(4) R&D Cost
Question 42: How is R&D cost calculated and reported?
Answer
For R&D cost which is closely related to a company’s business strategy, there are individual standards for handling this cost established under financial accounting practices.
Under financial accounting standards, the definition of research and development is clearly laid out. In the beginning, it is uncertain whether R&D will actually produce revenue in the future. For this reason, R&D, when initially incurred, is not recorded as an asset, but rather as an expense. For example, if R&D is carried out for a specific purpose and the particular technology can not be used in other machinery or if a patent is taken out, the cost of the R&D is recorded as an expense and categorized as environmental conservation cost.
In contrast, capital investment for the purpose of R&D, and which will serve a variety of purposes, is recorded as a fixed asset and is not considered an environmental conservation cost.
Consequently, under financial accounting, the majority of R&D costs are handled as an expense as opposed to a fixed asset. Reflecting this, R&D cost under environmental accounting is recorded as an expense and not an investment in most cases.
Question 43: What are some points to watch out for regarding R&D cost?
Answer
For R&D cost, while it is possible to classify R&D by theme when related to the environment, it is difficult to accurately pinpoint cost. The purpose of product development focuses on the development of environmental technologies with the aim of increasing sales as opposed to conserving the environment. Basic research itself generally contains elements aimed at creating environmentally conscious products. But because it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which these activities focus on analytical technology and development related to the environment , it is not easy to decide if these are actually environmental conservation cost.
In addition, once R&D cost is determined to be environmental conservation cost, there are other factors which must be considered. Difficulties such as estimating the timeframe of research for environmental impact reduction and proportionally dividing cost related to the manufacturing of a prototype. Therefore attention must be given to how to handle complex cost.
Because of this, there are companies which establish an allocation ratio of R&D cost which it recognizes as environmental conservation cost. For example, some companies use an allocation ratio of 50%. Others use standards based on R&D items as determined by head researchers or individual departments to proportionally divide up cost.
(5) Social Activity Cost
Question 44: What are the focal points of social activity cost?
Answer
Social activity cost is the environmental conservation cost used to widely make contributions to society. This cost is not recorded as a part of ordinary business activity cost.
Industrial afforestation overseas carried out by a paper company as a part of its business activities or nature conservation activities which constitute a part of a company’s business are not social activity cost. These activities can be considered to be environmental business. Refer to Question 89 on how to apply environmental accounting to environmental business.
Question 45: Why are nature conservation cost and the cost for the planting of greenery divided into administration cost and social activity cost?
Answer
Cost for environmental improvement actions such as nature conservation, planting of greenery, beautification, and maintenance of the landscape is categorized depending on whether the activity is conducted within the business area or in the region surrounding the business area. This is not an intentional effort to strictly outline management based on area but classification based on the actual scope of business activities.
Consequently, those items falling within the scope of actual business activities are administration cost. Those items not directly related to the scope of business activities are social activity cost. For example, the planting of greenery on a voluntary basis to prevent desertification is a social activity cost. The planting of trees on company property is a social activity cost if it offers a sense of freedom or relaxation to the surrounding community, though the planting was done on company land.
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