Beyond the Surface: A Critical Analysis of Corporate Water Accounting Literature for Sustainable Development

Corporate water accounting (CWA) is gaining relevance as businesses face increasing water‐related risks and accountability demands. Despite its relevance, academic understanding of CWA remains fragmented. Using a systematic literature review, 47 articles from the domains of business and management have been analyzed, employing bibliometric and content analysis to map the field's evolution and identify thematic drivers and barriers to CWA. CWA research remains in its early stages, with a growing but geographically concentrated body of work. The study offers an integrative framework, shedding light on the factors linking managerial and reporting functions of CWA. Key drivers include stakeholder pressures, market dynamics, operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and social responsibility. Barriers involve data complexity, lack of unified standards, and limited organizational capabilities. By consolidating fragmented insights, this review advances the conceptualization of CWA and outlines a future research agenda to support effective and accountable corporate water stewardship.