Research on the handling of third-party certification acquisition facts related to corporate green spaces in corporate disclosure information.

Abstract

In recent years, mechanisms to encourage companies to contribute to the environment and society have become increasingly important. To this end, third-party certification is effective in enabling companies to share their efforts in a concise manner, and certification schemes such as SEGES and ABINC are already in use in Japan. We investigated the relationship between the acquisition of these two certifications and the integrated reports and non-financial information reports disclosed by companies that have obtained them. The results showed that approximately 36% of certified companies did not publish the reports and that the purpose of certification was not limited to disclosure of information to investors. It was also confirmed that companies do not realize the benefits of certification. In order to expand efforts toward corporate green space development through the use of certification systems, it is necessary to clarify the value of obtaining certification and to foster a climate in which companies can feel that they are responding to social demands through certification and communicate this to society.