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The value of sustainability reporting

Sustaincase — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 23:37:58 +0000

Sustainability/ESG reporting in accordance with the GRI Standards is a crucial element for companies to succeed in the long term. Crucial not only in the effort to protect our fragile environment and battle climate change but also for companies in identifying and taking action on their most important impacts on stakeholders that can hold them back from reaching their objectives. Sustainability reporting is an important tool that helps companies maintain and increase their value.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) promotes the use of sustainability reporting in order for companies and organizations to become more sustainable and be a vital part of a sustainable global economy. GRI has a mission: to make sustainability reporting standard practice. Thus, GRI produces free Sustainability Reporting Standards for all companies and organizations to report their economic, environmental, social and governance performance and positive or negative impacts.

Sustainability reporting will help your company identify key issues to focus on and, accordingly, improve productivity and reduce costs. Additionally, through gaining access to new markets and clients your company’s competitiveness will improve. And these are just some of the benefits.

Let us take a closer look at the main benefits of sustainability reporting, based on the experiences and testimonies of companies that GRI has engaged with in a number of projects:

Attracting, motivating and keeping employees. Sustainability reporting shows beyond doubt that your company takes sustainability issues seriously and is prepared to publicly discuss, measure and, most importantly, act on them. This will enhance your company’s reputation empowering, motivating and attracting employees committed to your company’s strategic objectives.
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Spotting strengths and weaknesses. The reporting process will help you identify and evaluate problem areas before they become unwelcome surprises and, also, discover unexpected opportunities ahead of your competitors. During the reporting process you may also realize that certain matters were not dealt with as well as you thought or had not been considered at all.
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Developing your sustainability vision and strategy. The reporting process will encourage and motivate your company to determine its vision and strategy for operating more sustainably and for providing more sustainable products and services.
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Improving management systems and setting goals. Sustainability reporting allows your company to track and appraise its performance, highlighting and making changes in areas that need improvement, such as productivity or business costs. Once your company starts reporting there will be increased expectations regarding its performance goals.
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Attracting funding. Lending institutions and investors increasingly take account of a company’s vision and performance in key sustainability issues when making funding decisions. A GRI reporting process will help your company manage sustainability issues more efficiently and be prepared to discuss openly its performance.
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Transparency and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability reporting will enhance your transparency and will be instrumental in building a solid relationship, based on mutual trust, with the company’s stakeholders whether these be clients, suppliers or shareholders, employees, local communities, NGOs or local government.
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Gaining competitive advantage. As sustainability reporting is still not common practice across all business sectors, your company can become a “leader in sustainability”.
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Improving your reputation, building trust and respect. Your company’s reputation, the trust and respect you have gained are of the utmost importance for your stakeholders. Accurate, honest, complete corporate reporting (reporting both on what goes well and on where there is room for improvement) builds trust and respect for your company.
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Related SustainCase section:

“Why Sustainability is important – Articles-Research”. The latest research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

The post The value of sustainability reporting appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Use the GRI Standards ASAP to accelerate positive change

Gerasimos — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 08:00:24 +0000

HOW WE ARE ACCELERATING POSITIVE CHANGE AND HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

We are offering for free the Highly Rated 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified, ISEP and CIM Recognised course (venue: London School of Economics) to any Chamber of Commerce or Business Membership Organisation that commits to publish a GRI Standards Sustainability Report within one year.

With the course you will learn how to take positive sustainability action ASAP using the GRI Standards: an all-round, complete, structured, and methodical approach used by 80% of the world’s largest 250 companies.

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This article lays out how companies or organisations can accelerate positive change with the use of the GRI Standards which are overwhelmingly, the chosen framework for CSR/ ESG/ SDG/ Sustainability reporting. Today, 80% of the world’s 250 largest companies report according to the GRI Standards.

Two major issues in today’s world – the bigger picture is material
1) Whilst there is a huge take-up of sustainability reporting by the largest companies globally, they only represent approximately 10% of the global economy. SMEs, which represent about 90%(1) of the global economy, are taking little or no action to address huge issues like climate change or their impacts on the economy and society.

2) We need to shift gears and accelerate change, dealing now with issues that are screaming ‘urgent’ – like taking action on climate change (2a) (2b) (2c). This has to be done now by the vast majority of companies, large and small, on a global scale. Companies must first identify their impacts and, then, must take focused action by measuring, managing and changing.

Evolving your GRI Standards report to one that matters
In view of the pressing sustainability issues we are facing, I firmly believe that companies must make every effort accelerate positive change Tweet This!. They must take a step back and see the forest, address environmental issues but also take positive action to develop the economies and societies on which they rely for growth and profit. US$12 trillion is the cherry on the cake (see below).

