Improve Sustainability Reporting through Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Italy

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the connections between integrated reporting (IR) and sustainability reporting (SR), in order to verify whether the IR can contribute to improving the SR prepared according to the Global Re­porting Initiative (GRI) standards. In particular, this study considers the top­ic from the point of view of the SR to understand the benefits that it could obtain from the information disclosed through the IR. To this end, the study analyzes the integrated reports relating to the 2021 financial year of two listed Italian companies operating in the financial sector. The research has highlighted that some areas of sustainability, especially relating to the eco­nomic and environmental dimensions, are actually enhanced by integrated reporting, while the information benefits regarding the social dimension are less evident. The study can help indicate the advantages and possible im­provements of the connections between SR and IR.