CR reporting becoming more widespread, finds Vigeo

CSR audit and consultancy firm Vigeo’s latest analysis shows a dramatic movement towards a more universal adoption by listed companies in publishing commitments and information about their corporate and environmental responsibility.

Vigeo says that leaders of big firms have recognized the need to address a transnational opinion and that an era has begun where markets and society will ask for information that goes beyond the dissemination of regulatory financial statements to include more or less accurate comments.

The firm’s review covered more than 1,300 companies based in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific region and 15 emerging countries.

The study shows that corporate responsibility reports are becoming widespread and gaining in professionalism in all of the continents and countries analyzed. This compares to 2008, when it was still mainly a North American, British and French practice.

Vigeo highlights that information on human rights, social dialogue and the integration of social and environmental standards in international purchases and in the internal supply chain remains the weak link of reporting on corporate responsibility.

Fouad Benseddik, director of methodology and institutional relations at Vigeo commented: “This second study demonstrates a change to which we are proud to contribute every day as a new generation of rating agency; company reporting on their corporate responsibility is a serious component of their performance. Those that best respect the right to information of their stakeholders are those that best reflected their ability to create sustainable value.”

To receive the full study, email: Anita Legrand.