What material topics by ESG dimensions can be found within the materiality matrix from the European entities’ sustainability reports?

Figures & data

Figure 1. MM presentation example.

Source: Heineken N.V. Annual Report (2021, p. 128).

Table 1. Entities selection criteria by country.

Index / Selection criteria	Initial sample	Exclusions of entities that do not report the following:			Final sample
		Step 1: Any aspect of materiality in sustainability reporting	Step 2: MM	Step 3: Comparable MM
The Netherlands: Amsterdam Index (AEX) – C1	25	6	5	1	13 (18.8%)
Belgium: Brussels Index (BEL-20) – C2	20	2	6	4	8 (11.6%)
Ireland: Dublin Index (ISEQ-20) – C3	20	6	3	0	11 (15.9%)
Portugal: Lisbon index (PSI-20) – C4	15	4	4	1	6 (8.7%)
Norway: Oslo Index (OBX GR) – C5	25	6	9	4	6 (8.7%)
France: Paris Index (CAC-40) – C6	39	9	5	0	25 (36.2%)
Total	144	33	32	10	69

Table 2. Entities by industry.

Industry (ICB Rating)	Classification	In Number	In Percentage
Telecommunications (10) and Technologies (15)	I1	9	13.1%
Health (20)	I2	1	1.5%
Finance (30) and Real Estate (35)	I3	16	23.2%
Consumer Goods (40)	I4	17	24.6%
Industry (50) and basic materials (55)	I5	20	29.0%
Energy (60) and utilities (65)	I6	6	8.7%
Total	-	69	100%

Figure 2. Demonstration of MM x- and y-axis quadrants.

Table 3. Material topics in the ESG dimensions.

Dimensions	Topics
Environmental (E_Total)	E1: Climate
	E2: Biodiversity
	E3: Water
	E4: Waste
	E5: Carbon emissions
	E6: Energy
	E7: Circular economy
	E8: Impact on the environment
	E9: Animal welfare
	E10: Sustainable product
	E11: Sustainable packaging
	E12: Product Management
Social (S_Total)	S1: Well-being, health and safety at work
	S2: Diversity and inclusion
	S3: Employee attraction and development
	S4: Human rights
	S5: Community Engagement
	S6: Social dialogue
	S7: Employee Engagement
	S8: Attractive working conditions
Governance (G_Total)	G1: Cybersecurity and data privacy
	G2: Business ethics
	G3: Responsible supply chain
	G4: Governance
	G5: Customer intimacy
	G6: Product quality and/or safety
	G7: Artificial Intelligence
	G8: Tax
	G9: Performance
	G10: Anti-corruption
	G11: Stakeholder engagement
	G12: Responsible investment
	G13: Risk profile
	G14: Operational efficiency
	G15: Politics

Table 4. RQ, statistical techniques and variables.

Research Questions	Research sub-questions	Statistical techniques: variable
RQ1- Are there differences regarding material topics across the ESG dimensions?	RQ1.1- by quadrant	Descriptive (frequencies): DI
	RQ1.2- by country	Descriptive (frequencies) and Chi-square test: each material topic
	RQ1.3- by industry
RQ2- Are there differences in the global disclosure level across the ESG dimensions?	RQ2.1- by country	Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests: DI
	RQ2.2- by industry

Table 5. Environmental issues by quadrant.

Topics	Quadrants									Global	Global%
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5	Q6	Q7	Q8	Q9
E1	8%	12%	13%	0%	20%	16%	28%	25%	31%	49	20%
E2	23%	27%	25%	0%	0%	10%	19%	0%	6%	33	14%
E3	31%	21%	6%	40%	20%	8%	6%	4%	7%	30	12%
E4	15%	12%	19%	0%	20%	16%	6%	8%	0%	24	10%
E5	0%	3%	0%	0%	0%	10%	13%	25%	22%	28	11%
E6	0%	9%	6%	0%	20%	8%	9%	8%	19%	24	10%
E7	12%	0%	6%	40%	0%	14%	9%	13%	4%	21	9%
E8	12%	6%	25%	0%	0%	6%	9%	8%	2%	18	7%
E9	0%	3%	0%	0%	0%	6%	0%	4%	2%	6	2%
E10	0%	3%	0%	0%	20%	0%	0%	0%	4%	4	2%
E11	0%	0%	0%	20%	0%	4%	0%	0%	4%	5	2%
E12	0%	3%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	4%	0%	2	1%
E_Total	26	33	16	5	5	49	32	24	54	244
E_Total%	11%	14%	7%	2%	2%	20%	13%	10%	22%

Note: Q1-Q9 Quadrant 1 to Quadrant 9; E1- Climate; E2- Biodiversity; E3- Water; E4- Waste; E5- Carbon emissions; E6- Energy; E7- Circular economy; E8- Impact on the environment; E9- Animal welfare; E10 - Sustainable product; E11- Sustainable packaging; E12- Product management.

