FIRM BEHAVIOUR IN CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNICATION: HOW GREEN COMPANIES COMMUNICATE IN DIGITAL ERA?

Abstract

This study aims to explore the behaviour of companies, categorized as green and non-green companies, in doing corporate sustainability communication. The study emphasizes the utilization of formal communication channels such as annual reports and standalone sustainability reports, as well as the adoption of social media as a new media communication. This research analyzes 20 Indonesian companies divided to two subsets of sample: green and non-green companies, which classified by its sustainability performance. The data is acquired from CSRHub that compiles the ESG score of Indonesian firms. This study finds that green companies show more active communication, both via formal and social media communication about sustainability initiatives. Green companies published standalone sustainability report annually. Both board of directors and commissioners of green companies show their commitment on sustainability through letters in annual report. Green companies also maintain social media in many platforms and show publicly to stakeholder its support on sustainability.