ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING PRACTICES IN NIGERIA: ARE CLOUDS DARKER OR FAIRER IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY?

Abstract

This study assesses the popularity and the extent of environmental sustainability reporting practices among quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria and its effects on their financial performances. The study employs survey research using panel data (data of different firms from 2010 to 2015). This study adopts content analysis, descriptive, and inferential statistics as methods of analysis. The evidence provided in this study, based on the empirical findings, shows a fair representation of the popularity of environmental sustainability reporting among manufacturing firms in Nigeria, though majority of the manufacturing firms reported very low levels of environmental disclosures. Environmental sustainability reporting indeces have positive effects on the measures of financial performance (earning per share, revenue growth, and return on assets). The study concludes that management of companies should understand that improving environmental sustainability practices is as important as improving financial performance. Management should, therefore, build environmental sustainability practices and reporting into their policies. Also, shareholders should know that environmental issues affecting local communities can affect the social contract between the community and organizations, thereby affecting survival. This study recommends that at annual general meetings, shareholders should compel the management of their companies to have well-structured environmental practices. Finally, government should be concerned about the great environmental impacts manufacturing firms have in terms of emissions, wastes, effluents, and resource consumption. To ensure a sustainable environment, government should back up regulatory bodies in improving environmental sustainability practices in firms through mandatory reporting requirements.

Keywords

• Environment,Sustainability,Firms

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