More businesses are embedding stakeholder engagement (SE) practices in their corporate disclosures. This article explores the extent to which SE practices are featured in the sustainability reports (SRs) of 48 Italian food and beverage businesses, following the latest Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. The researchers analyze the content of their SRs dated 2020 and 2021. They utilize a panel regression technique to examine the relationship between stakeholder engagement disclosures (SED) and corporate financial performance (CFP), and to investigate the mediating role of SR assurance. The results show a positive and significant relationship between SED and CFP. They also confirm that there is a moderating effect from SR assurance on this causal path. However, the findings reveal that SED in SRs of Italian food companies is still moderate. This contribution builds on the logic behind the stakeholder theory. It implies that there is scope for food companies to forge relationships with stakeholders. It indicates that it is in their interest to disclose material information about their SE practices in their SR and to organize third party assurance assessments to improve their legitimacy with stakeholders.

Stakeholder engagement disclosures in sustainability reports: Evidence from Italian food companies / Michela Galeotti, Rubina; Anthony Camilleri, Mark; Roberto, Fabiana; Sepe, Fabiana. - In: BUSINESS ETHICS, THE ENVIRONMENT & RESPONSIBILITY. - ISSN 2694-6424. - (2023). [10.1111/beer.12642]

Stakeholder engagement disclosures in sustainability reports: Evidence from Italian food companies

Fabiana Roberto
Penultimo
;
Fabiana Sepe
Ultimo
2023

Abstract

More businesses are embedding stakeholder engagement (SE) practices in their corporate disclosures. This article explores the extent to which SE practices are featured in the sustainability reports (SRs) of 48 Italian food and beverage businesses, following the latest Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. The researchers analyze the content of their SRs dated 2020 and 2021. They utilize a panel regression technique to examine the relationship between stakeholder engagement disclosures (SED) and corporate financial performance (CFP), and to investigate the mediating role of SR assurance. The results show a positive and significant relationship between SED and CFP. They also confirm that there is a moderating effect from SR assurance on this causal path. However, the findings reveal that SED in SRs of Italian food companies is still moderate. This contribution builds on the logic behind the stakeholder theory. It implies that there is scope for food companies to forge relationships with stakeholders. It indicates that it is in their interest to disclose material information about their SE practices in their SR and to organize third party assurance assessments to improve their legitimacy with stakeholders.
2023
Stakeholder engagement disclosures in sustainability reports: Evidence from Italian food companies / Michela Galeotti, Rubina; Anthony Camilleri, Mark; Roberto, Fabiana; Sepe, Fabiana. - In: BUSINESS ETHICS, THE ENVIRONMENT & RESPONSIBILITY. - ISSN 2694-6424. - (2023). [10.1111/beer.12642]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/947791
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