I propose that in addition to their material topics, companies report on:

1) four very important standards (descriptions below):

GRI Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed(3)
GRI Standard 203 Indirect Economic Impacts(4)
GRI Standard 308 Supplier Environmental Assessment(5)
GRI Standard 414 Supplier Social Assessment(6)

2) at least one positive impact on society, using any of the GRI Standards but, more specifically, GRI 201 and 203
3) how they implemented GRI’s Reporting Principles, which help them demonstrate that they are not greenwashing

How is a company treating the society on which it relies for growth and profit?
GRI Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed
With this disclosure companies must report and provide information on:

Direct economic value generated: revenues;
Economic value distributed: operating costs, employee wages and benefits, payments to providers of capital, payments to government by country, and community investments;
Economic value retained: ‘direct economic value generated’ less ‘economic value distributed’.

GRI Standard 203 Indirect Economic Impacts

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported
Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

What does this mean for the person in the street?

These are both marvellous GRI Standards that companies can use to report on their positive impacts. However, many companies see sustainability reporting as a tick box exercise and fail to realise the importance of using their strengths to tackle, head-on, the problems that seem to be always in the headlines. Imagine a world where most companies are finding solutions for the important issues in the societies they operate and rely on for profit/growth. Issues related to infrastructure, unemployment (most importantly, youth unemployment), support for local suppliers and economic development in areas of high poverty, or the availability of their products and services for those with low incomes.

License to operate – millennials
Millennials, who hold our future in their hands, are overwhelmingly pro-sustainability and are showing this with their every action. Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.(7)

Case studies of companies demonstrating positive impacts on the economy and society

Increasing supply chain pressure to get the smaller companies (that represent 90% of the global economy) to measure-manage-change
GRI Standards 308 and 414 supplier assessment (environment and social), used in combination with any of the other environmental or social standards, will accelerate positive change. Smaller companies wishing to be part of the supply chain of larger companies will, as a matter of fact, have to provide the information required by these standards. Most importantly, they will not be burdened with a full-scale report, as they will only be reporting on what matters (materiality).

What does this mean for the person in the street?

Experts on climate change are screaming ’emergency’, but politicians and other decision-makers around the world are either indifferent or dragging their feet, or not moving fast enough. Imagine a world where, despite these difficulties, the overwhelming majority of large companies, take action ASAP. A world where these companies take it upon themselves to clean their supply chains of emissions using GRI 308 Supplier Environmental Assessment in combination with GRI 305 Emissions. In essence, these companies will be using their buying power to implement the positive change that is so desperately needed and get the companies (SMEs) that are responsible for 90% of global economic activity to toe the line. At the same time, they will be able to tackle other key environmental issues (e.g. water, waste, biodiversity, and others).

Similarly, companies can leverage their strengths to implement positive outcomes for society. GRI 414 Supplier Social Assessment will help diminish bad practices in their supply chain. Companies will be able to address issues such as occupational health and safety, diversity and equal opportunity, child labour, forced or compulsory labour.

Case studies of companies cleaning their supply chain

How the GRI Principles can help companies avoid being accused of greenwashing
I believe that companies might hold back from implementing positive change, in fear of being accused of greenwashing. In the digital age we live in, information is instantly and freely accessible throughout the globe and this applies to companies, too: people are able to instantly access information about a company’s policies, the impact of its activity, its reputation, with or without the company’s consent(8). The GRI Reporting Principles go a long way in helping companies demonstrate that they are not greenwashing(9). By requiring companies to report according to these principles, GRI helps them create a first-class report regarding both content and quality, and demonstrate that they are taking solid, focused action (materiality) on their most important impacts. In essence, companies are building their armour and, if a question appears on social or other media, they are able to simply say ‘we are dealing with this impact in a responsible way, you can find information on how we are constantly improving in our GRI Standards Sustainability Report’.

Strategy – Strategy – Strategy
Seeing 90% of the ‘forest’ (SMEs taking action) is material
In my opinion, we need to step back and see the forest. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), responsible for around 90% of global economic activity, must begin to measure, manage and change. By using the proposed standards we:
1) put in place the foundation for a solid strategy to address the urgent sustainability issues outlined above
2) help companies demonstrate in no uncertain terms that they are spearheading positive change ASAP and promoting social and environmental responsibility throughout their supply chains(10)
3) get more of the SMEs, which represent 90% of global economic activity, to engage in focused reporting (material topics)
4) streamline reporting for SMEs that will not be burdened to provide a full report.

