SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING - HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF THE DISCIPLINE

Year 2021, , 1 - 4, 31.12.2021

Norbert Gyorgy Gacser Karoly Szoka

https://doi.org/10.17261/Pressacademia.2021.1475

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

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