Aspects regarding the adoption and development of integrated reporting practices

• Author: Laptes R., Sofian I.
• Pages: 187-200

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 10 (59) No. 2 - 2017

Aspects regarding the adoption and development of

integrated reporting practices

Ramona LAPTEȘ1, Ioana SOFIAN2

Abstract: The current economic context brings about new challenges and responsibilities

that companies have to face in the communication area based on the principle of sustainable

development. This refers to both- protecting the interests of all economic agents involved and

minimizing the aggression on natural resources. Hence, entities’ communication process

was reconsidered in the form of integrated reporting. This relatively new type of reporting is

continuously under development at an international level and it was better understood in

practice through the Integrated Reporting Pilot Programme. This paper aims to present the

integrated reporting practices of Danone, one of the members of the Pilot Programme

through a case study approach. Notwithstanding the experience it should have in the

integrated reporting area, our findings show that Danone issued a document entitled

“Integrated report” only in 2016. Until this year, the firm chose to p ublish two reports

related to economic and social issues and sustainability, rather combined than integrated.

Key-words: integrated reporting, sustainable development, Danone, nonfinancial

information

1. Introduction

The need for sustainable development requires new performance standards from

companies, which go beyond the economic sphere, also including social and

environmental issues. According to Anton (2009), a constructive collaboration

between all the departments of the company, including the marketing department,

leads to the fulfillment of its objectives.

Studies conducted in the financial field prove that the current financial

reporting system provides a limited and historical perspective on financial

performance and does not provide enough support for the decision-making process.

1 Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brașov,

ramona.laptes@unitbv.ro

2 PhD student at the Doctoral School of Accounting, Bucharest University of Economic Studies,

ioana.sofian@yahoo.com