Framework for Sustainability Reporting Professor Doug Cerf

Framework for Sustainability Reporting

Professor Doug CerfDonald Bren Graduate School of

Environmental Science and ManagementCorporate Environmental Management (ESM 281)

Spring 2010

Printed on recycled paper-actually

better, not printed at all

This discussion is on—

• how/where/why sustainable reporting is done

• as opposed to…..

• determining the sustainable performance of a firm through evaluation of sustainable reports



Sustainable vs. financial reporting

• What is the driver for various stakeholders?– Financial reporting-related to investor and has a direct financial impact – Non financial (sustainable reporting)

• long term business value financial impact to investors

• Mandatory or voluntary• Guidelines for each type of reporting• Audit/assurance for each type of reporting• Frequency of each type of reporting

– Sustainability reporting is less regular than financial reporting• Disclosure, income management• Public relations component• Distribution system for each reporting system

– Implications of including environmental disclosures in required financial reporting• Both are evolving

– Move to International Financial Reporting Standards for US Corporations



Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

• a multi-stakeholder process • mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable

sustainability reporting guidelines.• voluntary use by organizations for reporting on...

– economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services.

• 717 organizations in 2008 from around the world report using the GRI– the world's de facto standard for reporting.– 60 US companies– List of companies reporting available on GRI website

• http://www.globalreporting.org/GRIReports/2008ReportsList/



In October 2006 GRI released its second comprehensive set of reporting

guidelines—called the G3 Reporting Framework



G3 categories

• Defining Report Content• Defining Report Quality• Setting the Report Boundary• Profile Disclosures• Disclosure on Management Approach• Performance Indicators• Sector Supplements

– G3 Link: http://www.globalreporting.org/ReportingFramework/G3Online/



Reporting Boundaries of Sustainability report

• Organizations may have – complex internal structures, multiple subsidiaries, – joint ventures, and/or foreign operations. – significant use of outsourcing– Complicated supply chains– Distribution channels

• Particular care should be taken to match the scope of the report with the economic, environmental, and social “footprint” of the organization (i.e., the full extent of its economic, environmental, and social impacts).

• Any differences should be explained. • Is this too much to ask of firms?

– Do the benefits of reporting outweigh the cost of the systems?



Reporting Boundaries

Source: GRI boundaries exposure draft


better, not printed at allSource:GRI-G3 online



Technical protocols• GRI has developed reporting protocols for some

reporting categories• Reporters should use GRI technical protocols if

they are available • If an existing GRI protocol is not used,

– The reporting organization should clearly describe the measurement rules and methodologies used for data compilation.

• If a GRI protocol is not yet available, – reporting organizations should use their professional

judgment, drawing on international standards and conventions wherever possible.



Required Sustainable reporting

• Denmark, France, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and UK.



Integrated reports

• Some firms are integrating their sustainability report with their annual (financial) report– Examples:

• Novo Nordisk, Danish Pharmaceutical

• Danisco, Danish producer of food ingredients

• Dofasco Inc., Canadian Steel Company

• Most important benefit of integrated reporting is the sustainability metrics are part of the financial reporting distribution system



• “The trouble with most reports is that they have no natural audience other than a handful of SRI analysts.”

» Judy Kuszewski, SustainAbility Ltd.



Legitimacy Theory

• The role of environmental disclosures as tools of legitimacy: A research note (Accounting Organizations and Society, 2007)– In general, the findings provide additional support for the

argument that companies use disclosure as a legitimizing tool– Our tests document that total environmental disclosure is higher

for worst environmental performers. – Such disclosure is also higher for firms operating in

environmentally sensitive industries.– worse environmental performers made higher levels of non-

monetary environmental disclosures than their better performing counterparts



Are the firms producing sustainable reports sustainable?

• The companies with the best sustainability records produce sustainable reports

• The companies with the worst sustainability records produce the best reports

• Discussion



Earth in the Balance Sheet

• CFO article

• http://www.cfo.com/printable/article.cfm/10234097/c_10234153?f=options



Sustainability Reporting Project

• Goal, obtain a solid understanding of:• scope (what portion of the entity is included in the

report) and why.• geographic scope• impact of outsourced activities (if applicable)• the sustainable categories addressed • the technical protocols or other metrics used• assurance services used,• effectiveness of the report

Framework for Sustainability Reporting Professor Doug Cerf

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