Action has to be taken yesterday – US$12 trillion is the cherry on the cake
In view of the pressing issues we are facing regarding the environment, economy and society, we need to take urgent action. I invite companies to take positive action now, using the above-mentioned GRI Standards and report their progress in their next reporting cycle. The cherry on the cake is not just creating a better, more sustainable world for all of us. According to the ‘Better Business, Better World’ report by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC), sustainable business practices will, by 2030, create, for corporations, tremendous market opportunities worth US$12 trillion Tweet This! (11).

GRI Standards – Comprehensive Option 2.0

Gerasimos — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 15:17:21 +0000

Opinion – if you agree please share

Taking CSR/ ESG/ SDG/ Sustainability reporting to the next level
The GRI Standards do a marvelous job in helping companies take sustainable decisions that matter for the Environment, Economy and Society. This is why they are, overwhelmingly, the chosen framework for CSR/ ESG/ SDG/ Sustainability reporting. Today, 80% of the world’s 250 largest companies report according to the GRI Standards.

The aim of this opinion piece

With this opinion piece, the aim is twofold: a) to show how the GRI Standards Comprehensive Option can be evolved ASAP with little effort to one that accelerates positive change and b) call on companies to take action now, using existing standards. The clock is ticking and time is not on our side…

Two major issues in today’s world
1) Whilst there is a huge take-up of sustainability reporting by the largest companies globally, they only represent approximately 10% of the global economy. SMEs, which represent about 90%(1) of the global economy, are taking little or no action to address huge issues like climate change or their impacts on the economy and society.
2) We need to shift gears and accelerate change, dealing now with issues that are screaming ‘urgent’ – like taking action on climate change (2a) (2b) (2c). This has to be done now by the vast majority of companies, large and small, on a global scale. Companies must first identify their impacts and, then, must take focused action by measuring, managing and changing.

Evolving the GRI Standards Comprehensive Option to one that matters
In view of the pressing sustainability issues we are facing, I firmly believe that the Comprehensive Option of the GRI Standards must evolve to 2.0, designed to accelerate positive change Tweet This!. The most important differences the Comprehensive Option has with Core, is that under Comprehensive, reporters must provide data for all General Disclosures and also give information on all disclosures for a topic defined as material.

I propose an updated Comprehensive Option, whereby companies, in addition to their material topics, will be required to report on:

1) four very important standards (descriptions below):

GRI Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed(3)
GRI Standard 203 Indirect Economic Impacts(4)
GRI Standard 308 Supplier Environmental Assessment(5)
GRI Standard 414 Supplier Social Assessment(6)

Making reporting under the Comprehensive option more targeted and effective
In addition to the above, I believe we must do away with reporting on all disclosures for a material topic and require companies to provide information on at least one disclosure – like the Core Option. Furthermore, a minimum number of General Disclosures that companies must report on should be set (it could be the same number of disclosures required with the core option). This will reduce the amount of information required and help companies focus on providing information that really matters and on how to bring positive change.

How is a company treating the society on which it relies for growth and profit? Businesses cannot succeed in societies that fail.
GRI Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed
With this disclosure companies must report and provide information on:

Direct economic value generated: revenues;
Economic value distributed: operating costs, employee wages and benefits, payments to providers of capital, payments to government by country, and community investments;
Economic value retained: ‘direct economic value generated’ less ‘economic value distributed’.

GRI Standard 203 Indirect Economic Impacts

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported
Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

What does this mean for the person in the street?

Licence to operate – millennials
The European Parliament and politicians around the world will do a big favour to their societies if they make it mandatory for large companies to report on at least the above (GRI 201, GRI 203), in order to gain, in real terms, the licence to operate. This will empower stakeholders in these societies to assess and compare companies and take appropriate decisions. Millennials, who hold our future in their hands, are overwhelmingly pro-sustainability and are showing this with their every action. Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.(7)

Increasing supply chain pressure to get the smaller companies to measure-manage-change
GRI Standards 308 and 414 supplier assessment (environment and social), used in combination with any of the other environmental or social standards, will accelerate positive change. Smaller companies wishing to be part of the supply chain of larger companies will, as a matter of fact, have to provide the information required by these standards. Most importantly, SMEs will not be required to produce a full-scale report, as they will only be reporting on what matters (materiality) with a GRI referenced report.

What does this mean for the person in the street?

