Hållbarhetsredovisning i gruvbranschen : En kvalitativ studie om gruvbolags hållbarhetsredovisning i samband med en skandal

Sammanfattning: Background  Previous studies show a high level of uncertainty in the mining industry. Stakeholders require transparent sustainability reports from mining companies due to the high risk of accidents. In recent years, several failures causing disastrous consequences have occured in the industry. A clear example of such failure is the Samarco dam collapse in 2015, which is said to be Brazil's worst disaster in the mining industry. Due to companies using sustainability reports as a tool to communicate, there is a need to study how companies in the mining industry communicate negative information when involved in a scandal.  Purpose  The purpose of this study is to examine the strategies companies use in their sustainability reports and press releases in order to recover from a scandal. Furthermore, the study will also analyze how companies maintain their legitimacy when reporting negative information.  Method  The methodological approach for this study consists of a case study. The case study consists of a content analysis and a coding schedule in which the sustainability reports and press releases from BHP Billiton and Vale S.A. will be analyzed. These mining companies were directly involved in the Samarco dam disaster which is the case selected for this study.  Conclusion  Various approaches were identified in the reporting of the scandal that are attributable to different legitimacy strategies. The strategies that companies mainly used in their sustainability reports and press releases were complete measures, incomplete measures and indicating facts.This in order to maintain corporate legitimacy and trust of the stakeholders after a scandal has occurred.