LAUSR

This paper seeks to contribute to the existing business strategy and the environment literature by investigating the disclosure practices of Biodiversity/Extinction (B/E) and threatened species. We use greenwashing theory to understand global companies’ motivation to report on B/E information. Data is collected from 200 Fortune Global companies for 3 years. We develop our comprehensive 53 disclosure index and create and test OLS Regression model to measure the relationships between B/E disclosures and its determinants factors including; environmental performance, industry sector, country, assurance, environmental awards, presence of biodiversity partners and the number of species’ related disclosure. Our results reveal that there are positive significant relationships between B/E disclosure and: assurance provided by the Big 4; gaining an environmental award; companies from high biodiversity risk sectors; developing countries; presence of biodiversity partners, and; how many specific biodiversity words are published in companies’ reports. On the other hand, there are positive insignificant relationships between B/E disclosure and: assurance; poor performers, and; the number of species disclosed in companies’ reports. Our findings have important implications for regulators and policymakers. Our evidence appears to be robust when controlling for possible endogeneities.