Introduction
Do you want to create your first stand-alone sustainability report but you’re not sure where to start? Have you wondered what internal steps you may need to take to start the sustainability reporting process at your company? Or have you created your first sustainability report and you’re not sure how to improve your approach?
There are many ways you can report on your sustainability strategy and impacts, either through a dedicated section in your annual report, an integrated report, a sustainability report, or on your corporate website. This article will specifically focus on how you can develop a meaningful stand-alone sustainability report, while referencing your annual report.
A benchmarking tool - where does your company sit?
You will have the opportunity to benchmark your company against three approaches to sustainability:
Initiator: If your company is starting this journey then you are most likely going to identify with this level.
Developer: This represents an intermediate level. If your company has an established sustainability strategy and either a well-developed sustainability section in your annual report, or you have already published your first sustainability report, you may identify with this level.
Leader: This represents an expert level. If sustainability is a core part of your company’s business model and you’ve had experience in sustainability reporting for a while, you are most likely to identify with this level.
I’ve benchmarked my company - what next?
Once you’ve identified your level, we can help develop a reporting roadmap, providing in-depth reporting recommendations across several reporting areas: interconnectivity, storytelling, business overview, materiality and strategy, performance, accountability and assurance, and specific issues (such as climate change, modern slavery and Covid-19).
After looking at the roadmap, you should be able to identify what actionable steps you need to take to improve your approach. It is important to remember it takes time to develop your sustainability reporting. The roadmap can be used over a few reporting cycles to get you to the level you aspire to.
If you'd like more information get in touch.