Table 6. Social issues by quadrant.

Topics	Quadrants									Global	Global%
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5	Q6	Q7	Q8	Q9
S1	12%	0%	8%	33%	0%	17%	19%	39%	38%	52	20%
S2	15%	16%	31%	0%	17%	28%	19%	11%	19%	53	20%
S3	8%	24%	27%	0%	50%	14%	11%	26%	16%	47	18%
S4	4%	24%	4%	0%	0%	22%	44%	8%	16%	45	17%
S5	50%	24%	23%	67%	17%	11%	7%	5%	3%	41	16%
S6	4%	8%	4%	0%	0%	4%	0%	3%	3%	9	3%
S7	4%	4%	4%	0%	17%	3%	0%	5%	5%	10	4%
S8	4%	0%	0%	0%	0%	1%	0%	3%	0%	3	1%
S_Total	26	25	26	3	6	72	27	38	37	260
S_Total%	10%	10%	10%	1%	2%	28%	10%	15%	14%

Note: Q1-Q9 Quadrant 1 to Quadrant 9; S1- Well-being, health and safety at work; S2- Diversity and inclusion; S3- Attraction and development of workers; S4- Human rights; S5- Community involvement; S6- Social dialogue; S7-Employee involvement; S8- Attractive working conditions.

Table 7. Governance issues by quadrant.

Topics	Quadrants									Global	Global%
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5	Q6	Q7	Q8	Q9
G1	7%	21%	17%	0%	11%	12%	15%	15%	19%	46	15%
G2	4%	11%	6%	0%	22%	6%	36%	15%	25%	49	16%
G3	22%	21%	17%	0%	0%	16%	9%	13%	4%	37	12%
G4	7%	11%	11%	0%	0%	18%	12%	5%	9%	34	11%
G5	7%	11%	6%	0%	11%	4%	9%	8%	15%	27	9%
G6	0%	5%	17%	0%	11%	6%	6%	5%	16%	27	9%
G7	15%	5%	11%	0%	11%	10%	3%	13%	3%	24	8%
G8	26%	0%	11%	0%	0%	6%	0%	5%	0%	16	5%
G9	4%	0%	0%	100%	0%	5%	0%	5%	3%	10	3%
G10	0%	0%	6%	0%	0%	5%	3%	8%	3%	11	4%
G11	4%	11%	0%	0%	0%	2%	3%	3%	0%	7	2%
G12	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	4%	0%	5%	3%	7	2%
G13	0%	0%	0%	0%	11%	2%	3%	3%	0%	5	2%
G14	0%	0%	0%	0%	11%	4%	0%	0%	3%	6	2%
G15	4%	5%	0%	0%	11%	1%	0%	0%	0%	4	1%
G_Total	27	19	18	1	9	83	33	40	80	310
G_Total%	9%	6%	6%	0%	3%	27%	11%	13%	26%

Note: Q1-Q9 Quadrant 1 to Quadrant 9; G1- Cybersecurity and data privacy; G2- Business ethics; G3- Responsible supply chain; G4- Corporate governance; G5- Intimacy with the client; G6- Product quality and/or safety; G7- Artificial intelligence; G8- Tax; G9- Financial performance; G10- Anti-corruption; G11- Engagement with stakeholders; G12- Responsible investment; G13- Risk profile; G14- Operational efficiency; G15- Politics.

Table 8. Environmental issues by country (as a percentage).

