Environmental disclosure practices and financial performance of selected manufacturing companies in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: This study examined the relationship between environmental disclosure practices and the financial performance of manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The objective was to determine whether specific environmental initiatives, such as waste management, resource conservation, energy conservation, emission reduction, and pollution control, significantly impacted financial outcomes. The study aimed to contribute to the ongoing discourse on corporate environmental responsibility and its economic implications. Methods: The study adopted a quantitative research approach, utilizing secondarypanel data from 15 listed manufacturing companies over a defined period. Environmental disclosure practices were measured across five components: waste management practices, resource conservation, energy conservation, emission reduction, and pollution control. The Levin–Lin–Chu unit root test was used to confirm the stationarity of the data series. A Pearson correlation matrix was applied to explore interrelationships among the variables. The study employed panel data regression analysis with a random effects model (confirmed by the Breusch–Pagan Lagrange multiplier test), grounded in signaling theory as the theoretical framework to estimate the effects of environmental practices on financial performance. Results: The results indicated that energy conservation, emission reduction, and pollution control practices significantly enhanced financial performance. Resource conservation showed a positive but less substantial impact. Conversely, waste management practices were negatively associated with financial outcomes, suggesting potential inefficiencies or cost implications. Conclusions: The study concluded that manufacturing firms should prioritize energy conservation, emission reduction, and pollution control within their environmental strategies to improve long-term financial performance and investor perception. A strategic review of waste management practices was also recommended.