A Study of Industry Environmental Accounting Disclosure Associated with Cost and Benefits─ A Case Study of Japanese Hitachi Group

摘要

Within the 1970s, due to the environmental accounting began getting focus throughout the energy crisis. Recently, environmental accounting research has become an attractive area. Several studies have suggested the benefit of facilitative in disclosing company environmental accounting information. The data of this study is collected from Hitachi annual report and Hitachi group corporate social responsibility report over the period 2008-2012. The case study analyzes whether the investment in environmental protection can reduce GHG emissions, waste processing and energy conservation etc. This study mainly explores the relationship between carbon emission and financial investment in Hitachi Company according to the environmental disclosures. Furthermore, this study also observes the indicator of the efficiency of environmental load reduction and environmental economic effects. The results showed that Hitachi invests environmental protection does not definitely get positive efficiency. However, Hitachi still concerned environmental protection issue, for example, Hitachi enhances energy efficiency of their products and reduces CO_(2) emissions in energy productions. In conclusion, Hitachi has long-term plans for environment protection, in order to reach the goal that they increase the ratio of eco-products which enhance energy efficiency of their products. Although the study has limitation, it presents some results of cost-benefit analysis of environmental investment through environmental accounting data that could strength the contribution of environmental accounting report..