2016 CRA Webinar Series Using Your Sustainability/CSR Report for Real Market Advantage
Thought Leadership Councils Rankings & Ratings Professional Development Brand & Reputation Management Responsible Supply Chain
Reading Currents Riding Waves & Making a Splash Using Your Sustainability/CSR Report for Real Market Advantage January 20th, 2016 Lorinda Rowledge Partner & Cofounder EKOS International Cynthia Figge Partner & Cofounder, EKOS COO and Cofounder, CSRHub LRowledge@EKOSi.com Cfigge@EKOSi.com
Who we are Lorinda Rowledge, PhD and Cynthia Figge have been consulting in business-driven sustainability for the last 20 years. We have been there, done that, and lived to tell the tales! EKOS International is a leading strategic sustainability consultancy, helping companies leverage sustainability as a key driver of competitive (and cooperative) advantage, engagement and innovation. We guide companies as they integrate sustainability/csr into their core business strategy, brand, and operations. EKOS specializes in sustainability-driven strategic planning, benchmarking, and reporting. Through strategic partnerships we leverage sustainability in brand building, open innovation and employee, supplier and customer engagement. CSRHub LLC is the world s leading CSR/ ESG/ Sustainability big data platform, aggregating ratings from more than 400 sources, including 10 major ESG analyst databases from: ASSET4 (Thomson Reuters), CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), IW Financial, MSCI (GovernanceMetrics, ESG Intangible Value Assessment, ESG Impact Monitor, and Carbon Metrics), RepRisk, Trucost and Vigeo- EIRIS. CSRHub has published data on more than 15,000 companies in 132 countries.
Reading Currents Riding Waves & Making a Splash Reading Currents: Understanding Rising Expectations, Investor & Analyst Ratings Trends in Sustainability/CSR Reporting Managing Investor Expectations for ESG Reporting Benchmarking Your Progress New Reporting Standards Riding Waves: Strategizing for Customer Loyalty, Employee and Stakeholder Engagement Amping Up The Benefits Of CSR Reporting [to various stakeholder groups including customers, investors, employees, communities and partners] Leveraging Public Reporting to Improve Your ESG Analyst Ratings Making a Splash: Enhancing Brand Value, Impacting the World Enhancing Your Brand Value Creating Impact Recommendations & Resources
Reading Currents Understanding Rising Expectations, Investor & Analyst Ratings Trends in Sustainability/CSR/ESG Reporting Managing Investor Expectations for ESG Reporting Benchmarking Your Progress New Reporting Standards
Trends in Sustainability/ CSR Reporting 75% of S&P 500 Index companies are now publishing sustainability reports, up from only 20% in 2011 http://www.ga-institute.com/nc/issue-master-system/news-details/article/3bl-media-and-governance-accountability-instituteannounce-partnership-to-improve-distributionan.html?tx_ttnews%5bbackpid%5d=1&chash=ded0d272a55b93ec8ba0b25c17093802 In 2015 CDP has data from over 5,000 companies with 880 institutional investor signatories holding assets of $95 trillion US Between 2007 and 2011 the number of GRI reports grew on average more than 30% per year http://sustainitsolutions.com/news/2015/gri-and-g3-to-g4-transition 44 major North American companies, including ExxonMobil, Bank of America and Google, each have developed an internal carbon price, according to CDP s report on https://www.cdp.net/cdpresults/global-price-on-carbon-report- 2014.pdf
CSR Report Typical Elements: GRI G4 Transparent disclosure regarding delegation of authority is a best practice. For GRI G4 reporting, answering additional Governance (G4-35 through G4-55) and Ethics (G4-57 through G4-58) disclosures is the main difference between delivering a comprehensivelevel report rather than a corelevel report. https://www.globalreporting.org/resourcelibrary/grig4-part1-reporting- Principles-and-Standard-Disclosures.pdf
Managing Investor Expectations for ESG Reporting Leading ESG Analysts ASSET4 (Thomson Reuters)* Bloomberg ESG CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)* Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (RobecoSAM)* IW Financial* MSCI (GovernanceMetrics, ESG Intangible Value Assessment, ESG Impact Monitor, and Carbon Tracker)* RepRisk* Sustainalytics Trucost* Vigeo-EIRIS* CSRHub sources*
Benchmarking Your Progress: CSRHub As One Tool 431 Sources 3,000 Data Types 94MM Data Points Community Employees Environment Governance Data elements Convert Map Remove Bias CSR Score
CSRHub Has Consistent Ratings On 15,000+ Companies in 132 Countries Company Name Community Dev & Philanthropy Community Human Rights & Supply Chain Product Compensation & Benefits Employees Diversity & Labor Rights Training, Health & Safety Apple Inc. 43 43 65 63 47 52 Sony Corporation 48 51 61 65 55 64 Amazon.com, Inc. 33 37 52 43 41 34 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 40 36 54 44 39 46 Microsoft Corporation 63 53 64 74 62 68 Environment Governance Company Name Energy & Climate Change Environment Policy & Reporting Resource Management Board Leadership Ethics Transparency & Reporting Apple Inc. 59 62 60 46 49 49 Sony Corporation 68 75 70 48 56 61 Amazon.com, Inc. 52 50 47 45 42 37 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 63 64 61 46 44 57 Microsoft Corporation 63 68 62 60 58 60
Benchmark Your Competitors Rankings
Performance Does Seem Driven By Transparency More Disclosure = Higher Ratings
CSRHub Ratings of Fortune 500 Over 7 Years Ratings based on 400 Companies of Fortune 500 for which CSRHub has data.
