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BEYOND THE GREEN NARRATIVE: ESG DISCLOSURE AND GREENWASHING INDICATIONS IN INDONESIAN SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS

Journal of Business Studies and Management Review · Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026) · pp. 402–407

DOI
10.22437/jbsmr.v9i2.58298
ISSN
2597-6265, 2597-369X
Published
2026-06-30
Publisher
Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Jambi
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

This study examines the extent and character of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure in sustainability reports issued by companies included in the IDX ESG Leaders index, and evaluates disclosure patterns that may signal greenwashing. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The quantitative stage developed an ESG Disclosure Index by coding indicators mapped from the Global Reporting Initiative Standards with a binary score of one for disclosed items and zero for undisclosed items. The qualitative stage used document analysis supported by NVivo 12 Pro to interpret the traceability, consistency, and substantive depth of selected disclosures. The observation period covered 2022–2024. The average total disclosure index increased from 50.93% in 2022 to 56.32% in 2023 and 64.30% in 2024. Nevertheless, the growth was uneven. The qualitative findings revealed transition gaps in GRI references, inconsistent or duplicated disclosure codes, inaccessible cross-references, and exclusions justified as non-material, irrelevant, or confidential. Symbolic and substantive disclosures also appeared within the same report: some claims were supported by data, targets, mechanisms, and evaluation, while others relied mainly on commitments and positive framing. The study therefore does not label individual firms as greenwashers. Instead, it identifies disclosure conditions that warrant critical scrutiny, particularly when a strong sustainability image is not matched by balanced, traceable, and verifiable evidence. Integrating index-based measurement with qualitative interpretation provides a more cautious basis for evaluating sustainability reporting credibility.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

16 authors · 24 co-authorship links

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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Fitriaty FitriatyAffiliation unknown6
Dessy ElliyanaAffiliation unknown2
Tona Aurora LubisAffiliation unknown2
Ayu AnggrainiAffiliation unknown1
Nazara Nurul HudaAffiliation unknown1
JohannesAffiliation unknown1
Syahmardi YacobAffiliation unknown1
MaharaniAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad HaekalAffiliation unknown1
KHOIRUN NI’MAHAffiliation unknown1
NINIK VURWANTIAffiliation unknown1
JOHAN ERYANTOAffiliation unknown1
MIKA MAYASARIAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/index.php/jbsmr/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc)
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">BEYOND THE GREEN NARRATIVE: ESG DISCLOSURE AND GREENWASHING INDICATIONS IN INDONESIAN SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Armadan, Avant Muhammad</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Fitriaty</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Muhammad Haris Saputra</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">ESG Disclosure</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Greenwashing</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Sustainability Report</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Symbolic Disclosure</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Substantive Disclosure</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This study examines the extent and character of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure in sustainability reports issued by companies included in the IDX ESG Leaders index, and evaluates disclosure patterns that may signal greenwashing. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The quantitative stage developed an ESG Disclosure Index by coding indicators mapped from the Global Reporting Initiative Standards with a binary score of one for disclosed items and zero for undisclosed items. The qualitative stage used document analysis supported by NVivo 12 Pro to interpret the traceability, consistency, and substantive depth of selected disclosures. The observation period covered 2022–2024. The average total disclosure index increased from 50.93% in 2022 to 56.32% in 2023 and 64.30% in 2024. Nevertheless, the growth was uneven. The qualitative findings revealed transition gaps in GRI references, inconsistent or duplicated disclosure codes, inaccessible cross-references, and exclusions justified as non-material, irrelevant, or confidential. Symbolic and substantive disclosures also appeared within the same report: some claims were supported by data, targets, mechanisms, and evaluation, while others relied mainly on commitments and positive framing. The study therefore does not label individual firms as greenwashers. Instead, it identifies disclosure conditions that warrant critical scrutiny, particularly when a strong sustainability image is not matched by balanced, traceable, and verifiable evidence. Integrating index-based measurement with qualitative interpretation provides a more cautious basis for evaluating sustainability reporting credibility.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Jambi</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-06-30</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/jbsmr/article/view/58298</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22437/jbsmr.v9i2.58298</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Journal of Business Studies and Management Review; Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): JBSMR, Vol 9 No.2 June 2026; 402-407</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2597-6265</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2597-369X</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/jbsmr/article/view/58298/24808</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Avant Muhammad Armadan, Fitriaty, Muhammad Haris Saputra</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>