The Triple Bottom Line

Chapter 10

Environmental Cost Accounting:Coming of Age? TrackingOrganizational Performance TowardsEnvironmental Sustainability

Rupert Howes

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the dynamic subject of corporate environmental accounting. It outlines the business case and rationale for engaging in environmental accounting and illustrates how leading UK companies are already adding value and reducing risk through the use of innovative environmental accounting techniques and methodologies. The two broad focus areas of environmental accounting are discussed. The first is concerned with accounting for ‘internal’ environmental-related expenditure – expenditure already incurred and captured within a company's accounting system but perhaps ...