How Q4 Sustainability Reporting Sets You Up for 2020 Success

Reporting

Dec 5

Sustainability reporting, also called ESG reporting, is just as it sounds, reporting on your sustainability progress. You can read the previous blog about why sustainability reporting is important. Let’s talk about sustainability reporting as it relates to 2019 wrap-ups, and planning for future success.

Because it’s the end of the year, let’s examine how sustainability reporting sets you up for success in 2020. Sustainability reporting means sharing any metrics, initiatives, steps, or measurements taken by the company as they relate to sustainability. You can use reporting data from 2019 to set goals, ideas and metrics for 2020. This data is valuable as you move into 2020 planning and reporting.

How Does Sustainability Reporting Benefit My Company?

Sustainability reporting shares sustainability habits and metrics customers and stakeholders. Without sharing what you’re doing, people have no way of knowing the progress you’ve made. As millennials become more interested in sustainability, from a consumer and employee perspective, it’s crucial to share history that benefits either relationship.

Many companies have relevant data but aren’t sure how to use it or if it counts. I believe that something to share is better than nothing. If you’re got recycling bins, a commuter program or other environmental office policies, share them!

What if My ESG Report for 2019 is Empty?

You may have nothing good to show for 2019, but all companies have something to show for their work. All companies interact with the environment, whether they’re conscious of it or not. Your trash, recycling, emissions, employees driving, health care policies are all part of your sustainability strategy.

Here’s the undiscovered trick for sustainability reporting, you can use “reporting” to set goals and start doing sustainability in 2020. Reporting for 2019 can be completely confidential. But if you’re worried you have nothing to show, consider using it as a jumping-off point for next year.

Collect, tally and manage data from 2019. Items like those described above, or actions you wished you had taken. These can be integrated into sustainability reporting.

What ESG Data is Relevant?

In short, data that is important to your company. Is it material to actions you took, people you sold to, partnerships you made? To your supply chain? Did you reduce your emissions this year? Did you partner with a compost company? That data should be shared in your sustainability reporting. It’s up to you what you want to share. I recommend sharing at least two items with stakeholders.

Steps to a Foundation for 2020 and Beyond

Find your relevant 2019 data. This can be the sustainability actions you’ve taken or actions that impacted the environment in a negative way that you hope to change.
Figure out what to report. Share figures, initiatives, and steps in 2019 that relate to sustainability. Share online, on social media or in a press release. Do what feels natural to your company. If you’re worried that you have nothing to report, use 2019 sustainability findings to share 2020 plans or goals. If you’ve found that you need an office recycling plan, or your office flew 400,000 miles collectively last year, those are areas you can report and then sell as goals for next year.

Examples of Sustainability Reporting

Sustainability Data from 2019

Direct to consumer company shipped 41,000 packages, electricity bill was $1200/month, 90% of employees took public transportation and maternity leave policy is 4 weeks.

ESG reporting as seen on the website:

All Packaging shipments will be made from 25% post-consumer recycled paper in 2020

Company will reduce electricity use by at least 45kwh each month in 2020 compared to 2019

Company will introduce parental leave policy that allows 12 weeks of leave in 2020

Sustainability Data from 2019

Fashion company’s recycling Program Saved 4,000 pounds of waste from landfill, logged 445,090 miles traveled by air for the company, 2,000 gallons of water saved with low flow faucets