Sustainability reporting frameworks and environmental disclosure coverage in the Indian infrastructure industry: an empirical comparison of GRI and BRSR

Abstract

As the infrastructure industry affects the environment in many aspects, it ought to be evaluated and addressed through standardized reporting frameworks that create transparency and accountability for entities’ stakeholders. To comprehend the significance of these frameworks for communicating entities’ sustainable performance, it becomes necessary to examine various frameworks used and their level of acceptance in the infrastructure industry. Using prominent sustainability reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), this study examined the level of acceptance and alignment through in-depth content analysis, with specific reference to environmental disclosures. Additionally, the study used the Environmental Disclosure Index standard metric to assess the extent of environmental disclosures by companies in their non-financial reporting for the financial year (FY) 2024-2025, using a sample of five infrastructure industry companies. The findings demonstrate significant convergence between the BRSR and GRI frameworks in their environmental disclosure standards, yet each framework also contains indicators specific to its unique regulations and institutional context. Case companies exhibited similar and acceptable environmental disclosure quality (EDCI ranging from 0.49–0.71), while BRSR coverage varied notably, indicating the framework’s capacity to allow for voluntary indicator reporting. Notably, while BRSR addresses many environmental impacts crucial to the infrastructure industry, other aspects, such as noise pollution and construction-related disturbances, remain outside of its current disclosure scope. This study contributes to the BRSR-based sustainability disclosure literature by taking a sector-specific approach, providing policymakers and academics with insights for aligning national and international reporting requirements in emerging economic contexts.