Sustainable development and corporate communication in global markets

The increasing importance of sustainability for corporate governance involves paying stronger attention to the principles and values dominating internal and external relationships; moreover, it requires innovation in the internal processes of behavioural orientation, as well as in external communication. In particular, the multidimensionality of responsibilities, goals and results has determined progressive changes in corporate communication. This article aims at investigating the linkage among sustainability, stakeholder relations management and effectiveness of corporate communication. More exactly, the article intends to highlight the transition from a period of disorderly enlargement of corporate communication to a phase characterised by a new concept of integrated reporting. Integrated reporting is based on broadly shared principles and it encourages the development of a stand-alone document concerning governance, financial and socio-environmental performance.