Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JOIN THE
COMMUNITY
@ETHICAL_CORP
AND #ECRCEU
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the first Ethical Corporation State
of CSR Reporting and Communications report.
Through original research this white-paper will
identify the critical issues for CSR departments
relating to reporting and communications. 948
professionals from around the globe contributed
to our research via a survey conducted during a
three-week period in July and August 2016.
Well highlight key trends and opportunities for
the coming 12 months. In some instances, we
separate out responses from those working
in sustainability to those working across other
departments mainly to spot differences, and
nuances in priorities and focus.
Key issues and opportunities in this report
were echoed over the past few months in our
routine conversations with leading sustainability,
reporting and communication practitioners.
These opportunities and issues form the
key focus at the upcoming 10th Annual CR
Reporting and Communications Summit,
which is taking place in London on the 20th
and 21st October. The summit is Europes
N AV I G AT E
948
PROFESSIONALS
FROM AROUND
THE GLOBE
CONTRIBUTED
TO OUR
RESEARCH
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
Back Next
Top
KEY TAKEAWAYS
As part of the build up to the 10th Annual CR Reporting and
Communications Summit, we wanted to gauge the top trends
and issues both now and looking into 2017. So we reached out
to our global community to get an understanding of the global
patterns.
N AV I G AT E
The below key findings give you a brief snapshot at some
of the stand-out findings from this report, helping you get a
quick digest of some of the key takeaways. More detailed
analysis of the nuances between CSR departments and the
rest is outlined in the report.
Proving the value of sustainability: Nearly 40% of organisations identified this as the biggest opportunity in 2016/2017
Increasing engagement with key stakeholder groups: 51% of our community identified this as the number one issue.
Engaging Millennials is the least important issue over the next 12 months
Too much time is being spent on the reporting process: 60% of respondents agreed that too much time is being spent on
the reporting process. This drops to 57% when focussing on just respondents that work within the CSR department
Increased CFO engagement: Only 25% of executives stated their CFO is absolutely convinced of the value of the CSR
report. Its evident that more engagement is required with the CFO around the value of the CSR report.
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
10%
15%
2%
n Accademic
n Corporate / brand
7%
34%
3%
n Corporate / brand
agency / service provider /
consultant
n Government
n NGO
29%
n Investor
n Other
*The majority of the respondents that replied Other stated trade association or media
Introduction
Key Takeaways
Setting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
2%
n B2B
29%
n B2C
51%
18%
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
25%
43%
2%
5%
RESPONDENT LOCATION:
There was a good number of representatives from around the
world which ensures we have a good indication of global trends.
The most represented region is Europe comprising of 43% of
respondents. The second and third most represented regions
are North America and Asia Pacific with 25% and 19%
Introduction
Key Takeaways
Setting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
6%
19%
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
n CSR / sustainability
42%
41%
n Communications /
Marketing
n Finance
n Other
4%
13%
Introduction
Key Takeaways
Setting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
Back Next
Top
INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
N AV I G AT E
SHOULD THERE BE MORE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MARKETING AND SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENTS:
ALL
CSR
9%
REST
10%
91%
8%
90%
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
92%
n YES n NO
Taking a closer look at collaboration we sought to
ascertain the appetite for more internal collaboration
between the marketing and sustainability departments.
Over 90% of all respondents feel there could be more
collaboration. CSR professionals are slightly less keen to
see increasing collaboration between the two departments
with 90% stating yes. The rest are more enthusiastic with
92% stating there should be more collaboration between
the two departments.
Back Next
Top
INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
CSR
40%
REST
43%
38%
60%
57%
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
62%
n YES n NO
In many of our conversations with our community we
hear that too much time is spent on the reporting process
instead of auctioning on the data to improve processes and
initiatives. We asked our respondents this question and 60%
agreed that too much time is spent on the reporting process.
