Content Analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Reporting Practices: Evidence from Bahraini-Listed Companies

Abstract

To analyze the extent of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) reporting by all companies listed in the Bahrain Bourse, we investigated their levels of engagement with reporting their contributions to and progress towards achieving the SDGs. The analysis was conducted through content analysis based on the PwC (2016) and GRI (2016) frameworks, in addition to the business reporting indicators for the SDGs. The results provide evidence for a steady increase in the SDG disclosure levels from 2019 to 2022. Moreover, the results for the business reporting indicators for the SDGs demonstrate that not all the SDGs were equally addressed by the sampled companies. The SDGs that organizations can easily integrate into their business models were more frequently addressed (SDGs 1, 3, 4, and 9) than those of a macroeconomic nature. The results highlight the need for business organizations to adopt sustainability practices and embed SDG-related disclosures into their reporting systems. Moreover, this study offers new insights into the role of accounting in advancing the achievement of the SDGs.