Analyzing Corporate Sustainability Reports With Topsis Method: Evidence From Bist Sustainability Index

Abstract

In terms of businesses, the concept of sustainability is the sensitivity of a business that operates to make a profit to environmental and social issues. Sustainability in business activities and decision-making processes is expressed as taking into account environmental and social factors together with corporate governance principles. Therefore, in order to share sustainability information with stakeholders, businesses use integrated reports that include both financial and non-financial information together with sustainability reports as well as annual reports. Therefore, in this study, the activities of deposit, development and investment banks in the Sustainability Index of Borsa Istanbul between 2020 and 2022 are analyzed in terms of the three dimensions of corporate sustainability: environment, social and governance. Indicators related to environment, social and governance were determined to analyze sustainability performances. Information on the determined indicators was obtained from the annual reports, sustainability reports and integrated reports published by the enterprises and analyzed with the TOPSIS method. In addition, data on the indicators determined to analyze the economic situation of the enterprises in the specified period were obtained from the Turkish Banking Association.. Information on economic indicators was also analyzed using the TOPSIS method and it was also investigated whether there is a relationship between sustainability and economic indicators. As a result of the analysis, no statistically significant result was found between sustainability performance reports and economic indicators. In this context, as a result of the results obtained, suggestions were made for theoreticians and practitioners.