Topics	Countries						DI Global
	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6
E1	62	50	91	67	50	80	71
E2	15**	38	55	83*	17	64**	48
E3	54	25	64	50	17	40	43
E4	38	25	55	0*	50	32	35
E5	31	25	55	83**	50	32	41
E6	31	38	55	100***	50	8***	35
E7	31	25	27	0	0	48**	30
E8	31	63**	18	17	17	20	26
E9	0	0	18	0	0	16	9
E10	15	0	9	0	17	0	6
E11	0	13	18	0	0	8	7
E12	8	0	0	0	0	4	3
Average DI	26	25	39*	33	22	29	29

Note: C1- The Netherlands; C2- Belgium; C3- Ireland; C4- Portugal; C5- Norway; C6- France; E1- Climate; E2- Biodiversity; E3- Water; E4- Waste; E5- Carbon emissions; E6- Energy; E7- Circular economy; E8- Impact on the environment; E9- Animal welfare; E10 - Sustainable product; E11- Sustainable packaging; E12- Product management; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 9. Social issues by country (in percentage).

Topics	Countries						DI Global
	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6
S1	77	88	82	83	67	68	75
S2	77	75	82	67	67	80	77
S3	54	88	64	83	50	72	68
S4	77	38	45	100*	83	64	65
S5	77	63	82	83	17**	44*	59
S6	0	0	0	0	0	36***	13
S7	8	38*	18	0	0	16	14
S8	8	0	9	17	0	0	4
Average DI	47	48	48	54	35*	48	47

Note: C1- The Netherlands; C2- Belgium; C3- Ireland; C4- Portugal; C5- Norway; C6- France; S1- Well-being, health and safety at work; S2- Diversity and inclusion; S3- Attraction and development of workers; S4- Human rights; S5- Community involvement; S6- Social dialogue; S7-Employee involvement; S8- Attractive working conditions; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 10. Governance issues by country (as a percentage).

Topics	Countries						DI Global
	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6
G1	92	88	64	67	33	56	67
G2	85	63	82	83	33*	68	71
G3	69	63	73	67	17*	40*	54
G4	23*	25	55	67	33	68**	49
G5	38	13	36	50	17	52*	39
G6	38	38	36	50	17	44	39
G7	54	38	36	33	17	28	35
G8	54***	13	18	0	33	16	23
G9	23	25	9	50**	0	4*	14
G10	8	13	0	33	50**	16	16
G11	15	0	18	33	0	4	10
G12	23	13	18	0	0	4	10
G13	23**	13	0	0	0	4	7
G14	15	13	0	0	0	12	9
G15	23**	13	0	0	0	0	6
Average DI	39*	28	30	36	17***	28	30

Note: C1- The Netherlands; C2- Belgium; C3- Ireland; C4- Portugal; C5- Norway; C6- France; G1- Cybersecurity and data privacy; G2- Business ethics; G3- Responsible supply chain; G4- Corporate governance; G5- Intimacy with the client; G6- Product quality and/or safety; G7- Artificial intelligence; G8- Tax; G9- Financial performance; G10- Anti-corruption; G11- Engagement with stakeholders; G12- Responsible investment; G13- Risk profile; G14- Operational efficiency; G15- Politics; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 11. Normalized indices and Wilcoxon test across ESG dimensions by country.

	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6	Total
Percentage-normalized indices
E_Total	39	38	58	50	33	44	44
S_Total	54	55	55	62	40	54	54
G_Total	45	33	34	41	19	32	35
Wilcoxon test (bilateral significance level, in percentage)
S_Total versus E_Total	5	1	72	35	60	5	0
G_Total versus E_Total	58	48	4	25	17	3	1
G_Total versus S_Total	28	2	4	3	5	0	0

Note: C1- The Netherlands; C2- Belgium; C3- Ireland; C4- Portugal; C5- Norway; C6- France; E_Total – normalised average percentages of environmental topics; S_Total – normalised average percentages of social topics; G_Total – normalised average percentages of governance topics.

Table 12. Environmental issues by industry (in percentage).

Topics	Industries						DI Global
	I1	I2	I3	I4	I5	I6
E1	67	100	63	76	80	50	71
E2	22	0	25**	71**	50	83*	48
E3	33	100	0***	88***	45	33	43
E4	44	0	0***	71***	35	17	35
E5	44	0	13***	47	60*	33	41
E6	56	100	6***	41	30	67	35
E7	22	100	19	41	30	33	30
E8	22	0	50**	6**	20	50	26
E9	0	0	0	35***	0	0	9
E10	11	0	6	0	10	0	6
E11	0	0	0	29***	0	0	7
E12	11	0	6	0	0	0	3
Average DI	28	33	16***	42***	30	31	29

Note: I1: Telecommunications (10) and technologies (15); I2: Health (20); I3: Finance (30) and Real Estate (35); I4: Consumer goods (40); I5: Industry (50) and basic materials (55); I6: Energy (60) and utilities (65); E1- Climate; E2- Biodiversity; E3- Water; E4- Waste; E5- Carbon emissions; E6- Energy; E7- Circular economy; E8- Impact on the environment; E9- Animal welfare; E10 - Sustainable product; E11- Sustainable packaging; E12- Product management; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 13. Social issues by industry (in percentage).

