REPORTING OF NON-FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY ENTERPRISES POSING RISKS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Non-financial reporting is a system of information about performance on the Corporate Social Responsibility. It is operated in order to communicate social and environmental issues and to remedy the information asymmetries among stakeholders. Non-financial reporting is of particular importance among enterprises that pose real environmental and social hazards, as general public interests, health and life, need to be protected. This paper aims to present conclusions from an analysis of principles of non-financial reporting and the prevailing reporting practices employed by enterprises posing risks to the environment. The following research hypothesis is postulated: identification of environmental threats is the cause of non-financial reporting. In order to verify the hypothesis and attain the objectives, the following questions needed to be addressed: What are forms of reporting non-financial information? What is the scope of non-financial information reported? Tanneries have been selected for the purposes of the study. The tanning industry is regarded as a major threat to the natural environment - ranking 4th among the Ten Top Toxic Industries according to the Blacksmith Institute (2016). Environmental considerations have a substantial impact on operation of tanneries, therefore, and, in line with the said hypothesis, this should contribute to non-financial reporting. Financial statements of enterprises operating in Poland have been examined.