverkas av företagen. De prioriterade intressenterna anses enligt de undersökta företagen vara de som i högre grad påverkar eller som i högre grad påverkas av företagens verksamheter. Intressenterna blir även av de undersökta svenska börsnoterade företagen involverade, detta via olika dialogmetoder som beror på vilken intressentgrupp det berör. Slutligen visar studien att intressenter till de undersökta svenska börsnoterade företagen även inverkar på företagens hållbarhetsredovisningar, där det kan ses att en del intressenter har mer inflytande än andra. / Corporate stakeholders place increasingly high demands on companies regarding the sustainability work, where the environmental, social and economic aspects are at the center. In order for companies to demonstrate that they are in charge of the sustainability work, companies establish a sustainability report, primarily using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. In GRI one of the principles is stakeholder inclusiveness, which means that companies should engage in dialogue with stakeholders in order to gain access to stakeholders' views, and thereby contribute to a more useful and credible sustainability report. Based on the company's stakeholder dialogue and what previous research deal with within the subject, the study has explained how Swedish listed companies identify, prioritize and involve stakeholders in the sustainability report, as well as how companies' stakeholders influence the sustainability reports.   In order to fulfill the purpose of the study and answer its problem formulations, the study has been conducted using a qualitative method, in the form of interviews, in which seven Swedish listed companies have been interviewed, who are using GRI guidelines when they are establishing the sustainability reports. The results of the study show that the surveyed Swedish listed companies identify and prioritize stakeholders, where the identified stakeholders are the stakeholders that affect or are influenced by the companies. Priority stakeholders are, according to the companies surveyed, considered to be those that increasingly influence or are increasingly affected by business activities. The stakeholders will also be involved in the surveyed Swedish listed companies, through different dialogue methods depending on which stakeholder group it concerns. Finally, the study shows that stakeholders of the Swedish listed companies surveyed also in some way affect the companies' sustainability reports, where it can be seen that some stakeholders have more influence than others.

Submitted by Cristiane Shirayama (cristiane.shirayama@fgv.br) on 2011-05-31T15:39:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 65080100011.pdf: 3559151 bytes, checksum: 7304a118a3bd7f1d7347214eca520e1c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia(suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2011-05-31T15:43:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 65080100011.pdf: 3559151 bytes, checksum: 7304a118a3bd7f1d7347214eca520e1c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia(suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2011-05-31T15:44:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 65080100011.pdf: 3559151 bytes, checksum: 7304a118a3bd7f1d7347214eca520e1c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-01T16:15:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 65080100011.pdf: 3559151 bytes, checksum: 7304a118a3bd7f1d7347214eca520e1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-11-12 / A pesquisa pretende avaliar o grau de maturidade necessário para elaboração e publicação de um Relatório de Sustentabilidade Integrado. O setor sucroenergético brasileiro foi escolhido para a pesquisa por aderir ao padrão da Global Reporting Initiative para relatórios de sustentabilidade e por ser um setor com exposição nacional e internacional, que vem passando por grandes transformações com entrada de novos players nacionais e internacionais, profissionalização da gestão, alterações de práticas operacionais visando atender exigências ambientais e sociais. Para se entender o grau de maturidade das organizações foi preciso definir seis fundamentos de supor-te à realização de um relatório integrado: processos, estrutura, pessoas, sistemas, políticas e procedimentos e cultura organizacional. A seguir, foram estabelecidos três graus de maturidade – alto, médio e baixo. Assim, para cada um desses fundamentos foi atribuído um grau de maturidade. Na prática de elaborar relatórios de desempenho as organizações podem estar em diferentes estágios de um processo evolutivo. Elas têm por fim a publicação de um relatório integrando os aspectos econômicos, ambientais e sociais, denominado triple bottom line. Nesse processo evolu-tivo, existem as empresas que reportam seu desempenho econômico financeiro e há as que reportam o relatório anual da administração mais completo e que pode conter o relatório de sustentabilidade. Os dois estágios requerem a aplicação dos fundamentos descritos acima, mas em graus de complexidades diferentes. Para elaborar e publicar um relatório integrado, o grau de utilização dos fundamentos deverá ser muito maior. Esse grau de maturidade na aplicação dos fundamentos será determinante para o processo de interação com os stakeholders, criar um relatório transparente e que seja também útil às suas interpretações e decisões. A pesquisa detectou que as empresas do setor, como o esperado, têm o grau de maturidade alto quando se trata de reportar o desempenho econômico-financeiro. Quando se trata dos indicadores ambientais, já se nota uma evolução em relação ao tema; há um esforço maior a ser empreendido quando o assunto é o reporte dos aspectos sociais. Independentemente do grau de maturidade, a iniciativa das empresas do setor sucroenergético brasileiro (na região Centro-Sul), na evolução dos Relatórios de Sustentabilidade, deverá reverter em prol do desafio global para o meio ambiente. / This research aims to assess the degree of maturity necessary for the preparation and publication of an Integrated Sustainability Report, for companies in the Brazilian sugar-ethanol sector. This sector was chosen for research by virtue of its meeting the necessary criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative for sustainability reports and because it is a sector with national and international exposure that has been under huge transformation with new national and international players, management professionalization and changes in some operational practices to be compliant with environmental and social regulations. To understand the degree of maturity of the sector’s organizations, six pillars supporting the implementation of a company’s integrated report had to be defined: Processes; Structure; People; Systems; Policies and Procedures; and Organizational Culture. Next, three degrees of maturity - high, medium and low were established. In terms of reporting performance, organizations may be at different stages of an evolutionary process, at the end of which companies eventually publish reports integrating economic, environmental and social aspects relevant to their business, also known as “triple bottom line” reporting. At different stages of this evolutionary process, there are companies that report only their financial performance, and then those that produce a fuller annual report, which might also contain a sustainability report. Both stages require implementation of the pillars described above, but to different degrees. To prepare and publish a fully integrated report, the degree of utilization of all six pillars will be much higher. This degree of maturity in application of the six fundamentals will impact the process of interaction with stakeholders, creating a transparent and useful report to help them in their interpretations and decisions. The survey found that companies in the sector, as expected, have a high degree of maturity when it comes to reporting on financial performance. When it comes to environmental indicators, there has already been improvement in this area; however there is a greater effort required when it comes to reporting on social aspects. Regardless of the degree of maturity within the industry, the initiative of Brazilian sugarethanol sector companies (in the Center-South) in the evolution of sustainability reports should impact positively on global environmental challenges.

