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CSR Network recently released "Material World: The 2003 Benchmark Survey Report," which evaluates the environmental, sustainability and social responsibility reporting of the 100 largest companies in the world.
Health and safety reporting has risen from 39% of all companies responding to the survey (17% of the total 100 companies) in 2000, to 48% of all responders this year.
In 2003, the most notable areas of increased reporting have been in the social categories. 25% of companies now produce integrated global social and environmental reports as opposed to 23% producing purely environmental global reports.
The 2003 Survey measured a considerable interest in stakeholder engagement activities with 32% of companies reporting on a stakeholder engagement process. But many reporters still view stakeholder engagement as an end in itself rather than a means of obtaining perspectives and ideas that will be used to shape their business.
26% of companies now report their position with regard to human rights and labor practices.
Companies are increasingly addressing wider global issues that relate to their industry. 49% of companies reported on the sustainability of their product or service in 2003.
For the third year running, the Computers and Electronics sector has had the greatest percentage of reporters (90%). Reporting in the Automotive sector has grown in maturity over the last four years and is now level with the Computers and Electronics sector, with 90% of the sector also producing a global report.
18% of companies included independent assurance in their report, up from 8% in 2000.
76% of survey companies using independent assurance providers this year are European.
The AA1000 Assurance Standard is emerging as the accepted framework for independent assurance.
Key highlights:
Themes of interest:
Silent Sam - non reporting in the U.S.
62% of all non-reporting companies are domiciled in the U.S. 70% of Asian companies publish a global environmental or social report. Japanese companies are traditionally strong environmental reporters.
European companies account for 36% of the total number of companies, 69% of which publish a global environmental or social report. European companies display the greatest level of social and environmental or sustainability reporting.
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