Many Reporting Frameworks and Tools Assurance, Presentation Analysis, materiality determination Data collection, definitions SASB, IIRC, Various stock exchanges, AT101, Credit360, CSRware, GSSB SASB, GRI, UN Global Compact, CDP, The Sustainability Consortium, EPEAT, SPC, Natural Capital, Enhesa, Emex SAP, Enablon, Schneider, EcoVadis, Source 44, Borealis, ISO 14000, ISO 26000, Bloomberg, GISR
SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) Process and Approach SASB developed the Sustainable Industry Classification System (SICS ) based on resource intensity and sustainability innovation potential. SICS maps back to the Bloomberg Industry Classification System (BICS) and is structured in 3 levels: industry, sub-sector, and sector. Any company that files reports (e.g., 10K and 10Q filings) with the SEC has been classified using SICS. SASB develops standards for each industry in SICS. SASB standards are rooted in evidence, informed by industry expertise, and shaped by consensus. SASB s standards development process includes evidence-based research, multi-stakeholder working groups, a 90-day public comment period, and a review by an independent standards council. SASB standards follow the U.S. Supreme Court s definition of material information, defined as presenting a substantial likelihood that the disclosure of the omitted fact would have been viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the total mix of the information made available. (TSC Indus. v. Northway, Inc., 426 U.S. 438 (1976) This definition of materiality has a singular and unwavering focus on the reasonable investor s decision to buy, sell, or hold a security.
SASB Process for Uncovering Disclosure Topics http://www.sasb.org/materiality/materiality-assessment/
CSRHub Coverage of SASB SICS Companies US Publicly Traded Companies in the SICS List # of Companies # That Have Some Sustainability Data # That Receive CSRHub Ratings # That Are Fully Rated by CSRHub 18,208 6,813 4,413 3,867
EKOS CSRHub SASS Report http://www.csrhub.com/content/sustainable- accounting-standings-series-sass-metals-andmining- Industry/
Riding the Waves How can transparency, reporting and communications about Sustainability/CSR/ESG - Build customer and consumer loyalty? - Engage your workforce? - Engage suppliers? - Advance stakeholder dialogue? - Increase your social license to operate? - Satisfy and attract investors?
