title: Development of an evaluation methodology for triple bottom line reports using international standards on reporting.
abstract: The purpose of this article is twofold. First, evaluation scoring systems for triple bottom line (TBL) reports to date are examined and potential methodological weaknesses and problems are highlighted. In this context, a new assessment methodology is presented based explicitly on the most widely acknowledged standard on non-financial reporting worldwide, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The set of GRI topics and performance indicators was converted into scoring criteria while the generic scoring devise was set from 0 to 4 points. Secondly, the proposed benchmark tool was applied to the TBL reports published by Greek companies. Results reveal major gaps in reporting practices, stressing the need for the further development of internal systems and processes in order to collect essential non-financial performance data. A critical overview of the structure and rationale of the evaluation tool in conjunction with the Greek case study is discussed while recommendations for future research on the field of this relatively new form of reporting are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Studies, Center for Environmental Policy and Strategic Environmental Management, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene, Greece. skouloudis@env.aegean.gr
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skouloudis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Evangelinos
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kourmousis
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016134:Organizational Policy; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation