SCIENCE ARTICLE
CE in corporate sustainability reporting – general insights based on Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
 
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1
Institute of Management, Poznan University of Economics and Business, Poland
 
2
Institute of Finance, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-07-22
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-11-07
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-11-13
 
 
Publication date: 2025-01-13
 
 
Corresponding author
Mateusz Mikutowski   

Institute of Finance, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Al. Niepodległości 10, 61-875, Poznań, Poland
 
 
Management 2024;28(2):225-251
 
KEYWORDS
JEL CLASSIFICATION CODES
Q56
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The circular economy (CE) represents a new paradigm in management. The introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the accompanying delegated acts (European Sustainability Reporting Standards, ESRS) highlight that CE is also an integral part of legal requirements at the European Union level. The primary objective of this study is to assess the CE indicators that are covered in the ESG reports of Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In the the present study, the sustainability strategies of selected companies were also reviewed in terms of CE objectives, policies and action programmes. The findings suggest that despite a growing trend towards circularity in the economy, analysed companies do not demonstrate impressive consistency and standardisation. The analysis concluded that some enterprises approach circularity comprehensively and thoughtfully, implementing actual actions and investment expenditures. In contrast, others merely mention CE by proposing a single, selective indicator whose definition is unclear. Within the framework of this article, groups of indicators were proposed that could serve in analysing dual materiality, one of which is the indicator for reducing material and energy costs.
FUNDING
Supported by funds granted by the Minister of Science of the Republic of Poland under the ‘Regional Initiative for Excellence’ Programme for the implementation of the project ‘The Poznań University of Economics and Business for Economy 5.0: Regional Initiative – Global Effects (RIGE)
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