The market for sustainability assurance services

Muhammad Bilal Farooq and Charl de Villiers

Pacific Accounting Review, 2017, vol. 29, issue 1, 79-106

Abstract: Purpose - This paper focuses on the market for sustainability assurance (SA) services. The aims of this paper are to review academic efforts in the field, highlighting ground covered, provide a comprehensive understanding of the market for this new form of assurance and identify potential avenues for future research. Design/methodology/approach - These objectives were met through a review of 50 academic journal articles identified as relevant to the SA field. Findings - SA is a voluntary exercise in most jurisdictions, and engagements are structured to meet the needs (demands) of the market and the capabilities (supply) of assurance providers. This has given rise to a diverse landscape with engagements of differing scopes and objectives. From a demand side, the literature reveals a number of drivers (both at the macro and micro levels) and inhibitors for SA services. From a supply side, the literature sheds light on the assurance providers operating in the market and the standards they use when undertaking SA services. These practitioners include accountants (the big four) who use ISAE3000 and non-accountants who prefer AA1000AS. The review reveals five broad areas which have been the focus of existing studies. Finally, the study identifies seven avenues for future research in the SA field. Originality/value - The findings of this paper will prove valuable to practitioners as it will assist them in understanding this new form of assurance. Researchers will benefit from an understanding on ground covered and future avenues for research.

Keywords: Audit; Sustainability accounting; Sustainability assurance; Verification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (text/html)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (application/pdf)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:parpps:par-10-2016-0093

DOI: 10.1108/PAR-10-2016-0093

Access Statistics for this article

Pacific Accounting Review is currently edited by Professor Tom Scott, Dr Pei-Chi Kelly Hsiao, Associate Professor Chelsea Liu, Associate Professor Sophia Su, Associate Professor Thu Phuong Truong and Dr Lily Chen

More articles in Pacific Accounting Review from Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Emerald Support ().