ESG and SDG Reporting Practices: A Qualitative Review of the Lessons from the Top 30 FTSE/JSE-Listed Companies

Sustainability reporting has been at the forefront of corporate reporting, and it is a driving force for corporate strategy and performance in organisations both in South Africa and globally. It consists of three aspects, namely, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), which focuses on addressing challenges such as climate change, quality education, inequalities, and poverty. As a result, the United Nations (UN) has issued an invitation to everyone to act through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030. There has been significant progress towards achieving the SDGs; however, the goals have been criticised for being challenging when it comes to implementation and monitoring. The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the ESG reporting practices of the top 30 FTSE/JSE-listed companies to understand their current scenarios and models they have adopted in their SDG implementation. Additionally, this study seeks to assess the SDG reporting focus of the top 30 FTSE/JSE-listed companies in order to establish their SDG priorities. The study is qualitative content analysis using ATLAS.ti. The study used secondary data in the form of sustainability reports of the top 30 FTSE/JSE-listed companies ranked according to the responsible investment index in 2021. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the secondary data. The key findings indicate that the companies focused on diversity inclusion and corporate governance in their ESG reporting, underscoring their commitment to sustainable development and shared value creation. Additionally, these companies prioritised responsible consumption, production, and sustainable economic growth (SDG 12 and SDG 8), acknowledging the significance of these practices in addressing social inequalities and promoting societal well-being. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies tracking ESG and SDG reporting evolution, comparative analyses across sectors and regions, and exploring tailored strategies for smaller enterprises.