Session 12, van Wersch

CSR ReportingProduction of a CSR Report as a way of

improving CSR strategy

“To know me is to love me”

If CSR is about a company’s license to operate and/or grow, stakeholder engagement clearly qualifies as a key element in CSR.

Without properly informing its stakeholders, no organization will be able to conquer the hearts and minds of its clients, neighbors, suppliers or employees.

A CSR report is an important means of communication with stakeholders.

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES

SUSTAINABILITYASSESSMENT

SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

MONITORING & EVALUATION

COMMUNICATION& REPORTING

CSR Reporting: why?Internal• Contribution to policy making:

vision on ambitions and goals• Enforcement CSR management• Base for benchmarking and

improvements• Transparancy: information and

awareness • Motivation and commitment

Challenge management and employees

External– Information– External visibility / positioning– Base for external consultation– Transparency– Credibility– Shareholders expectations

Start a dialogue with stakeholders

Trends

Do it right the first time

Our experience taught us that:

Companies find it difficult to identify stakeholders and involve them in selecting CSR issues for the annual report. But when they manage to do it, the added value is enormous.

Stakeholdermatrix

Our experience taught us that:

The issue selection is important to assure the credibility of the report. Once the issues are selected, the quest for relevant data often takes more time than expected. Also data is less accurate and specific as expected. But when the data flow on sustainability finally works, it is an asset for several years to come.

Materialitymatrix

Our experience taught us that:

Reporting according to the GRI guidelines gives credibility to the report. However… the GRI framework is often perceived as an inflexible and obligatory list of items to be reported on. The perception is that it hinders the selection of key issues for the report. But self-confident companies forget the framework, make their own selections, and end up with GRI-proof reports.

GRI Reporting Framework

Part 1

Part 2

Easy-to-use Format

Our experience taught us that:

Sustainability reporting is a living process and tool, and does not begin or end with a printed or online publication. Reporting should fit into a broader process for setting organizational strategy, implementing action plans, and assessing outcomes. Reporting enables a robust assessment of the organization’s performance, and can support continuous improvement in performance over time. It also serves as a tool for engaging with stakeholders and securing useful input to organizational processes.

Thank you for your attention

Carolien Gadella – van Werschwersch@beco.nl