Interestingly sustainability respondents are less convinced,
with 57% stating too much time is spent on the process
instead of improving initiatives. This could be a result of
Back Next
Top
INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Absolutely
n ALL
22%
n CSR
n REST
36%
34%
37%
To an extent
No
30%
29%
29%
28%
Largely
7%
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
10%
13%
of its value. The rest were more negative, with nearly twice
as many (13% compared with 7%) stating their CFO isnt
convinced of its value. It would appear that there is a lot
more work to be done to around engaging the CFO on the
CSR report and its value. This leads us on nicely to our next
question
Back Next
Top
INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
n ALL
n CSR
n REST
42%
SOMEWHAT: we're
certainly seeing the benefit
of our CSR report
37%
32%
32%
31%
TO A LIMITED EXTENT:
we see some benefit from
our CSR report
NO: we're not able to drive
real benefits from our
CSR report
48%
9%
15%
20%
that more respondents (15%) stated that theyre not able to
derive any real benefits from their CSR report. When splitting
out the responses the main negativity comes from the
respondents not working within the CSR department, where
20% indicated theyre not delivering any real benefits from
their CSR report.
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
n ALL
n CSR
n REST
22%
23%
22%
20%
20%
21%
27%
31%
19%
17%
21%
36%
36%
38%
35%
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
34%
31%
37%
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
30%
30%
31%
29%
29%
29%
37%
40%
34%
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
51% IDENTIFIED
HUMAN RIGHTS
AS AN ESSENTIAL
FOCUS IN THE NEXT
12 MONTHS
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
T
he biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
Back Next
Top
UNIMPORTANT ISSUES
FOR 2016/2017:
The least important topics in the next
12 months, according to the entire
community, are engaging Millennials,
aligning the SDGs and your report,
leveraging data within the reporting
process and engaging investors
around sustainability.
There is little difference between CSR
professionals and the rest. The only
real noticeable difference is that of the
rest of our respondents 16% place
no importance on engaging investors
around sustainability initiatives,
whereas the CSR department is less
negative with 9% stating it of no
importance in 2016 and 2017.
n ALL
In
cr
ke eas
y in
st g
Al ake eng
ig
h a
yo nin old gem
ur g t er e
g n
r h
Le epo e S rou t w
ve rt DG ps ith
th ra
s
e gi
an
re ng
d
U por bi
nd ti g
re ers ng da
gu ta pr ta
l n o w
U ato din ces ith
sin ry g
s in
in g ris the
fo th k
la
rm e
En b CS nds
u
R
g
c
su ag sine rep ap
st ing ss o e
ai in d rt
na v e to
bi es cis
En
lit to io
ga
y rs n
in a s
gi
iti ro
ng
at u
Cr
ive n
M
ea
i
l
s d
l
en
co tin
g
ni
m a
al
m
s
U un yea
sin ic ra
l
o
t
in g
te th ion ng
r
rn e
r str ep
Q al e epo ate ort
ua n r
g in
in nti gag t to y g
e in
fin fyi
an ng me cre
ci C nt as
al SR
e
te i
rm m
s pa
ct
s
n CSR
n REST
0
5%
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
The biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
10%
15%
Back Next
Top
N AV I G AT E
Select chapter
headings to navigate
around this report
2%
5%
1%
1%
1%
Engaging investors
n ALL
n CSR
n REST
9%
8%
12%
12%
12%
11%
10%
8%
12%
37%
38%
37%
Measurement
Engaging Millennials
Quantifying CSR
impacts in financial
terms
Introduction
Key Takeaways
S
etting the scene
Internal
engagement
The biggest
issues in 2016
and 2017
Whats not
important
B
iggest
opportunity in
2016/2017
4%
9%
11%
3%
2%
4%
15%
16%
14%
Back
Top
UPCOMING ETHICAL
CORPORATION EVENTS
LONDON
30
TH
SEPTEMBER
2016
LONDON
LONDON
NEW YORK
LONDON
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
MARCH
7-8
Delivering purposefor
people, the planet and profit
www.ethicalcorp.com/
reporting
www.ethicalcorp.com/
supplychain
TH
ST
2016
TH
ST
2016
TH
TH
2017
www.ethicalcorp.com/
rbs-usa
WWW.ETHICALCORP.COM/EVENTS
TH
TH
JUNE
2017
www.ethicalcorp.com/rbs