Driving Sustainable Business Practices With Carbon Accounting and Reporting: A Holistic Framework and Empirical Analysis

Abstract

The pressing impacts of global climate change and the emergence of stringent carbon disclosure regulations put pressure on organizations to transform and account for their emissions, beyond operational boundaries and encompass upstream and downstream value chains. Current management literature, practices, and skills fall short of addressing the importance and contribution of carbon accounting and reporting (CAR) in adopting sustainable operations management practices. This paper aims to deliver comprehensive guidance for companies on the benefits of CAR in facilitating the transformation and adoption of sustainable business practices. We develop a holistic and inclusive framework encompassing “value” and “values” perspectives. The framework explores how these forces shape company strategy and illustrates how CAR can enhance sustainable operations management, resulting in sustainable business outcomes. We test our hypothesis through a real-world case of a public transportation services company by following the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and Global Reporting Institute (GRI) reporting standards, demonstrating how comprehensive measurement, analysis, and reporting of carbon emissions linked to operational processes and value chains can transform firms. This transformation includes reducing environmental impacts, managing risks, strengthening stakeholder engagement, sharing value and responsibility within value chains, promoting technology adoption and innovation, and making well-informed decisions to improve the efficiency of products and services. As demonstrated in this research, CAR could significantly assist companies in strategically identifying emissions hotspots, establishing precise reduction targets, and aligning with environmental regulations and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.