The impact of international sustainability initiatives on Life Cycle Assessment voluntary disclosures: The case of France’s CAC40 listed companies

Based on an institutional approach to legitimacy theory, this paper aims study the individual and cumulative influence of three international sustainability initiatives decision disclose information Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantity disclosed. A total sample 433 firm-year observations was collected from content analysis registration documents standalone reports published by 36 companies listed French CAC40 index over a longitudinal period 13 years. Results show that adoption Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, United Nations Compact (GC) principles, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) are positively significantly associated with tendency LCA information. In addition, GRI is only initiative Moreover, results reveal positive significant relationship between number adopted both Finally, in comparison GRI, GC CDP do not encourage much LCA. The contributions manifold. It provides evidence voluntary environmental frameworks can excert different normative pressures towards reporting suggests decide emphasize their superior performance manage legitimacy. contributes more nuanced understanding disclosure making distinction From managerial perspective, demonstrates usefulness having multiple promoting sustainability, since combined use leads increase disclosure. likely initiatives, particularly pay greater attention