Masterarbeit, 2005
86 Seiten, Note: 2,3
Enviromental accounting
Abstract
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 What is environmental accounting?
1.2 Legalization
1.3 Why do companies and organizations do it?
1.4 Difficulties in carrying out
1.5 Nowadays Situation
Chapter2: Literature Review:
2.1 Usefulness of environmental accounting:
2.2 Influences brought by environmental accounting:
2.3 Environmental reporting
Life-cycle assessment
Ecological accounting
Chapter 3 Methodology
3.1 The “Global 100”
3.2 Reliability of the “global 100”
3.3 Ten companies from the “Global 100”
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
4.1 Retail industry
4.2 Food and soft drink manufacturing industry
4.3 Tobacco and Alcohol Beverage industry
4.4 Summary
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Benefits for the companies and organizations
5.2 Benefits for the public
5.3 Issues in carrying out environmental accounting
5.4 Recommendations
The Strategic Governance Assessment Criteria
The Human Capital Assessment Criteria
The Stakeholder Capital Assessment Criteria
The Environmental Assessment Criteria
This paper examines the integration of environmental accounting into modern business practices, exploring whether it serves as a mutually beneficial tool for companies, organizations, and the general public. It investigates the current development status of environmental accounting and analyzes how various successful, sustainable companies apply these practices across different industries.
1.2 Legalization
Regulation of environmental issues is growing rapidly in all countries of the world and keeping up to date. And even national legislation is becoming a specialized field in itself. With specific reference to disclose environmental liabilities, accountants today are required to follow the guidance enacted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). According to the accounting principle stated in FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “accounting for contingencies”, which is issued in 1975, the contingent liabilities “arising from environmental cleanup costs” are required to be accounted and disclosed. This statement requests that “provision for a loss contingency be accrued and a liability recognized on the face of the financial statements when both of the following conditions are met: It is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements; i.e., it is probable that a future event or events will occur confirming the fact of the loss; and the amount of the loss can be estimated reasonably.”
It means that if the loss is reasonably possible and can be estimated reliably, the loss contingency must be reported, but only as a note to the financial statements. When there is only a tiny possibility of the occurrence of the future event, which might lead to loss; or the amount cannot be estimated reliably, there is no request of either an accrual or a note from FASB, but recommends a note in such circumstances. The FASB has also provided additional guidance regarding loss contingencies in FASB Interpretation No.14 “Reasonable Estimation of the Amount of a Loss”, in which it’s suggested that “the minimum amount of the range should be accrued, unless some amount within the range appears at the time to be a better estimate than any other amount within the range.”
Chapter 1: Introduction: Provides a foundational overview of environmental accounting, its growing necessity in modern business, and the relevant legislative context.
Chapter 2: Literature Review: Synthesizes existing research on the usefulness of environmental accounting, its impact on management and financial reporting, and the methodologies for environmental assessment.
Chapter 3 Methodology: Details the criteria used to select the ten "Global 100" companies examined in the study and outlines the reliability of the research sources used.
Chapter 4: Data Analysis: Evaluates the environmental reporting and policies of ten specific companies across the retail, food, and alcohol/tobacco industries.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations: Summarizes findings regarding the benefits of environmental accounting for companies and the public, while offering recommendations for improved reporting and implementation.
environmental accounting, environment conservation, sustainable development, financial reporting, life-cycle assessment, ecological accounting, corporate responsibility, eco-efficiency, stakeholders, environmental liabilities, data management, carbon emissions, waste minimization, environmental disclosure, sustainability.
This paper examines the integration and impact of environmental accounting within modern business organizations, seeking to determine if it is a practical and beneficial tool for both companies and the public.
The core themes include environmental management tools, the legalization of environmental reporting, the benefits of eco-efficiency, and the comparative analysis of environmental practices across different industries.
The work primarily seeks to answer whether environmental accounting should be applied by all types of companies and whether it truly benefits both business and society, alongside how such practices can be effectively implemented.
The study employs a case study approach, analyzing the environmental reporting, policies, and practices of ten selected corporations from the "Global 100" list to evaluate real-world application.
The main body covers the theoretical framework of environmental accounting, the influence of accounting standards (FASB), and a comprehensive data analysis of specific companies in the retail, food, and alcohol/tobacco manufacturing industries.
Key terms include environmental accounting, corporate sustainability, eco-efficiency, stakeholder responsibility, and environmental reporting metrics.
The paper selects these industries to compare how different operational models and business environments adapt to environmental reporting requirements, providing a clearer view of whether these practices are universally applicable.
The author concludes that while implementing these practices involves considerable costs and technical challenges—often making it difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises—the long-term benefits in efficiency, risk management, and reputation outweigh these burdens for many organizations.
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