Legitimizing Benefit Corporations: An Italian Perspective on Mandatory Non-Financial Reporting

Purpose: Analyze how Italian Benefit Corporation (BC) use their mandatory non-financial report (SIR) to enhance corporate legitimations and therefore comprehend if SIR is used in substantive or symbolic approach.Design/Method/Approach: The study analyzes Impact reports (SIRs) of 56 Italian Benefit Corpora-tions (BCs), chosen from ORBIS database. The analysis is conducted through the lens of legitimacy theory and through a content analysis of SIR.Findings: the results revealed the presence of organizations which have not yet fully understood the importance of the accountability and communication processes in terms of sustainability, legitima-tion.