Creating a better future

Online Sustainability Reports

I'm about to start a comparative review of Sustainability reports published online. I have two questions:

Who, in your opinion, does it well?
What criteria would you use to assess how successful an online report is?

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Permalink Reply by adrian on February 26, 2009 at 1:54pm: I should add that so far the following have been suggested to me:
Vodafone
BHP
Land Securities
BP
ANZ
Marks and Spencers - Plan A
News Media's 1 Degree Program; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Leon Young on February 26, 2009 at 1:58pm: Regarding the first question, are you asking which companies have published a good sustainability report, or which consultancies are good at preparing them?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by adrian on February 26, 2009 at 2:42pm: The question is about the credibility of a sustainability report published in online format. It'd be good to know what people in the industry think is important when assessing an online sustainability report.

I'm seeking two kinds of insights:
1. which online reports are easiest to use, best presentation of information and so-on
2. which online reports best achieve the aims of a sustainability report, and on what basis should we assess their credibility.

Whether a consultant has prepared the report is probably a contributive aspect of both questions - and that's also the kind of insight I'm looking for.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ivan Goloborodko on May 7, 2009 at 7:42pm: Two good places to look are - and Global Environmental Management Initiative (gemi.org) and Banarra (www.banarra.com.au).

I guess as with any document - clear and honest communication stating current situation, plan and implementation. Ideally verified by third parties.

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Permalink Reply by Mans Carlsson-Sweeny on June 16, 2009 at 6:59pm: Hi, I am currently working as a research analyst on sustainability in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland). I cannot answer your first question in terms of Australian companies but have quite a few examples in the Nordics, e.g. companies like Novozymes and Danisco. In my view, the following aspects are key when reviewing sustainability reports: clear comparisons year to year in terms of environmental impact and resource efficiency (plus commentary on what has changed), clear targets and progress reports on these targets, a description on how the company's sustainability policies apply to other players in the value chain, i.e. suppliers, customers, etc.

Get in touch if you'd like to have a longer chat about this topic.

Cheers,

Mans; ▶ Reply to This