The role of intellectual capital disclosure in benefit corporations: Navigating the transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting

Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) on the voluntary disclosure (VD) of intellectual capital (IC) within the non-financial reporting of Italian BCs. More specifically, the manuscript focuses on the balance between voluntary and mandatory reporting, analyzing the implications on the strategic management of human, relational and structural capital of the IC. Design/methodology/approach By conducting a qualitative content analysis of the impact assessments, publicly available on the corporate websites of 18 Italian BCs, a meaning-oriented approach was adopted to explore the degree, type and intensity of IC reporting within the published impact assessments, outlining which organizational and accounting solutions were adopted. Findings Results demonstrate a more general compliance with the legislative requirements of non-financial reporting, to the detriment of voluntary initiatives for a creative or strategic use of IC reporting beyond regulatory obligations. Research limitations/implications The study has some limitations, as it focuses on a small sample of Italian BCs. Future research could extend the comparison to other countries, examining how digital technologies can support information transparency and stakeholder engagement. Originality/value This research focuses on the IC reporting of Italian BCs in the context of the CSRD, filling a gap in the literature on how the transition from voluntary to mandatory non-financial reporting under the new CSRD affects IC disclosure.