Sustainability Reporting in Extractive Industries: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

This study provides a systematic and integrative review of ESG and sustainability reporting in extractive industries, aiming to assess the current state of the literature and identify key theoretical, methodological, and contextual gaps. Given the growing importance of extractive sectors in supporting global sustainability transitions, understanding the role of ESG reporting as a governance mechanism is increasingly critical. The review adopts a domain‐based approach combining bibliometric mapping, thematic analysis, and content‐based classification. A dataset of 106 peer‐reviewed articles (2000–2025) was analysed using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, alongside a structured coding framework based on theoretical, contextual, and methodological dimensions. The findings reveal a rapidly expanding but still fragmented research field. From a theoretical perspective, the literature remains predominantly anchored in traditional frameworks such as stakeholder and legitimacy theories, while a fully integrated ESG and governance‐oriented perspective is still emerging. Methodologically, the field shows a prevalence of quantitative approaches, although these are predominantly applied in descriptive and exploratory ways. The results also highlight a strong imbalance across ESG dimensions, with environmental issues receiving significantly greater attention than social and governance aspects. In addition, the literature is geographically concentrated in developed economies, with emerging and resource‐intensive regions underrepresented. A central contribution of this study lies in identifying a structural misalignment between academic research and ongoing regulatory developments. While the literature continues to emphasise voluntary disclosure practices, the global reporting landscape is increasingly shaped by mandatory and standardised frameworks. This transition redefines sustainability reporting from a legitimacy‐driven communication tool to a formalised governance mechanism, although its effectiveness in driving substantive sustainability performance remains uncertain. Overall, this study aims to contribute to the literature by providing a comprehensive mapping of ESG reporting research in extractive industries and by advancing an interpretative framework that highlights its evolving role within sustainability transitions. The findings offer relevant insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, and outline key directions for future research aimed at strengthening the theoretical and empirical foundations of the field.