Harmonizing Document Type Definitions for Corporate Environmental Reports

Corporate environmental reporting using the Internet is a rapidly emerging and increasingly popular method. Despite the considerable progress companies have made recently, exploitation of the whole range of benefits of this computer-based method is still at a premature stage, especially in terms of automated production and customized provision of environmental reports. Employing the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and using a harmonized Document Type Definition (DTD) for these leading reporting vehicles offer an array of benefits, finally elevating Internet use beyond the status of a mere online distribution channel of electronic duplicates of hard copy reports. In this chapter we present the harmonization of three XML-based DTDs that have been proposed for corporate environmental reports. On the basis of a harmonized XML-based DTD, companies are in a position to provide a customized environmental reporting system, prepared by machine processing in an automated manner.