Title: Corporate image as a factor that supports corporate green investment practices in Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed companies

Authors: Ganda Fortune; Collins C. Ngwakwe; Cosmas M. Ambe

Addresses: Faculty of Management and Law, School of Accountancy, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa ' Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, Faculty of Management and Law, University of Limpopo, P.O. Box 756, Fauna Park 0787, South Africa ' Faculty of Management and Law, School of Accountancy, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa

Abstract: Green investment practices assist preservation of the company's image through shielding it from undesirable media reports plus consumer boycotts. Green investment practices also improve the company's image thereby enhancing the firm to acquire better business contracts in addition to developing broadened market bases. This paper examine the relationship involving corporate image and green investment practices in 100 South African CDP companies on the JSE over a period of five years (that is, 2010 to 2014). Statistical tests indicate that corporate image influence green investment practices in JSE listed firms plus a significantly positive relationship is demonstrated. It follows that investing in green activities is important to improve corporate green image. The study also discusses the corporate perceptions in relation to green image for JSE listed companies which were extracted from the firm's sustainability and/or integrated report from 2010 to 2014. In addition, the associated major motivators of corporate reputation of JSE listed companies are presented.

Keywords: corporate image; green investment practices; JSE listed firms; Carbon Disclosure Project; CDP; South Africa; corporate perceptions; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2016.073692

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2016 Vol.8 No.1, pp.57 - 75

Received: 18 Mar 2015
Accepted: 06 Oct 2015
Published online: 15 Dec 2015 *

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