Strategy – Strategy – Strategy
Seeing 90% of the ‘forest’ (SMEs taking action) is material
In my opinion, we need to step back and see the forest. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), responsible for around 90% of global economic activity, must begin to measure, manage and change. We should also refocus on the above-mentioned individual standards and reporting principles and, if/when needed, update/ streamline and make them more effective. By reconfiguring the Comprehensive Option we:
1) put in place the foundation for a solid strategy to address the urgent sustainability issues outlined above
2) give a real reason why large companies will use the comprehensive reporting option. They will demonstrate in no uncertain terms that they are spearheading positive change ASAP and promoting social and environmental responsibility throughout their supply chains(10)
3) get more of the SMEs, which represent 90% of the global economic activity, to engage in focused reporting (material topics)
4) streamline reporting for both large companies and SMEs that will not be required to provide a full report.

Could it all be in the name? Renaming Comprehensive to GRI-ActionPlus Option
Imagine how, through the GRI-ActionPlus Option, sustainability reporters will empower communication/ marketing/ PR departments of companies around the world. A mandatory GRI-ActionPlus logo on their Sustainability Report cover will enable them to demonstrate, through their GRI Sustainability Report and subsequent communication, that they are part of a positive chain reaction that is accelerating positive change around the globe.

Action has to be taken yesterday – US$12 trillion is the cherry on the cake
In view of the pressing issues we are facing regarding the environment, economy and society, we need to take urgent action. I invite companies to take positive action now, using the above-mentioned GRI Standards and report their progress in their next reporting cycle. Time is not on our side. The cherry on the cake is not just creating a better, more sustainable world for all of us. According to the ‘Better Business, Better World’ report by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC), sustainable business practices will, by 2030, create, for corporations, tremendous market opportunities worth US$12 trillion Tweet This! (11).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pitsillides

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

The post GRI Standards – Comprehensive Option 2.0 appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

We are running out of resources to sustain life

Gerasimos — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 05:49:39 +0000

According to a recent publication by HSBC, the world spent its entire natural resources budget for 2018, by 1 August. In 1970, these resources – as calculated by the Global Footprint Network on the basis of demand for natural resources and carbon emissions – lasted until 29 December. By the early 1980s, they were consumed by November, in the 1990s by September and, within a decade, by August.

The multiple and severe impacts of overconsumption

The impacts of this unprecedented consumption of natural resources are multiple and severe. They include a failure to support ecosystems, lack of freshwater, clean air and soil, and, most importantly, climate change.

Climate change makes extreme weather events, like wildfires and heatwaves, more likely to occur and more severe, and these events have significant economic, human and social consequences.

According to HSBC, adaptation to climate change will become increasingly important, focusing mostly on its social consequences. In addition, as these extreme weather events show, many governments and businesses around the globe are not sufficiently prepared to face climate impacts, and are not making efficient use of natural resources.

As a consequence, investors are pressed to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues and policies into investment decisions, and businesses will be under increasing pressure to become more sustainable Tweet This! and to develop and disclose their related strategies.

Note by the Editor:

The questions businesses and governments should be asking are:

Have we identified our most important impacts (materiality) on the environment, the economy and society?
Are we addressing our direct and indirect impacts?
Are we taking action in a responsible way?

Once we identify our most important impacts we should measure, manage and change. We should reduce our negative impacts and increase our positive impacts, both direct and indirect. For example, it is not enough for a large e-commerce company to just deal with the emissions it is directly responsible for (e.g. a few company cars). If it heavily relies on external courier services for delivery of orders, how is it dealing with their impacts? Is this company using, for instance, GRI Standard 308 Supplier Environmental Assessment in combination with GRI 305 Emissions to assess and choose the right suppliers?

Simon Pitsillides

SustainCase Editor

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

This article is based on published information by HSBC. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.gbm.hsbc.com/insights/energy-and-resources/earth-budget-already-spent

The post We are running out of resources to sustain life appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Improve the Quality of your GRI Standards Report

Gerasimos — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 06:30:51 +0000

GRI has launched the Disclosure Review Service, to be used by any organization producing a report in accordance with or referencing the GRI Standards. GRI’s aim with this service is to help organizations improve the quality of their reports.

“The improvements that organizations will be able to make by using GRI’s Disclosure Review Service will increase the transparency needed to build a better world,” said Shivani Rajpal, Head of Services at GRI.

Improving report quality with the Disclosure Review Service Tweet This!

The Disclosure Review Service will enable organizations to get valuable feedback on specific disclosures, which GRI will review to find out whether an organization has satisfied the information requirements of the GRI Standards.

It covers 10 strategically chosen disclosures, relating to how organizations approach materiality assessment and stakeholder engagement. Later in 2018, more disclosures will be added.

How does the Disclosure Review Service work?

GRI will review your organization’s draft report, to evaluate the organization’s reporting on the chosen disclosures from GRI 102: General Disclosures. GRI will complete the review in four to eight weeks. Upon successful completion of the service, organizations will receive from GRI an organizational mark with an additional statement, which they can use in their report.

