Integration of plastic disclosure concept in corporate sustainability reporting | |
| Author | Koranis Tanangsnakool |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.MPA-21-15 |
| Subject(s) | Plastics--Environmental aspects Sustainable development reporting Plastics industry and trade--Management |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Marine Plastics Abatement |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Disposable packaging and other short-lived items, discarded within a year of production, accounting for large portion of world’s plastic production are the key plastic problem. There has been increasingly and widely discussed on the roles of multi-stakeholders in tackling plastic pollution. The attention has shift to private sector’s roles and accountability catalyzing to the new plastic economy. Businesses have been encouraged to implement a voluntary reporting. This qualitative study aims to analyze the current plastic disclosure of major plastic polluters in Thailand, and assess challenges and opportunities in measurement and reporting of their plastic footprint. Results from corporate disclosure assessment indicates the low level of plastic disclosure, especially Thai companies that exclude plastic pollution from their materiality to begin with. There is a clear difference in level of corporate plastic disclosure and reporting between those operating in global landscape and the others operating locally. Most of MNCs have made commitments on reduction of short-life plastic and increase recycled and biomaterial content. The results vary for Thai companies. CP group and Thai Beverage are top scorers among their Thai fellows, however, it is worth noting that both companies operate globally and perhaps should be considered as of MNCs. Stakeholders and companies have shared 8 issues of concerns regarding the obstacles preventing disclosure practices. The disclosure practice comprises 2 key elements, whether companies ‘want’ to do it and whether they ‘can’ do it. The costs and benefits of disclosure define whether companies would want to disclose their plastic footprint or not. Disclosure capability defines whether companies ‘can’ do plastic disclosure or not. The implementation of ‘Laws and Regulations’ on disclosure and the establishment of ‘Standards and guidelines’ and are the issues of high importance to both businesses and stakeholders. The former is closely associated with the costs and benefits of disclosure, while the later predominantly define disclosure capability. While environmental movement groups advocate for a voluntary full disclosure of plastic footprint to the public, they fail to present the purpose of full disclosure, namely what they are going to do with that information. Besides, businesses are aware of leaking commercial confidentiality and fear of public criticism. This brings doubts to the idea where this study is constructed from, that is, whether it is necessary to require businesses to fully disclose to the public. In other word, to what extent, the degree of disclosure is considered sufficient and can by accepted by both companies and their stakeholders. |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Marine Plastic Abatement (MPA) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, Chettiyappan |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Atitaya Panuvatvanich |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan |
| Degree | Research studies project report (M.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2021 |