Este estudo realizou um exame crítico sobre os relatórios de sustentabilidade, com base na Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), elaborados pelas empresas do setor de geração de energia elétrica por hidroeletricidade no Brasil e avaliou a significância destes documentos em prestar informações claras sobre a eficácia do desempenho socioambiental. Os estudos acadêmicos relacionados com os relatórios de sustentabilidade, e especificamente com os relatórios da GRI, demonstram que há problemas na qualidade da informação com relação à completeza, padronização e credibilidade do conteúdo, porém sem aprofundar nas causas potenciais. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem quali-quantitativa, com o emprego de pesquisa do tipo descritiva e a utilização de procedimentos bibliográfico e documental, por meio de análise de conteúdo. A quantificação das evidências foi desenvolvida com base nas informações contidas nos relatórios de sustentabilidade das empresas CPFL, EDP e Tractebel, que possuíam o nível mais alto de aplicação da GRI, associadas com as informações de seus desempenhos socioambientais disponíveis por outras fontes de consulta independentes. Os resultados da análise de conteúdo dos relatórios de sustentabilidade demonstraram que nenhuma das empresas atingiu o atendimento pleno de evidência da informação solicitada nas Unidades de Informação avaliadas. Esta constatação indica que todas as empresas avaliadas apresentaram falhas na validação das informações antes do início da elaboração propriamente dita do relatório, como determina a etapa de validação da GRI, sugerindo que os testes disponíveis nos princípios da GRI, provavelmente, não foram empregados ou foram adotados sem eficácia, afetando a qualidade da informação com relação à completeza e credibilidade do conteúdo. Questões que merecem ser aprofundadas em futuros trabalhos são: a influência dos limites da auditoria independente no resultado da verificação do relatório e a extensão da pesquisa de análise de conteúdo para outros setores industriais formados por grandes empresas e com elevado impacto ambiental potencial. O estudo contribui para o aumento de conhecimento sobre o tema, em destaque na atualidade, seja pelos esforços de normalização mundial do relatório de sustentabilidade GRI, e, principalmente, com a recomendação para o fomento destes relatórios incluída no documento final The Future We Want- O Futuro que Queremos da Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Rio+20), no parágrafo 47, com potencial regulamentação brasileira compulsória dos mesmos. / This study undertook a critical examination on the sustainability reports, based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), prepared by companies in the sector of electric power generation by hydropower in Brazil and assessed the significance of these documents provide clear information on the effectiveness of the social and environmental performance. Academic studies relating to sustainability reports, and specifically with the GRI reports, show that there are problems in the quality of information regarding the completeness, standardization and credibility of the content, but without deepening the potential causes. This is a study with qualiquantitative approach, with the use of descriptive research and use of bibliographic and documentary procedures, through content analysis. The quantification of the evidence was developed on the basis of the information contained in the sustainability reports of CPFL, EDP and Tractebel, which had the highest level of application of GRI, associated with the socio-environmental performance information available in other independent reference sources. The results of the content analysis of sustainability reports have shown that none of the companies has reached the full service of evidence of information requested in the Information evaluated. This finding indicates that all companies assessed failed validation of the information before the start of the preparation of the report itself, as determines the validation step of GRI, suggesting that the tests available in the GRI principles probably were not employed or have been adopted without effectiveness, affecting the quality of information regarding the completeness and credibility of the content. Issues that deserve to be deepened in futures studies are: the influence of the limits of independent audit on the result of the verification of the report and the extent of content analysis research for others industrial sectors formed by large companies with potential high environmental impact. The study contributes to the increase of knowledge on the subject, highlighted today, either by the world standardization efforts of GRI sustainability report, and, mainly, with the recommendation for the promotion of these reports included in the final document "The Future We Want" of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20), paragraph 47, with potential brazilian regulations compulsory.