Acting as a stakeholder, GRI will give detailed feedback, to help organizations better respond to the GRI Standards’ information requests. In addition, GRI will provide a final feedback report focused on the application of the Materiality and Stakeholder Inclusiveness Principles, to help organizations better prepare for future reports.

How much will the Disclosure Review Service cost?

The Disclosure Review Service will cost €4,000 for SMEs and not-for-profit organizations, and €5,000 for all other organizations. This is a first-year introductory price. For more information regarding the service and how to join, organizations may visit GRI’s Disclosure Review Service web page.

References:

This article is based on published information by GRI. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.globalreporting.org/information/news-and-press-center/Pages/Improve-the-quality-of-your-report-with-GRI%E2%80%99s-new-Disclosure-Review-Service.aspx

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Case study: How Delta promotes employee health, safety and security

Gerasimos — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:25:09 +0000

As a global aviation leader, with 180 million customers in the United States and around the globe and 335 destinations in 58 countries, employing 84,245 people, Delta tries to provide a healthy and safe workplace for all employees Tweet This!, through a range of safety and health policies, regulations and programs.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Delta published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Creating a proactive safety culture for all employees, through a number of procedures and initiatives intended to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, is a key priority for Delta. In order to promote employee health, safety and security Delta took action to:

improve safety at facilities through annual Safety Business Plans
increase employee awareness of health and safety through the National Safety Month
offer health benefits to employees
protect the health of traveling employees

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What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta identified a range of material issues, such as environmental compliance, community support and engagement, carbon emissions/climate change, customer service, supply chain management, financial performance. Among these, promoting employee health, safety and security stands out as a key material issue for Delta.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Delta engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Investors	· Annual shareholder meetings · Annual report, quarterly earnings and proxy statement · External recognition, ratings and rankings · Investor Day
Customers	· Customer Satisfaction Survey · Social media
Employees	· Employee Satisfaction Survey · Employee Involvement Group (EIG) · TechOps EIG · Reservations Liaison for Information Networking and Communication (ResLINC) · Airport Customer Service and Cargo Frontline Involvement Team (FIT) · Velvet-360 Tour · Town Hall Program · Delta Board Council
Suppliers	· Supplier ESG Assessment · Supplier Diversity (MBE, WBE and SBE) engagement
Governments	· Collaborative partnerships with governments and NGOs around the world
Nongovernmental organizations	· Industry associations · External recognition, ratings and rankings
Communities	· Delta Air Lines Foundation · Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritize material issues Delta distributed a questionnaire focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to stakeholder groups that included customers, employees, investors, governments, suppliers, nongovernmental organizations and communities.

What actions were taken by Delta to promote employee health, safety and security?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Delta reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee health, safety and security:

Improving safety at facilities through annual Safety Business Plans
Every Delta facility prepares an Annual Safety Business Plan, to ensure prevention of incidents and regulatory compliance. Moreover, Safety Business Plans describe how to plan, organize, communicate, apply, measure and enforce workplace safety procedures. In addition, Safety Business Plans include elements such as a hazard prevention and control plan, an overview of involvement by employees and a health and safety training plan.

Increasing employee awareness of health and safety through the National Safety Month
Each June, Delta celebrates the National Safety Month. During the National Safety Month, Delta provides employees with health and safety information regarding specific areas of focus, and health and safety fairs take place at Delta’s facilities.

Offering health benefits to employees
Delta employees are provided with a range of health benefits through various programs and initiatives. These benefits include:
- dental, vision and flexible spending account benefits for eligible employees
- 100% coverage for preventive care services through the Delta Account-Based Healthcare Plan
- support with healthcare questions and needs through the Delta Health Direct program
- confidential counseling, evaluation and referral service support for employees and their eligible family members through Delta’s Employee Assistance Program
- a minimum six weeks of 100% pay maternity leave, for all U.S.-based expectant mothers
- rewards dollars for completing specific health actions (such as not using tobacco products), that help U.S. employees and their spouses or same-sex domestic partners achieve health goals, through Delta Health Rewards (a voluntary, incentive-based wellness program)

Protecting the health of traveling employees
To protect the health of employees on business travel Delta:
- makes sure they are offered travel health consultation and company-paid vaccine coverage, anti-malaria medication and insect repellent
- implements a new WHO International Health Regulation relating to lifetime yellow fever vaccination status
- provides medical support to employees who become ill or injured while traveling internationally on company business

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-LA2: Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees, by significant locations of operation – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 401-2 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees

2) G4-LA6: Type of injury and rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and total number of work-related fatalities, by region and by gender – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 403-2 Types of injury and rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities

3) G4-LA8: Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 403-4 Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom (venue: London School of Economics)

Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP.
Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Delta, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalre porting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Delta: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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Case study: How GRI engages with its stakeholders and acts on their feedback

Gerasimos — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 10:36:29 +0000

GRI is a global, independent organization that helps companies, governments and other organizations identify and communicate their impacts, as regards vital sustainability issues.

