Corpus Analysis to Identify Key Topics Related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Various Business Reports

Abstract

This research focuses on analyzing noun phrases and key topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in annual SDG-related reports from various business sectors in Thailand during 2019–2022. The data consist of 231 annual reports collected from seven sectors: Agriculture and Food, Technology, Resources, Finance, Services, Consumer Products, and Property and Construction. AntConc software was used to create a list of frequently used terms, while TagAnt helped identify noun phrases. The noun phrases were then examined to determine their key topics and connections to the SDGs through a triangulated validation process. The results showed that all sectors prioritized goals related to sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13). However, goals like gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) received less attention in several sectors' reports. A closer analysis of each sector revealed that Agriculture and Food emphasized food security and sustainable consumption, while Technology focused on clean energy and innovative infrastructure. The Resources sector highlighted water management and ecosystem sustainability, whereas Finance prioritized economic growth and intersectoral collaboration. Consumer Products concentrated on efficient energy and resource use for supply chain stability, while Property and Construction covered a wide range of issues, including water management, energy efficiency, and sustainable community development. This study highlights the unique contributions of each business sector toward achieving the SDGs and stresses the importance of addressing less represented goals to foster a balanced and effective approach to sustainable development.