Reporting matters

Navigating the landscape: a path forward for WBCSD 2019 Report

In partnership with Introduction General findings Detailed findings Appendix Contents

Introduction General findings Detailed findings Appendix

1 Navigating the landscape: 10 Trends over time since 2015 23 The evaluation framework 49 Our activities in 2019 a path forward for 11 Report characteristics 24 Stora Enso discusses 50 Global Network partners sustainability reporting 12 What’s material? materiality 51 Top performers 2 The need to transform 13 What’s the status 33 Mondi discusses how 52 List of reports reviewed sustainability reporting they take an audience-led of GRI reporting? 54 Resources 3 Foreword approach 14 What’s the status of 55 Acronyms 4 An opportunity for alignment integrated reporting? 42 Radley Yeldar discusses and harmonization their views on the state 56 Glossary 15 How quickly are reports of sustainability and 58 Acknowledgments 6 WBCSD’s call to action being published and the importance of 7 External perspectives what are members calling 59 About the research partners visual language on progressing alignment their reports? 8 Key findings in 2019 16 How much is enough? 17 Who is validating performance? 18 Spotlight on the SDGs 21 SDGs indicator Introduction General findings Detailed findings Appendix Reporting matters | Page 1

Navigating the landscape: a path forward for sustainability reporting

The current convergence of public pressure, government regulation 2019 Report WBCSD play of state the on: years Six and investor scrutiny has led to an explosion of information requests Reporting matters and reporting approaches to satisfy stakeholder needs. While this has Reporting Digital deep matters dive analysis made sustainability reporting an imperative for business, it has created WBCSD 2019 Addendum Report Navigating the landscape: a path forward for sustainability reporting a significant burden for reporters. WBCSD 2019 Report Good reporting enables companies to show how they have integrated sustainability into their business and to communicate the value of their work. This year, Reporting matters presents the evolution in reporting that WBCSD and its members want to see in response In partnership with In partnership with to the increasing complexity of the reporting landscape. In the main report, we provide insights that aim to help companies navigate the new context through the lens of materiality, judgement and visual language. The three addendum reports explore distinct aspects of reporting: Reporting matters Reporting matters Governance & risk Strategy & targets • The role of risk and governance in internal decision-making and external disclosure; deep dive deep dive WBCSD 2019 Addendum Report WBCSD 2019 Addendum Report • How sustainability strategy and target-setting is evolving as we approach 2020; and • The future of digital reporting and emerging technologies.

In partnership with In partnership with Introduction General findings Detailed findings Appendix Reporting matters | Page 2 The need to transform sustainability reporting

Corporate reporting is the language that will bridge As it increases in complexity, our global economic system is at During the development of the ESG Disclosure Handbook, the trust gap between business and society and a crossroad. In the political landscape we see a move away from companies told us this makes their jobs increasingly difficult. global collaboration, a rise in tensions over trade issues and allow the market to allocate capital where solutions In this year’s edition of Reporting matters, interviews with WBCSD multi-lateral solutions being challenged. Environmental pressures members and Radley Yeldar, our project partner, provide insights have the most material impact. are rising to a level of urgency that we have not experienced before. to help companies navigate the reporting context through the lens And, if this urgency i