80% of the world’s 250 largest companies issue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports in accordance with the GRI Standards.
111 policies across 50 countries reference GRI.
The UN Global Compact and GRI have introduced an innovative action platform whereby the GRI Standards will be used by companies wishing to take action and report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This case study is based on the 2014-2015 Combined Report by GRI published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

GRI recognizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder engagement in promoting transparency. Tweet This! Thus, as a multi-stakeholder organization, GRI aims at reinforcing an inclusive stakeholder engagement in its actions and projects, considering its stakeholders’ views. In order to engage with its stakeholders and act on their feedback GRI took action to:

establish an efficient communication channel between the management and employees
acknowledge and comply with donors’ expectations
engage Alignment Service clients
develop the G4 Monitoring Program
introduce the Corporate Leadership Groups

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What are the material issues the organization has identified?

In its 2014-2015 Combined Report GRI identified a range of material issues, such as ethical fundraising, coordination, feedback, complaints and action, public awareness and advocacy, employment, training and education, diversity and equal opportunity. Among these, engaging with its stakeholders and acting on their feedback stands out as a key material issue for GRI.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Key stakeholder groups GRI engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Governance bodies	· Calls · Emails · Meetings · Webinars · GRI Newsletter
Staff members	· Calls · Emails · Meetings · iGRI News · Staff Satisfaction Survey
Academics	· Calls · Emails
Assurance providers	· Calls · Emails · Site visit
Bloggers	· Emails
Capital market operators, investors and analysts	· Calls · Emails · Meetings · Events
Certified Software and Tools Providers	· Calls · Emails
Civil society organizations	· Formal consultation (related to SDG Compass) · Emails · Calls · Events
Consultants	· Calls · Emails · GRI newsletter
Data Partners	· Emails · GRI newsletter · LinkedIn Group · Webinar for new partners
Donors	· Calls · Emails · Meetings
Governmental Advisory Group members	· Calls · Emails · Meetings
GRI Certified Training Partners	· Calls · Emails · Webinars · OS newsletter
Labor	· Meetings · Letters
Media	· Calls · Emails · Social media · Press releases · GRI newsletter
NGOs	· Calls · Emails · Meetings · Events
Organizational Stakeholders (OS)	· Calls · Emails · Webinars · OS newsletter
Partner organizations	· Calls · Emails · Meetings
Policy makers and regulators (government agencies)	· Calls · Emails · Meetings · Events
Reporters	· Emails
Service clients (including clients of Materiality Disclosures and Application Level Services)	· Emails · Calls
Suppliers	· Calls · Emails

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify “what matters, where it matters”, GRI conducted a stakeholder engagement survey among more than 21,000 external and 147 internal stakeholders. GRI asked stakeholders to prioritize its material aspects and, possibly, suggest additional topics. In addition, GRI contacted, with regard to its impacts, 33 stakeholders through different channels, including email and/or telephone.

What actions were taken by GRI to engage with its stakeholders and act on their feedback?

In its 2014-2015 Combined Report GRI reports that it took the following actions for engaging with its stakeholders and acting on their feedback:

Establishing an efficient communication channel between the management and employees
The Executive Management Team (EMT) built a solid communication channel with GRI’s employees, by asking for their feedback when defining policies. GRI asks for employee feedback through:
- monthly staff meetings
- quarterly updates and Q&A sessions with GRI’s Chief Executive
- ad-hoc topic meetings
- the monthly internal newsletter (iGRI News)
- communication via GRI’s intranet and surveys
Moreover, the GRI Works Council engages employees in internal activities and guarantees that their opinions are taken into account when determining policies and procedures that significantly impact them.

Acknowledging and complying with donors’ expectations
As GRI is a non-profit organization, successful engagement with donors is essential, taking into account that deliverables must correspond to both GRI’s and donors’ objectives. Furthermore, constant communication via email, phone calls and face-to-face meetings is highly important for designing and implementing activities that correspond to donors’ expectations and goals. In addition, the Fundraising Committee and Fundraising Team focus on ensuring appropriate engagement, by applying a specific management tool, developed for this purpose.

