RIASSUNTO
Despite the economic climate, there has been no downturn in the level of reporting on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Approximately 95% of the largest 250 companies now issue a formal CSR or sustainability report that describes their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. For many companies, producing an annual CSR report has become routine, and they have grown more comfortable with disclosing information and being more transparent.
The changes to the Global Reporting Initiative (G4) guidelines published in May 2013 reflect the general trend in CSR reporting towards increasing specificity of report content and detailed performance data. The changes in G4 require more focused reporting on the most relevant metrics as they relate to an organization’s sustainability context, with strong links to governance mechanisms and management approach. CSR surveys are also requiring a more robust analysis of what is material to an organization and its stakeholders; how the company impacts upon the environment and society; and what impacts upon the company.
In this paper, we review the general trends associated with CSR reporting citing examples from GRI and investor surveys such as the Carbon Disclosure Project. We make a comparative analysis of the top sustainability / CSR surveys and rankings, including RobecoSAM / Dow Jones, Newsweek, and Bloomberg’s ESG and Civic 50 rankings.
With the increased prominence of CSR rankings, companies are devoting more attention to these surveys. In addition, the depth of questioning is driving more comprehensive reporting and directing company activities. For example, surveys are increasingly focused on supply chain risks, particularly risks associated with access to strategic raw materials. Companies are now not only expected to mind their own business, but also to understand the policies and practices of their suppliers, particularly with regard to how they are mitigating any potential risk to supply.
The mechanisms for data gathering are also moving forward, albeit slowly. Many companies are still collecting data and calculating performance metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions using Excel spreadsheets. Larger companies may have on-line software tools, but these often still require significant manual “number-crunching” to obtain the required performance indicators.