Hur kommunicerar banker om hållbarhet?

: en innehållsanalys av CSR- och hållbarhetsrapporter av svenska banker

Abstract

The concepts sustainability and CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility, is seen both as a wayfor a business to take social responsibility to society while minimizing the risks of unexpectedevents. Banks' role in contributing to sustainable development is significant because of itsintermediary role in the economy. Banks have a major impact on economic development inthe world. Therefore, it is considered important as reported in banks' CSR and sustainabilityreports to find out what is important in the banking sector.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the Swedish bank sector enlightensinformation on the concepts CSR and sustainability. Examination of the bank sector'sfinancial statements and separate CSR and sustainability reports have been done to examinehow sustainability is produced and how the communication is done about the concepts ofCSR and sustainability.

The results of the study show that sustainability is described and communicated in a similarway in the banks CSR and sustainability reports. Much of the optional information presentedin the reports highlighted as very positive. It is also expressed that the trust created by havinga relationship to the environment and to the relationship and the trust will be long term. It is apart of communication that describes how banks express the concept of sustainable business.

We chose to analyze banks' CSR and sustainability reports. Suggestions for further researchmight be to turn the study starting from the bank to the readers to examine whether banks'CSR and sustainability reports satisfy readers' demands and expectations. A comparisonmight be between what banks consider is sustainability and what readers think issustainability.