Online Corporate Environmental Reporting: Improvements and Innovation to Enhance Stakeholder Value

Abstract

Corporate environmental/sustainability reporting is a growing trend among top global companies. In many cases, these reports have been made available online. Although the internet has provided reporting companies with a new channel to convey environmental information to the public, effective use of this media requires careful thought. Usability is a primary consideration that is not being addressed in many online corporate environmental/sustainability reports (CER). Often, these reports are difficult for users to locate from the corporate homepage, the search option does not render the correct page, some are only available in PDF format, and navigation within the report can be difficult. Current online reporting can also be ineffective if the technology is not oriented towards a framework of maximizing stakeholder value. If approached properly, internet technology allows for interactivity between a company and its stakeholders, provision of real-time updates of information and specialized information retrieval depending on the needs of users. This paper focuses on the current state of online CER reporting and suggests methods and practices for enhancing stakeholder value.