Engaging Alignment Service clients
GRI maintains that engaging and considering stakeholders’ feedback is vital for developing its services. When a new service is developed or tested, GRI engages with its broad network of stakeholders. In 2015, an ongoing customer satisfaction survey for Alignment Service clients was introduced, to guarantee that GRI is adequately informed on matters related to user experience.
Additionally, the organizations completing GRI’s Alignment Services are urged to participate in the survey carried out afterwards. The survey includes precise questions related to the service provided and its benefits. Stakeholders may share opinions, feedback or recommendations and are informed on any developments and modifications via the GRI monthly newsletter, webinars, and frequent email communication.

Developing the G4 Monitoring Program
GRI developed the G4 Monitoring Program, aiming to:
- gather stakeholder perspectives on G4’s advantages and disadvantages
- find areas that may need clarifications
- record stakeholders’ impressions regarding G4
Feedback is obtained through an online feedback form.

Introducing the Corporate Leadership Groups
In 2015, GRI introduced the Corporate Leadership Groups (Sustainability and Reporting 2025 and integrated reporting), so as to strengthen engagement with reporting organizations. The majority of programmes and projects in the Organizational Stakeholders (OS) programme include responding to OS’s community inquiries.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-26: Report the organization’s approach to stakeholder engagement, including frequency of engagement by type and by stakeholder group, and an indication of whether any of the engagement was undertaken specifically as part of the report preparation process and the updated GRI Standard is: GRI 102-43: Approach to stakeholder engagement

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom (venue: London School of Economics)

Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP.
Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by the Global Reporting Initiative, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.globalreporting.org/resourcelibrary/GRIs%20Combined%20Report%202014-2015.pdf
(November 2015)

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to the Global Reporting Initiative: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How GRI engages with its stakeholders and acts on their feedback appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK): Millennials love CSR

Gerasimos — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 17:17:47 +0000

Based on the findings of relevant surveys, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) identified a number of key behaviour patterns in millennial consumers (18- to 34-year-olds) regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

81% of millennials would like companies to publicly commit to CSR values

92% of millennials would choose to buy from a company committed to ethical business practices

64% of millennial females bought, in the past year, a cause-related product

82% of millennials would strive to be employed by a company recognized for its commitment to business ethics

More than 9 out of 10 millennials would change brands to a cause-related one

73% of millennials would pay extra for sustainable offerings – a significant increase from 50% in 2014

Moreover, according to the surveys, millennials would:

buy environmentally or socially beneficial products
offer voluntary support for a cause promoted by a trusted company
express their views to a company regarding its CSR programs
mention to their friends and family a company’s CSR initiatives

References:

This article was compiled using a publication by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the links below:

https://exchange.cim.co.uk/infographic/millennials-love-csr/?utm_source=Exchange%20newsletter&utm_campaign=Exchange%20newsletter&utm_medium=Email&_cldee=c2ltb25AZmJyaC5ldQ%3d%3d&recipientid=contact-45545ffae8f4e4118103c4346bad1218-c1c53dcf21664731945075fba1549b47&esid=6f74b51b-5aaa-e611-80ef-5065f38bc591&urlid=2

https://www.philanthropy.com/items/biz/pdf/AflacCorporateSocialResponsibility.pdf

http://www.conecomm.com/research-blog/2015-cone-communications-millennial-csr-study

http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2015/the-sustainability-imperative.html

The post Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK): Millennials love CSR appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Case study: How Deutsche Telekom promotes data privacy and security

Gerasimos — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 09:12:42 +0000

As a leading global information and telecommunications technology company, present in over 50 countries worldwide and with 165 million mobile customers, 28,5 million fixed-network lines and 18,5 million broadband lines, promoting data privacy and security is a top priority for Deutsche Telekom Tweet This!, in trying to gain customers’ trust.

This case study is based on the 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report by Deutsche Telekom published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

According to a survey conducted by TNS Emnid for Deutsche Telekom in February 2016, nearly half of the German population (48%) has fallen victim to Internet crime. Guaranteeing data privacy and security is, thus, highly important for Deutsche Telekom. In order to promote data privacy and security Deutsche Telekom took action to:

publish an annual data privacy and Transparency Report
provide employees with data privacy training
annually audit data privacy standards
raise employee awareness about data privacy