Topics	Industries						DI Global
	I1	I2	I3	I4	I5	I6
S1	67	100	56*	82	85	83	75
S2	78	0	56**	100***	90	33**	77
S3	56	100	88*	82	50***	50	68
S4	78	100	31***	88**	70	50	65
S5	56	100	75	65	50	33	59
S6	0	0	6	12	25	17	13
S7	22	0	6	18	15	17	14
S8	22**	0	0	6	0	0	4
Average DI	47	50	40*	57***	48	35**	47

Note: I1: Telecommunications (10) and technologies (15); I2: Health (20); I3: Finance (30) and Real Estate (35); I4: Consumer goods (40); I5: Industry (50) and basic materials (55); I6: Energy (60) and utilities (65); S1- Well-being, health and safety at work; S2- Diversity and inclusion; S3- Attraction and development of workers; S4- Human rights; S5- Community involvement; S6- Social dialogue; S7-Employee involvement; S8- Attractive working conditions; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 14. Governance issues by industry (as a percentage).

Topics	Industries						DI Global
	I1	I2	I3	I4	I5	I6
G1	100*	100	88	59	55	17*	67
G2	67	100	63	82	75	50	71
G3	56	100	56	65	45	33	54
G4	33	100	56	47	45	67	49
G5	56	0	44	29	35	50	39
G6	33	100	31	41	50	17	39
G7	44	0	44	18	35	50	35
G8	22	100	13	35	15	33	23
G9	22	0	31**	0*	5	33	14
G10	22	0	19	6	15	33	16
G11	11	0	19	12	5	0	10
G12	11	0	31***	6	0	0*	10
G13	11	0	13	0	5	17	7
G14	11	0	13	0	10	17	9
G15	0	0	6	12	5	0	6
Average DI	33	40	35	27	27	28	30

Note: I1: Telecommunications (10) and technologies (15); I2: Health (20); I3: Finance (30) and Real Estate (35); I4: Consumer goods (40); I5: Industry (50) and basic materials (55); I6: Energy (60) and utilities (65); G1- Cybersecurity and data privacy; G2- Business ethics; G3- Responsible supply chain; G4- Corporate governance; G5- Intimacy with the client; G6- Product quality and/or safety; G7- Artificial intelligence; G8- Tax; G9- Financial performance; G10- Anti-corruption; G11- Engagement with stakeholders; G12- Responsible investment; G13- Risk profile; G14- Operational efficiency; G15- Politics; *Significance level at 10%; **Significance level at 5%; Significance level at 1%.

Table 15. Normalized indices and Wilcoxon test across the ESG dimension by industry.

	I1	I2	I3	I4	I5	I6	Total
Percentage-normalized indices
E_Total	42	50	23	63	45	46	44
S_Total	54	57	46	65	55	40	54
G_Total	38	46	40	32	31	32	35
Wilcoxon test (bilateral significance level, in percentage)
S_Total versus E_Total	21	–	0	59	13	53	0
G_Total versus E_Total	51	–	1	0	3	5	1
G_Total versus S_Total	14	–	42	0	0	12	0

Note: I1: Telecommunications (10) and technologies (15); I2: Health (20); I3: Finance (30) and Real Estate (35); I4: Consumer goods (40); I5: Industry (50) and basic materials (55); I6: Energy (60) and utilities (65); E_Total – normalised average percentages of environmental topics; S_Total – normalised average percentages of social topics; G_Total – normalised average percentages of governance topics.

Heineken N.V. Annual Report. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/theheinekencompany/files/Investors/financial-information/results-reports-presentations/heineken-nv-annual-report-2021-25-02-2022.pdf

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The authors are available to share the data collected for this purpose upon reasonable request, namely for research purposes. If you are interested in this data, please contact the corresponding author.