Analysing the development of materiality disclosures in sustainability reporting within the Swedish construction sector during the last decade

Abstract

This study examines the disclosure of materiality assessments in sustainability reports of prominent Swedish construction firms, aiming to explore the extent to which companies adhered to GRI guidelines and whether there were any discernible shifts in disclosure practices from 2012 to 2021. We have used content analysis to gather data and analyse it through scoring. Drawing on institutional theory, our findings reveal distinct institutional pressures associated with the extent of disclosures made during the materiality assessment process among the leading construction companies in Sweden. In the sample of Swedish companies, the extent of the materiality assessment process disclosure over SRs has grown from 2012 to 2021. However, the majority of the sample companies still have not fully disclosed sustainability-related material information as recommended by guidelines. This study offers practical contributions as well as theoretical insights on how voluntary nature regulations determine the extent of disclosing sustainability-related material information in SRs. The results of this study are believed to be beneficial to companies or reporters who are interested in the process of a materiality assessment.