Corporate environmental reporting drops

Corporate sustainability reports have increased by 45% in average length over the past two years without an increase in overall quality, according to Trust Us, the second report in the Global Reporters Series prepared by SustainAbility, a business think tank, for the United Nations Environment Programme. International survey scores and analysis of 100 reports demonstrate a decrease in environmental performance in favor of more reporting on social and ethical matters. “Corporate sustainability reporting is in danger of hitting a quality plateau, with scores virtually unchanged since 2000.” To move corporate sustainability forward, the critical issues or performance areas need to be identified and integrated as priorities, say the authors. To obtain a copy of the report, go to www.sustainability.com/trust-us.