Thinking about producing a sustainability report, but not quite sure what sustainability reporting is or where to start? Don't worry, we'll help you get started. Let's take a closer look at what a sustainability report is, what it should contain and how to get started.
What is sustainability reporting?
A sustainability report is a way to showcase and clarify what a company has achieved in its work towards long-term sustainable development. The report itself should contain all the information needed to understand the consequences of the company's activities and how it affects the world around it. There are certain sustainability reporting requirements that should be checked off.
What should a sustainability report contain?
A sustainability report should according to law cover five different areas: environment (e.g. energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants), social and human resources (e.g. gender equality, working conditions, health and safety, dialogue with local communities), human rights and anti-corruption.
This means that you should explain how your company impacts these areas, both positively and negatively, and what you are doing to achieve a better result. This could involve carbon offsetting for negative environmental impacts or long-term work to transition to more sustainable production.
Questions to ask yourself for sustainability reporting in relation to these five areas:
- Is the area relevant to your business?
- What impact does the company have?
- How is the company affected?
CSRD - the future of sustainability reporting
With the introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), sustainability reporting is taking a big step forward. The CSRD aims to increase transparency around companies' environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, by expanding reporting requirements to include all large companies as well as listed companies in the EU. This initiative will require companies to provide a more detailed and standardized picture of their sustainability impact.
In order to adapt to these new requirements, companies should start evaluating their current reporting processes and prepare to meet the stricter standards of the CSRD. By doing so, companies can not only comply with the legislation but also showcase their commitment to sustainability, thereby strengthening their brand and relationships with stakeholders.
How to get started with sustainability reporting
- Understand the requirements: Identify which reporting standards are relevant for your company.
- Collect data: Implement systems to collect the necessary data.
- Analyze and report: Analyze data and create a report that is easy to understand and transparent.
- Communicate the results: Share the report with stakeholders and use it to improve the company's sustainability strategy.
Want to know more about how Stratsys can help you with your sustainability work? Read more here about the product CSRD sustainability management or contact us directly.
