Evaluation and Analysis of SDG Reporting: Evidence from Listed Manufacturing Companies in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations are now a key framework for resolving important issues in society, the economy, and the environment as humanity moves towards a more sustainable future. Sustainable development goals are already included into corporate processes and are changing the types of movement for entities. Due to the opportunity for obtaining an advantage over their competitors, Sri Lankan companies in the manufacturing sector are becoming more and more concerned with sustainable development goals. Although, the annual reports provide information on the Sustainable development goals. But, it is not possible to evaluate them after reviewing the annual reports. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to motivate them to move forward through turning the Sustainable development goals disclosures into a score. This study is conducted by analyzing the content of annual reports, websites, and magazines issued by listed manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka. The sample includes 46 food, beverage and tobacco, listed manufacturing companies for five years from 2018 to 2022. Qualitative content analyses are used to determine the nature of company responses to SDG and encourage them to move forward in a competitive marketplace. The findings indicate that food, beverage and tobacco listed manufacturing companies initially only declared a small number of SDGs, but today they typically publish over 12 of the 17 goals in their annual reports, and their strategies emphasize their commitment to these goals and today many companies of manufacturing sector have advanced in terms of SDGs. During the early reporting periods, companies released more information detailing the specific SDGs, but now less information regarding the sustainability impacts of the SDGs. Companies have followed GRI guidelines when reporting relevant information, including more photos and graphs in addition to narratives. There aren’t many publications in Sri Lanka about how companies are working towards the SDGs. By focusing on how companies provide SDG- related information, relate it to SDG- focused programs, and motivate them to move forward in the competitive world of business, this study offers some answers to that issue. Furthermore, this study proposes that further research be done on the use of sustainable strategies.