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What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report Deutsche Telekom identified a range of material issues, such as ICT solutions for a low-carbon economy, service quality, ICT and child safety, cyber safety, talent acquisition, retention, development and staff reduction, climate change mitigation. Among these, promoting data privacy and security stands out as a key material issue for Deutsche Telekom.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Key stakeholder groups Deutsche Telekom engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
General public / all stakeholders	· Annual CR report · Telekom.com/responsibility · We Care app magazine
Employees	· engagement@telekom corporate citizenship program · Telekom Social Network · Internal events such as Guiding Principles Day
Customers	· Free 24-hour service · Used cell-phone collection campaigns · Involvement in product development
Suppliers	· Development programs for suppliers · CR Stakeholder Forum
Analysts and investors	· SRI roadshows · Webinars
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)	· Collaborations · Stakeholder dialog
Politics	· Political advocacy at EU, Germany-wide and state level · Memberships, e.g., in the ZIRP Rhineland-Palatinate initiative for the future (www.zirp.de)
Journalists	· Workshops, e.g., with Deutsche Journalistenschule students
Compliance experts	· Exchange and membership in international and national organizations
Corporate partners	· Collaborations and partnerships for the development of sustainable solutions

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritize material aspects Deutsche Telekom evaluated the results of an online stakeholder survey among 312 stakeholders (including customers, employees, analysts and investors, NGO representatives, suppliers and others).

What actions were taken by Deutsche Telekom to promote data privacy and security?

In its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report Deutsche Telekom reports that it took the following actions for promoting data privacy and security:

Publishing an annual data privacy and Transparency Report
Deutsche Telekom was the first DAX-30 company to publish an annual data privacy report in 2008, regarding all relevant processes, and since 2011 has been also publishing an integrated data privacy and data security report. Additionally, since 2014 Deutsche Telekom has been publishing an annual Transparency Report, relating to the amount and types of information shared by the company with German and international security agencies.

Providing employees with data privacy training
Every two years Deutsche Telekom’s employees receive data privacy training, with specific trainings carried out in the company’s customer and human resources departments to minimize the risk of data abuse, which include online courses, presentations, and face-to-face courses on topics such as “Data privacy at call centers”.

Annually auditing data privacy standards
Deutsche Telekom carries out an annual data privacy audit, intended to measure and improve the company’s general data privacy standards. In 2015, 30 per cent of Deutsche Telekom’s employees were randomly chosen and interviewed online, with the data privacy audit accompanied by data privacy officers’ self-assessments at Deutsche Telekom’s national companies, relating to the implementation of the Binding Corporate Rules on Privacy.

Raising employee awareness about data privacy
Deutsche Telekom launched, in January 2015, an international campaign aimed at increasing employee awareness of data privacy’s importance. Approximately 150 employees participated in the “Don’t give the data slob a chance” ideas competition, addressing the issue of dealing with data privacy lightly in a number of ways, including cartoons and videos.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR8: Total number of substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom (venue: London School of Economics)

Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP.
Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Deutsche Telekom, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalre porting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Deutsche Telekom: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Deutsche Telekom promotes data privacy and security appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Harvard Business School study: Companies implementing sustainability policies outperform those who fail to do so

Gerasimos — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 17:10:53 +0000

Robert G. Eccles, Ioannis Ioannou and George Serafeim carried out a study exploring the impact of corporate sustainability on a company’s organizational procedures and performance, using a sample of 180 US companies divided in two groups: 90 companies identified as ‘High Sustainability’ companies, implementing environmental and social policies and initiatives over a number of years, and 90 companies identified as ‘Low Sustainability’, implementing no such policies or initiatives.

‘High Sustainability’ companies outperform ‘Low Sustainability’ ones

According to the study, ‘High Sustainability’ firms ‘are able to attract better human capital, establish more reliable supply chains, avoid conflicts and costly controversies with nearby communities (i.e., maintain their license to operate), and engage in more product and process innovations in order to be competitive under the constraints that the integration of social and environmental issues places on the organization’.

Stock market performance: The study is quite clear on how ‘High Sustainability’ firms outperform ‘Low Sustainability’ ones: ‘Investing $1 in the beginning of 1993 in a value-weighted (equal-weighted) portfolio of High Sustainability firms would have grown to $22.6 ($14.3) by the end of 2010. In contrast, investing $1 in the beginning of 1993 in a value-weighted (equal-weighted) portfolio of control firms would have only grown to $15.4 ($11.7) by the end of 2010.’

‘High Sustainability firms generate significantly higher stock returns, suggesting that indeed the integration of such issues into a company’s business model and strategy may be a source of competitive advantage for a company in the long-run. A more engaged workforce, a more secure license to operate, a more loyal and satisfied customer base, better relationships with stakeholders, greater transparency, a more collaborative community, and a better ability to innovate may all be contributing factors to this potentially persistent superior performance in the long-term.’

References:

1) http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/SSRN-id1964011_6791edac-7daa-4603-a220-4a0c6c7a3f7a.pdf

2) http://www.fbrh.eu/en/csr-sustainability-facts-and-research

Note by the editor: This article was compiled using published information by the Harvard Business School which is located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the article’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the original link: http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=47307

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