CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING

Purpose: Close monitoring of sustainable corporate behavior by companies' existing or potential customers and other stakeholders represents a current trend. Therefore, sustainability reporting is gaining on its importance. Topicality of the issue brings the authors to the objectives of fostering the depths of knowledge and building awareness of corporate sustainability and its reporting in the Czech Republic. Design/methodology/approach: The paper analyses primary data about sustainability reporting and reveals results of a pilot sample-based survey conducted via self-administered electronic questionnaires completed and returned by 46 respondents (micro businesses, SMEs, large businesses in CR) as a requisite initial step to a larger scale research within the project called Sustainable Corporate Responsibility - IP 304026. For the given variables, graphical representations are worked out and calculations of medians, averages and modus figures are provided as well as the Chi-square statistic. Finally, as a method for data analysis of the 2017 collection and the 2016 figures of similarly sized samples, comparative analysis is used. Findings: The paper brings and examines findings on the following areas: the extent to which a company reveals information on its CSR activities to its external and internal stakeholders; forms of sustainability reporting (within annual general reports, online press releases, or ad hoc CSR/sustainability reports); membership in non-governmental organizations' (NGOs) networks and platforms, and/or close collaboration with non-profit organizations focused on CSR/sustainability. Research/practical implications: Newly, based on the mandatory EU directive, social and environmental activities of companies will have to be reported by companies with over 500 employees starting 2017. As a result of this research more companies not legally obliged to report might start to do so in order to improve their public image as well as to boost the competitive edge of their business entity. Many respondents from micro or small businesses actually got acquainted with the concept thanks to the research. The authors further suggest to research the field of particular reporting standards used. Internationalizing the research may also be possible. Originality/value: This pilot research contributes to the visibility of transparent corporate communication focusing on the information about ecological and social repercussions caused by economic activities of a company as well as releases about the impacts' prevention and community support. The paper brings news about the reporting duty and up-to-date standards.