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As usual, I am going to start with the first-timers, my absolute favorite category, and I promise, it's not only because one of my clients, GSK Latvia, is shortlisted. If you like the report, please vote for GSK Latvia!
There are ten first timer reports, amounting to 548 fascinating pages, from eight countries (including three from U.S. based companies). Six of the ten reports are GRI-based, one is assured and the rest are not. I decided to select three things I like about each of these ten reports.
I will admit to having trouble identifying three "likes" for each report. There are some reports which I didn't like at all, and had to wonder why on earth they were shortlisted. I always remind myself that each report is an achievement, especially a first report, and someone, somewhere has worked very hard to deliver it. That deserves positive acknowledgement. Some reports are clearly a reflection of the very early stage of a sustainability approach and this has to be considered when viewing first-time reports. However, some reports are more of a tick-the-box exercise or a PR publication. In this first-timer batch, there are some which are highly credible and I regretted limiting myself to only three "likes". In the interests of fairness, however, and without wishing to compromise the voting, I selected exactly three "likes" for each report, no more, no less. I avoided the "dislikes" - in some cases that would have been a much longer list!
I will admit to having trouble identifying three "likes" for each report. There are some reports which I didn't like at all, and had to wonder why on earth they were shortlisted. I always remind myself that each report is an achievement, especially a first report, and someone, somewhere has worked very hard to deliver it. That deserves positive acknowledgement. Some reports are clearly a reflection of the very early stage of a sustainability approach and this has to be considered when viewing first-time reports. However, some reports are more of a tick-the-box exercise or a PR publication. In this first-timer batch, there are some which are highly credible and I regretted limiting myself to only three "likes". In the interests of fairness, however, and without wishing to compromise the voting, I selected exactly three "likes" for each report, no more, no less. I avoided the "dislikes" - in some cases that would have been a much longer list!
GRI undeclared level. 107 pages. This is an annual report with a sustainability section starting on page 88.
LIKE ONE: The report title. This report is about transforming spaces into places. Great concept - a clever expression of this real estate company's higher purpose and contribution to a better life.
LIKE TWO: Ms Chong Siak Ching. The only female director of Ascendas out of 14 total directors.
LIKE THREE: Fabulous photos.
LIKE ONE: The report title. This report is about transforming spaces into places. Great concept - a clever expression of this real estate company's higher purpose and contribution to a better life.
LIKE TWO: Ms Chong Siak Ching. The only female director of Ascendas out of 14 total directors.
LIKE THREE: Fabulous photos.
Chocolats Halba, Switzerland, Food Sector
Sustainability Report 2012. Added value through sustainability
GRI C level. 34 pages.
LIKE ONE: Contextual explanation of challenges facing the cocoa sector.
LIKE TWO: Three years of performance metrics, clearly laid out and easy to read.
LIKE THREE: Detailed sustainability strategy for 2013 - 2015 with clearly defined targets, which seem quite stretching.
30 pages. Not GRI.
LIKE ONE: Straightforward, no-frills structure with five main sections: Environment, Community, People, Safety, Customers.
LIKE TWO: "Aims and Aspirations" section. A mix of qualitative and quantitative targets.
LIKE THREE: Honesty: "We are disappointed that our CO2e
emissions appear to be growing..."
56 pages, GRI C Level
LIKE ONE: Nice description of the way E & Y developed its materiality matrix.
LIKE TWO: Clear reporting on gender composition of the business at different levels.
LIKE THREE: Photos, names and email addresses of sustainability contacts for providing feedback.
35 pages. Not GRI
LIKE ONE: The first part.
LIKE TWO: The second part.
LIKE THREE: All the parts.
Ok, you can't expect me to be objective here. Sorry. Or not. But please take a look at GSK Latvia's report and if you like it, VOOOOOOTE :)
28 pages. Not GRI
LIKE ONE: Well-presented strategy in three parts: LIVE WELL – Strengthening People & Communities; LIVE WISE – Governing for Long-term Profitable Growth; LIVE GREEN – Caring for the Planet
LIKE TWO: Good spread of metrics throughout the report and provided as a summary in an appendix at the end of the report.
LIKE THREE: Clear description of scope and boundaries of data collection methodologies listed in an appendix.
46 pages. GRI C Level
LIKE ONE: Letter from the President. It's simple, credible, modest and gives a good overview of the key aspects of JSR Micro's CSR approach and performance.
LIKE TWO: Presentation of multi-year goals and current performance status.
LIKE THREE: Clear and well-written environmental section with performance metrics and explanations of different environmental initiatives.
40 pages. GRI C Level
LIKE ONE: The report was prepared completely in-house without the help of consultants, or external advisors.
LIKE TWO: Honesty: "Being an international oil Company working in
five continents it took our CSR team a lot of effort
to cover multinational stakeholder’s needs."
LIKE THREE: Nice section on reducing paper consumption.
80 pages. GRI A+ Level
LIKE ONE: Impressive treatment of materiality, and top ten material issues listed with references to related narrative in the report itself.
LIKE TWO: Great graphics, supporting the narrative well, demonstrating a systematic and process-oriented approach to almost everything that LG U+ does.
LIKE THREE: Very interesting section on employees, with loads of detail, including a non-smoking incentive program with cash rewards, where employees take a nicotine test in order to qualify.
92 pages. GRI B Level
LIKE ONE: Clear sustainability management framework.
LIKE TWO: Nice section on engaging employees in energy conservation.
LIKE THREE: Interesting list of problems created by drought.
And now:
Did you read these reports?
Here is a test:
QUESTIONS
ONE: Which company has offered staff a free weekly relaxation workshop since 2012 in addition to cut-price massages?
TWO: Which company has helped petroleum geoscience students as part of its community activity?
THREE: Which company supports the entrepreneurial dreams and economic future of the next generation?
FOUR: Which company had 14% of new hires in 2012 under the age of 25?
FIVE: Which company is a family- friendly company?
SIX: Which company has a small team which is big in terms of expertise, dedication and engagement?
SEVEN: Which company "believes the best is yet to come"?
EIGHT: Which company operates a Maeari and Jeong-Do Management Cyber Accusation Website?
NINE: Which company "capitalizes on all available communication channels to engage our employees actively"?
TEN: Which company has a managed in-door plant contract that has seen plants being placed on every floor and in each office for a healthier & greener environment?
SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS:
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Here are the answers:
ONE: Chocolats Halba
TWO: IHS Inc.
THREE: Ernst and Young
FOUR: Colas Construction
FIVE: GSK Latvia
SIX: JSR Micro
SEVEN: Maynilad Water Services
EIGHT: LG U+
NINE: Ascendas Pte
TEN: Kuwait Petroleum International
elaine cohen, CSR consultant, winning (CRRA'12) Sustainability Reporter, HR Professional, Ice Cream Addict. Author of Understanding G4: the Concise guide to Next Generation Sustainability Reporting AND Sustainability Reporting for SMEs: Competitive Advantage Through Transparency AND CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business practices . Contact me at www.twitter.com/elainecohen or via my business website www.b-yond.biz (Beyond Business Ltd, an inspired CSR consulting and Sustainability Reporting firm)
Tkank you for your interesting post.
ReplyDeleteElaine, I reminded of you when I had just read today's Dilbert cartoon. Instead of cake in your case ice cream. Take a little of fun:
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2013-12-08/