SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING - HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF THE DISCIPLINE

Abstract

Purpose- The purpose of this study is two folded. In one hand it intends to provide an overview of the historical formation and development of the scientific field of sustainability accounting, starting from the history of it’s predecessor disciplines. To this end the history of accountancy is examined first, followed by the development of the idea of sustainability. Then the birth and advances of sustainability accounting are presented. The secondary goal of this research is to define the future perspectives of sustainability accounting, derived from it’s origins. Methodology- This study is a historical literature review, employing an interpretative and synthesising approach by a recombination of works done in the field. The possible sources of the research drawn into comparison are books, peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and papers, dissertations and thesises. The final selection put a high emphasis on peer-reviewed journals as evaluated sources. Findings- The analysis reveals, that accountancy and the idea of sustainability have a long history and clearly defined definitions, while sustainability accounting is yet to be demarcated from other scientifical fields. There is not one universally accepted definition of sustainability accounting to day, also it’s taxonomic placement and mandatory components are yet to be agreed on. Along with the absence of a uniform definition, opinions (and definitions) similarly concur on the three main factors of sustainability accounting, which are environmental, social and economical factors (see also as three bottom line, or TBL). Besides, researches can be grouped in two main directions: a theoretical direction, emphasizing accountability, contribution to sustainability and steps leading to sustainability (strategic) and another, consisting mainly of applicable management tools (eg. measurements, information system, reporting). Conclusion- Based upon the analyisis, there are similar characteristics in the various definitons of sustainability accounting, yet it is still an inhomogeneous, multi directional and constantly evolving field of research. Until today the most known standards were laid down with Gray’s Sustainability Accounting Principles (2002) and Lambertons sustainability accounting framework (2005). We concluded to a definition of sustainability accounting as the following: Sustainability accounting is primarly a practice of measuring, analyzing and reporting on social and environmental impacts of companies, as well as on their economical sustainability, and secondarily It is also a set of principles and guidelines for the implementation of environmental awareness and social justice into the economical viewpoint. The lack of quicker development in sustainability accounting research for the last decade is likely a product of the crisis of 2009. Citing Gray “there is little or no prospect of widespread, systematic reporting by corporations without a major regulatory initiative” and to solve the crisis and to handle it’s consequences must have had a priority above all, which included sustainability problems. The latest steps taken by the EU will most likely promote development. Presumably, the combination between practical needs and the work of theoretical authors will eventually lead to the development of a more crystallized and widely accepted sustainability accounting discipline on the long run, as much as it happened in the history of accountancy, with the urging need for sustainability as the accelerator of the process.

Keywords

• Sustainability
• sustainability accounting
• environmental accounting
• corporate social responsibility

References

1. Agudelo, M.A., Johannsdottir, L., & Davidsdottir, B. (2019). A literature review of the history and evolution of corporate social responsibility. International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, 4, 1-23.
2. Atkinson, G. (2002). Measuring corporate sustainability. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 43(2), 235–244.
3. Ascani, I., Ciccola, R., & Chiucchi, M. S. (2021). A Structured Literature Review about the Role of Management Accountants in Sustainability Accounting and Reporting. Sustainability, 13(4), 2357.
4. Cindiana, M., Cindea, I. M., Ciurariu, G., Trifu, A., Durdureanu, C.(2011). History of accountancy. A chronological approach. International Conference on Financial Management and Economics. IACSIT. Singapore.
5. Corporate sustainability reporting. EU Consultation, 2020.02.20., Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainabilityreporting_en Downloaded on: 2021.09.20.
6. Elkington, J. (1999). Triple bottom-line reporting: Looking for balance. Australian CPA (March), 19-21.
7. Gray, R. (1994). "Corporate Reporting for Sustainable Development: Accounting for Sustainability in 2000AD". Environmental Values. 3 (1): 17–45.
8. Gray, R. (2002). The social accounting project and accounting organizations and society. Privileging engagement, imaginings, new accountings and pragmatism over critique? Accounting Organizations and Society, 27, 687–708.

9. Hódiné-Hernádi, B. (2014): A fenntarthatósági számvitel, mint a számvitel új iránya. Ekonomické štúdie – teória a prax, ISBN 978-80-971251- 2-
10. Hyrslova J., Beckova H., Kubankova M. (2015). Sustainability Accounting: Brief History And Perspectives. The 9th International Days of Statistics and Economics, Prague, September 10-12.
11. Lamberton, G. (2005). Sustainability accounting — a brief history and conceptual framework. Accounting Forum 29, 7–26. Elsevier
12. Matthews, M. R. (1997). Twenty-five years of social and environmental accounting research. Is there a silver jubilee to celebrate?". Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 10 (4): 481–531.
13. Mitcham C. (1995). The concept of sustainable development: its origins and ambivalence. Technol Soc 17:311 – 326.
14. Păunică,M. & Mocanu,M.(2017).Green controlling – concept and practice. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence,11(1) 1137-1145. https://doi.org/10.1515/picbe-2017-0117
15. Pisani, J.D. (2006). Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept. Environmental Sciences, 3, 83-96.
16. Previts, G. (2010). A global history of accounting, financial reporting and public policy. ISBN: 9781315108032
17. Şakar, A. Y. (2016). Development of Sustainability Accounting Standards. Eurasian Business & Economics Journal, S1, 43-52.
18. Schaltegger, S., Burrit R.L. (2010). Journal of World Business, 45, 375–384.
19. Thomson, I. (2007). Mapping the terrain of sustainability accounting. In J. Unerman, J. Bebbington, & B. O’Dwyer (Eds.), Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 19–37.
20. Villiers, C., & Maroun, W. (2017). The future of sustainability accounting and integrated reporting. Sustainability accounting and Integrated Reporting, 163-170.
21. Volkova, O.N., (2012). Born in Italy: On the origins of management accounting concept (Родом из Италии: у истоков управленческого учета и анализа). Finansy I Business. 4, 216-228.
22. WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development). 1987. Our common future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.