Sustainability is defined as the ability to maintain the balance of a certain process or state in any system. It has three dimensions—environmental, social and economic. All companies, regardless of industry, have an important role to play in sustainability. The main goal in sustainability is for companies to report on their reduction of emissions and their behavior on the environment. However, sustainability as a whole is more than just environmental health and safety (EHS); it is focused on how to reduce impact and how to report, and is defined by the United Nations as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainability reporting is the practice of measuring, disclosing, and being accountable for both internal and external stakeholders and their organizational performance towards the goal of sustainable development. Through the reporting lifecycle, sustainability is able to help companies meet important objectives.