Governance, Ethics and Sustainability

This study material explores the concepts of governance, ethics, and sustainability. It covers the GRI reporting standards, disclosure of economic standards, financial implications and risks due to climate change, incidents of corruption, legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, disclosure of environmental standards, energy consumption, impacts on biodiversity, and more.

Running head: GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Governance, Ethics and Sustainability
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................5
The GRI Reporting Standards....................................................................................................6
Disclosure 200: Disclosure of Economic Standards..............................................................6
Disclosure 201-2: “Financial Implications and Other Risks and Opportunities due to
climate change.”.....................................................................................................................6
a. The financial implications of the risks or opportunity before the action is taken: It is
said that the organization has been fined a sum of 50, 000.00 Australian dollars by the
Town Planning Organization of the Stanwell District Council. The organization is also
required to submit an environmental sustainability report plan for the said project..........8
b. The methods used to manage the risks or opportunity: A number of mitigation
techniques as well as policies have been implemented and framed by the company to
continue their operations in accordance of the guidelines of the authority itself. Several
external firms are helping the company to assess as well as to formulate the mitigation
strategies of the company itself..........................................................................................8
c. The costs of actions to manage or mitigate the risks or opportunity: A sum of four
million dollars has been suggested as the estimated cost to successfully manage and
mitigate the various risks associated with the company. This sum is said to successfully
meet the requirements and the guidelines of the environmental sustainability objective..8
Disclosure 205-3: “Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken.”..........................8
a. Total Numbers and Natures of Confirmed Cases of Corruption:................................8
b. Total Number of Confirmed Incidents in which Employees were Dismissed or
Disciplined for Corruption:................................................................................................9

2GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
c. Total Number of Confirmed Incidents when contracts with the business partners
were terminated or not renewed due to violations related to the corruption:.....................9
d. Public Legal Cases regarding corruption brought against the organization or its
employees during the reporting period and the outcomes of such cases:..........................9
Disclosure 206-1: Legal actions for anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust and monopoly
practices:................................................................................................................................9
a. Number of legal actions pending or completed during the reporting period regarding
anti-competitor behaviour and violations of anti-trust and monopoly legislations in
which the organization has been identified as a participant:............................................10
b. Main outcomes of completed legal actions, including any decisions or judgements:
10
Disclosure of Environmental Standards: Disclosure 300.....................................................10
Energy consumption within the organization: Disclosure: 302-1....................................10
a. Total fuel consumption within the organization from non-renewable sources in
joules:...............................................................................................................................11
b. Total fuel consumption within the organization from renewable sources in joules:.11
d. Total energy consumption within the organization, in joules:..................................11
Disclosure 304-2: Significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity
..........................................................................................................................................12
a. Nature of significant direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity:............................12
Disclosure 307-1: Non-compliance with Environmental laws and regulations...............12
a. Total monetary value of significant fines:.................................................................13
Disclosure of Social Sustainability: Disclosure 400............................................................13

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Disclosure 406-1: Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken.......................13
b. Status of the incidents and the actions taken.............................................................14
Disclosure 413-1: Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments
and development programs..............................................................................................14
Conclusion................................................................................................................................14
References................................................................................................................................15
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................15

4GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Introduction
The term Global Reporting Initiative, also known as GRI in short, refers to a type of
framework that helps to evaluate the governance followed by a particular organization in the
field of sustainability and related to the field of Economic, Social or Environmental factors. A
number of rules and guidelines have been laid down by the GRI, which every company must
follow while they are reporting through the GRI standards.
This report aims to find out about the matter of the sustainable nature of the
Timberwell Constructions and will also discuss the framework which have been laid down by
GRI in evaluating the attributes of the organization itself. The framing of the report is
considered to be a necessity in itself as it would help in providing the confidence building
measures for the company so that it could tend better to the customers as well as the
stakeholders of the company itself. This report aims to provide information to the internal as
well as the external stakeholders about the various commitments made by the company in the
field of economic and environmental sustainability and also that of the social responsibility.
Another aim of this report is to provide a concise idea that the position the company has
taken in relation to the various fields of sustainability which have been mentioned in the
above lines. The report will follow the economic sustainability of that disclosures of the 201-
2, 205-3 as well as 206-1, which will provide the economic sustainability of the company
itself. Similarly, the Environmental Sustainability of the company will be provided by
following the guidelines of the disclosures named 302-1, 304-2 and 307-1. The social
sustainability of the company will be provided based on the disclosures of 401-1, 406-1 as
well as 413-1 which has been provided by GRI. The main purpose of the report on
sustainability is to build consumer relationship by following the norms of the GRI.

5GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The GRI Reporting Standards
Disclosure 200: Disclosure of Economic Standards
In this part, the report will provide the various guidelines for the economic standards
of the company itself and will also evaluate the Timberwell Construction on the basis of the
standards which has been provided here. The report will abide by all the requirements for the
reporting for the disclosures of 201-2, 205-3 and 206-1.
Disclosure 201-2: “Financial Implications and Other Risks and Opportunities
due to climate change.”
In this disclosure, it is required for the organization to supply the statements as well as
the evidences in relation to the matter of the climatic change and how such changes implicate
the organization financially (Tschopp, 2014). This disclosure will also provide the
declarations related to the financial risks and the opportunities because of the climatic
change. The GRI 201-2 includes the following disclosures:
1. Description of the risk or the opportunity and the classification of it in terms of
physical, regulatory and other attributes:
In this case, it has been found that Timberwell Constructions mainly suffers from the
problems of bushfires in the region they are operating. The proposed site which has been
mentioned is found to be vulnerable to the bushfires which might become a risk in itself
as a result of the physical constraints of the climate change.
2. The probable impacts associated with the risks or opportunities:
In this case, it has been suggested that the Timberwell Constructions would need to
develop and maintain higher and advanced levels of safety and put them into practice in
the workplace itself. It is also known that the company would require to upgrade and

6GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
modify its safety measures therefore leading to a huge financial impact in the
organization itself. Without these safety measures in place, it is said that the company will
continue to face the risks and the dangers of the bushfires in the region itself (Mahoney,
2013).
a. The financial implications of the risks or opportunity before the action is taken:
It is said that the organization has been fined a sum of 50, 000.00 Australian dollars
by the Town Planning Organization of the Stanwell District Council. The organization
is also required to submit an environmental sustainability report plan for the said
project.
b. The methods used to manage the risks or opportunity: A number of mitigation
techniques as well as policies have been implemented and framed by the company to
continue their operations in accordance of the guidelines of the authority itself.
Several external firms are helping the company to assess as well as to formulate the
mitigation strategies of the company itself.
c. The costs of actions to manage or mitigate the risks or opportunity: A sum of four
million dollars has been suggested as the estimated cost to successfully manage and
mitigate the various risks associated with the company. This sum is said to
successfully meet the requirements and the guidelines of the environmental
sustainability objective.
Disclosure 205-3: “Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken.”
In the disclosure 205-3, it is compulsory for Timberwell Constructions to provide
accurate and correct information of the cases relating to the corruption or malpractices in the
organization itself. The section under the disclosure will evaluate the information which has
been provided by Timberwell Constructions itself.

7GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
a. Total Numbers and Natures of Confirmed Cases of Corruption:
It has been found that Timberwell Constructions did not have any incidents related to
corruption or malpractice within the organization itself. The company however is
facing a case of public corruption scandal in the current times that is facing
prosecution and the details of the case will be provided by the company once the
prosecution of the case is over.
b. Total Number of Confirmed Incidents in which Employees were Dismissed or
Disciplined for Corruption:
It has been claimed by the Timberwell Constructions that the organization never had
to face any issue of dismissal of the employees on the grounds of discipline,
corruption or malpractice itself. However, the company has mentioned of a case in
which an employee had been accused and said employee’s payment as well as
benefits were held till the employee was prosecuted.
c. Total Number of Confirmed Incidents when contracts with the business partners
were terminated or not renewed due to violations related to the corruption:
No cases of corruption by the business partners have been reported by Timberwell
Constructions itself. However, the company did mention a case in which the external
contractors have been relieved of their duties due to malpractice and corruption on
their end. The contracts with these contractors had been terminated by the company.
d. Public Legal Cases regarding corruption brought against the organization or its
employees during the reporting period and the outcomes of such cases:
There has been a case when Timberwell Constructions have been alleged of bribery
and corruption by five employees of the company itself. In addition to this, two
external contractors have also been accused to be involved in the case itself. The

8GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
accused employee’s pay and benefits had been suspended till the prosecution and the
contractors had been relieved of their duties (Tschopp, 2015).
Disclosure 206-1: Legal actions for anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust and
monopoly practices:
In this disclosure, the description of the information relating to the legal actions with
respect to the subject matter of anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust and monopoly practices
have been mentioned. This part will deal with the information related to the subject matter of
Timberwell’s legal issues:
a. Number of legal actions pending or completed during the reporting period
regarding anti-competitor behaviour and violations of anti-trust and monopoly
legislations in which the organization has been identified as a participant:
There has been an instance of a legal case relating to the promotion of the monopoly and anti-
competitive and anti-trust behaviour within the organization itself. The case states that the
organization have been found to be involved in activities which is said to create conflicts
among the suppliers and the stakeholders (Northey, 2015). The company had also found to be
threatening the employees of getting their contracts terminated if they were found to be
working with other firms in the area where the project was said to be carried out. The case is
currently listed with the ACCC or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or
the Federal Court and the case is expected to be heard in the next four months.
b. Main outcomes of completed legal actions, including any decisions or
judgements:
It is said that the case has been listed with the court and the hearing of the case is still to be
done. It is expected that the result of the hearing is due in four-month time.

9GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Disclosure of Environmental Standards: Disclosure 300
In this disclosure, the Environmental Standards of the GRI and the various
information related to the Environmental Standards will be provided.
Energy consumption within the organization: Disclosure: 302-1
Various information regarding energy consumption, wastage, usage as well as the
compliance will be mentioned by this section of the report itself.
a. Total fuel consumption within the organization from non-renewable sources in
joules:
It is said that the total consumption of the fuel from the non-renewable sources is
estimated to be about 1.0 Gigajoules per annum. A major portion of this energy from the
non-renewable sources is consumed by the Timberwell Construction company. Their total
fuel consumption from the non-renewable sources is said to be an estimate of 1.0 Gigajoules
per annum (Northey, 2014).
b. Total fuel consumption within the organization from renewable sources in
joules:
Timberwell Constructions consumes fuel from the renewable or the clean resources which is
said to be an estimate of 0.5 Gigajoules per annum.
c. Total electricity consumption in joules
Timberwell Constructions consumes an annual electricity to be an estimate of 2.0
Gigajoules and it forms part of the considerable part of the energy which is to be used by the
company itself.

10GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
d. Total energy consumption within the organization, in joules:
Timberwell Construction’s annual consumption of energy is said to be an estimate of 3.5
Gigajoules, which is also considered to be a satisfactory level of energy consumption by the
company itself.
It is stated that the organization has committed to the reduction of the energy
consumption by the non-renewable resources as well as the increase of the renewable sources
of the energy by an estimate of 50% by the coming year. They have been claimed by the
other organizations to be a responsible organization that is committed to the consumption of
the energy which is clean as well as green itself.
Disclosure 304-2: Significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity
In this disclosure, the compliance of the organization in relation to the impact of the
products, services and the activities of the organization has been mentioned:
a. Nature of significant direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity:
The organization and its activities have created impacts in the environment, thus affecting the
biodiversity of the region itself (Northey, 2014). This had led to the decrease of the habitats
of the species and the organisms in the site of the construction itself. Various activities and
the impacts of such activities include the following:
 It had destroyed and cleared the grasslands of the coast about 0.45 of which are
considered to be critically endangered.
 It had reduced the habitat and converted the Wallum Sedge frogs at the Otford Park
Development site, considered to be one of the most important projects of the
Timberwell Construction Company itself.
In order to abide by the rules and the regulations of the environmental sustainability and the
standards itself, the company is required to restore the grassland, which is costing them a

11GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
total of $ 440,000.00. An Environmental Impact Assessment Project for the habitat
restoration of the Wallum Sedge Frogs had is also being considered by the Timberwell
Construction Company itself (Tschopp, 2015).
Disclosure 307-1: Non-compliance with Environmental laws and regulations
This disclosure will provide information on the financial costs that have been inflicted
on the company due to the company not obeying the environmental rules and regulations.
This section will deal with the fines and the charges which have been inflicted on the
company for their disobeying of the environmental rules and the regulations of the company
itself.
a. Total monetary value of significant fines:
It is stated that the Timberwell Constructions have been fined with a sum of $200,000.00
Australian dollars due to the reduction of the coastal grasslands as a result of the
endangerment. It is also expected of the company to start a rehabilitation programme, costing
the organization an estimate of $440,000.00. Both the compensation and the rehabilitation
programme would cost the company a price of 640,000 Australian dollars (Mahoney, 2013).
Disclosure of Social Sustainability: Disclosure 400
Timberwell Construction’s Social Sustainability including the hiring of the
employees, turnovers as well as the retention rates of the employees itself. These will be
discussed in the clauses of the 401-1, 406-1 and 413-1.
New Employee hires and the employee turnover: Disclosure 401-1
It is commonly stated that Timberwell Constructions is currently having an employee
strength of 58 and all of them are males. A recent attrition faced by the company has seen
around 17 employees leaving the company and currently the company is in a situation where
it can hire around 12 employees. It is said that the turnover of the company is said to be at an

12GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
estimate of 29% based on the factors of the job satisfaction as well as better alternatives by
the company itself. Few changes have been introduced by the company in its policies so that
they are able to retain their employees (Tschopp, 2014).
Disclosure 406-1: Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken
The company had been facing instances of discrimination as a result of which, large
amounts of attrition had occurred in the company itself. This section will discuss such factors.
a. Total number of incidents of discrimination during the reporting period:
The company had faced a case of discrimination in the workplace itself. One such case
was an individual aged 50 facing discrimination from his colleagues because of his age
itself.
b. Status of the incidents and the actions taken
In order to take actions against the cases of discriminations, the company has
compensated the employee with a sum 4,400 Australian dollars in compliance with the Fair
Work Commission. The company is trying to bring employee friendly rules and regulations
in the company itself (Mahoney et.all, 2013).
Disclosure 413-1: Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments
and development programs
Adequate care is being taken by the organization itself in order to involve in the
activities which include the activities in the local communities, to evaluate the environment
and the damage that has been done to the environment (Boiral,2013). The company had
dedicated itself to the restoration of the flora and fauna and the use of the cleaner sources of
the fuel itself based on the impact of the energy from the renewable sources itself.

13GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Conclusion
The reporting which is obtained from the Timberwell Constructions GRI indeed gives
the readers an idea of the current scenario in the company related to the field of the Social,
Economic and the Environmental sustainability. From this report, both the stakeholders as
well as the customers will get information on the responsibility and the obligations of the
organization and the interests of the stakeholders as well as the environment itself.
References
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reports. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 26(7), pp.1036-1071.
Fernandez-Feijoo, B., Romero, S. and Ruiz, S., 2014. Effect of stakeholders’ pressure on
transparency of sustainability reports within the GRI framework. Journal of business ethics,
122(1), pp.53-63.
Mahoney, L.S., Thorne, L., Cecil, L. and LaGore, W., 2013. A research note on standalone
corporate social responsibility reports: Signaling or greenwashing?. Critical perspectives on
Accounting, 24(4-5), pp.350-359.
Northey, S., Haque, N. and Mudd, G., 2013. Using sustainability reporting to assess the
environmental footprint of copper mining. Journal of Cleaner Production, 40, pp.118-128.
Pérez‐López, D., Moreno‐Romero, A. and Barkemeyer, R., 2015. Exploring the relationship
between sustainability reporting and sustainability management practices. Business Strategy
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Tschopp, D. and Nastanski, M., 2014. The harmonization and convergence of corporate
social responsibility reporting standards. Journal of Business Ethics, 125(1), pp.147-162.

14GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
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