Posts Tagged ‘GRI’

New integrated reporting framework could compel companies to embrace transparency

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Public consultation on the draft International Integrated Reporting Framework is in full swing. Events have been held around the world to bring the <IR> Framework to the attention of a wide range of stakeholders, including the sustainability community.

Speakers at the London event certainly gave it their support with comments ranging from “the catalyst to pull all strands of reporting together” to “an opportunity to demonstrate accountability and allow people to make correct judgements on companies based on accurate information”.

Integrated reporting is about reporting with integrity. We live in an increasingly connected, compressed and complex world, where economic boundaries are collapsing. This presents uncertainty but also great opportunity. We need a new way of working in this globalised world with newly empowered stakeholders – and communication should be at the heart.

The <IR> Framework will offer significant opportunities to companies that follow it.

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GRI Focal Point USA can spark US companies to up their game on sustainability reporting

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

I had the honor to be at the New York Stock Exchange this week for the GRI Focal Point USA launch which puts “resources on the ground” for current and future sustainability reporters in the form of sustainability veteran and reporting expert Mike Wallace, GRI Director.

Webcast live, the event was attended by more than 200 representatives of US corporate GRI reporters, Wall Street investment firms, major accounting firms and organizational stakeholders such as Two Tomorrows. While some participants expressed disappointment at not getting to ring the opening bell, for many of us just being in the hallowed “cathedral of capital” was excitement enough.

For the GRI to establish a US presence brings the Amsterdam-based organization full circle. Originally launched as an initiative of Boston-based Ceres in 1999, the GRI was the brainchild of Alan White (present at Monday’s event) and co-founder Robert Massey.

In his opening remarks, GRI Chief Executive Ernst Ligteringen was direct in his rationale for setting up shop stateside: Despite the overall growth in sustainability reporting worldwide and year-over-year uptake of the GRI reporting framework, the US continues to lag Europe when it comes to GRI reporting.
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The great GRI debate

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

The third in my series of posts on CR and sustainability reporting. This time, I’m looking at an issue that comes up a lot in my discussions with would-be reporters: the GRI guidelines and their pros and cons . . . 

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines are viewed with mixed feelings by reporters. At Two Tomorrows, we helped shape the original guidelines and are an official ‘organisational stakeholder’ of GRI, so of course we’re broadly supportive. But we do understand the reservations some companies have, and frequently support those who don’t use GRI at all.
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It’s never too early to start reporting

Friday, August 28th, 2009

I am going to look at various aspects of corporate responsibility and sustainability reporting in a series of ‘reporting notes’ over the next few weeks. First, some thoughts for newbie reporters . . .

When it comes to sustainability reporting, companies often struggle, either with what to report, how to report it, or why they’re reporting. Sometimes all three. Many also struggle with gathering the raw data for the report.
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