Amping Up the Benefits of CSR Reporting
Riding Waves: Strategizing for Customer Loyalty, Employee and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy: Guiding Principles Build Customer And Consumer Loyalty Engage Your Workforce Engage Suppliers Integrate into every aspect of the brand experience, every touchpoint, throughout the entire lifecycle Invite insights, input, participation, ideas, innovation, ownership Inform, enroll, engage, collaborate, co-brand Advance Stakeholder Dialogue Increase Your Reputation And Social License To Operate Satisfy And Attract Investors Build processes, platforms, infrastructure for two way communications and stakeholder engagement and collaboration Invest in transparent, authentic communication and brand engagement Proactively identify, address and convey ESG issues and actions
Riding Waves: Strategizing for Customer Loyalty, Employee and Stakeholder Engagement First Level - Build customer and consumer loyalty? - Engage your workforce? - Engage suppliers? - Advance stakeholder dialogue? - Increase your social license to operate? - Satisfy and attract investors? Second Level - Build business understanding of entire lifecycle impacts, risks and opportunities - Provide early detection - Inform improvement - Lay the groundwork for collaboration on innovation - Build vital relationships - Put money in the bank against future problems - Stimulate new strategic partnerships
Leveraging ESG Reporting to Improve Analyst Ratings: What Investors Care About Risk identification, reduction, mitigation, adaptation Financial performance and asset growth Opportunity identification and optimization Market responsiveness and agility Stability, resiliency, positioning for the future Brand value Fiduciary responsibility Positive change and impact in the world
Report: Fiduciary Duty in the 21 st Century fiduciary_duty_21st_century.pdf
CDP Evolution: Programs, Sectors, Linkages, Action
CDP & We Mean Business Climate Commitments https://www.cdp.net/en-us/pages/commit-to-action.aspx
365 Companies Commit to CDP Climate Actions 365 Companies as of Jan 2016: https://www.cdp.net/sitecollectionimages/projects/rtp/7%2012%2015%20map%20341%20companies.png https://www.cdp.net/en-us/pages/commit-to-action.aspx
Leveraging Reporting to Improve Analyst Ratings: Actions Accept ESG as strategic issue Gather intelligence: internal (policies, performance data, risks, reputation, etc.) and external (ratings and competitive standing, customer and market trends, regulatory pressures, asset owner policy, level of sustainability as investment theme, etc.) Identify material issues Examine strengths and weaknesses, threats and opportunities Identify communications gaps Identify performance gaps Develop performance improvement plan Develop engagement and communications strategy and plan, then EXECUTE Prepare to engage on ESG data, risks, opportunities, improvement strategies, approach, best practices REACT RAPIDLY to issues identified by investors
Making a Splash Enhancing Your Brand Value Creating Impact Recommendations Resources
EKOS International Brand+Sustainability CSR/Sustainability Integrated into Every Stage of Brand Journey BRAND EXPERIENCE BRAND EXPLORATION BRAND AMPLIFICATION BRAND IMPACT BRAND STRATEGY BRAND ENGAGEMENT BRAND INSIGHT EKOS International 2015
Creating IMPACT! Defining PURPOSE and Intended Impact in the World Impact Strategy Maps Impact Assessment Strategic Corporate Philanthropy Multi-stakeholder, Multi-sector Partnerships Paradigm of Collaboration Collective Impact Initiatives
Recommendations Read the Currents Ride the Waves Make a Splash Evolve your CSR/Sustainability disclosure, reporting and performance to the next level Prepare to report to GRI G4, SASB and other industryrelevant standards Fully integrate Sustainability/CSR into your core business strategy, products and operations Move beyond check the box materiality assessment engage employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders at a new level Benchmark your company s performance and strategically target improvement in reporting and performance Proactively communicate with analysts and raters Understand the importance of Sustainability/CSR to Brand Value Fully integrate Sustainability into your brand identify, strategy and communications Define your company s Grand Potential, Purpose and Intended Impact in the world Walk the Talk -- Align goals, strategies, communications and actions
Resources Software Platforms for CSR Reporting CRedit360 - specialist provider of sustainability software, gathering and managing sustainability data. CSRware - pioneer in the delivery of sustainability resource management software using a cloud-based model. EnableOn one of the leading provider of Sustainability, EH&S and Operational Risk Management Software OneReport - leading provider of corporate responsibility (CR) information management and reporting services. SAP performance management software to help companies manage sustainability. Scope5 - sustainability data management software tools helping organizations improve cost, revenue and risk management. Source Intelligence - provides innovative ways of accessing, managing and leveraging intelligence to drive sustainable supply chain management. Sustainable Minds - B2B cloud provider of environmental product transparency applications, data and services to help product manufacturers design and market greener products. Tennaxia - leader offering EHS Regulatory Monitoring Software and CSR Reporting Software solutions. thinkstep provide data, decision-support and management solutions needed operations and supply chain to drive business performance sustainably.
Additional Resources Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) https://www.globalreporting.org/pages/default.asp x https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/pages/d efault.aspx CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) https://www.cdp.net/en- US/Pages/HomePage.aspx Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) http://www.sasb.org/ AccountAbility Redefining Materiality II Report http://www.accountability.org/images/content/6/8/6 86/AA_Materiality_Report_Aug2013%20FINAL.pdf EKOS Brand+Strategy Integration; Open Innovation & Crowdsourcing Engagement Programs & Platforms CDP: Commit to Business Leadership on the Road to Action https://www.cdp.net/en-us/pages/commit-to-action.aspx EKOS CSR Report Rapid Prototyping Workshop; Materiality 2.0 Workshop; Benchmarking Reports CSRHub http://www.csrhub.com/