Four-in-five largest global companies report with GRI
02 November 2022
A major stocktake on the state of sustainability reporting around the world has revealed that GRI provides the ‘first and foremost’ global standards, used by more large companies than ever before.
‘Encouraging’ findings for corporate transparency in KPMG survey
The KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting
(published 26 October) examined the disclosure practices of the world’s
biggest 250 companies by revenue (the G250), as well as a larger pool
of the top 100 businesses in each of 58 countries (the N100).
Findings in their 2022 research include:
- 78% of the G250 now adopt the GRI Standards for reporting (up from 73% in 2020);
- 68% of the 5,800 N100 companies use GRI (up from 67% in 2020, when N100 was a smaller sample size);
- Overall, 96% of G250 (unchanged from 2020) and 79% of N100 (77% in 2020) report on sustainability or ESG;
- Carbon reduction is widely disclosed (80% of G250 and 71% of N100) –
yet under half (46% of G250, 40% of N100) report on biodiversity;
- Almost three-quarters of those surveyed (74% of G250, 71% of N100) report on the SDGs;
- GRI offers the only reporting standards used by a majority of
surveyed companies in all regions (75% in the Americas, 68% in
Asia-Pacific and Europe, 62% in ME & Africa).
Eelco van der Enden, CEO of GRI, said:
“With more companies committing to
globally accepted reporting standards to deliver transparency on their
impacts, this major research from KPMG offers reasons to be encouraged.
If there was any remaining doubt, it is now abundantly clear that
comparable sustainability reporting is widespread across countries and
sectors – and it’s here to stay.
Deeper accountability, however, requires
deeper disclosure, ensuring decisions are based on robust data and not
just perceptions. While the research shows climate risks are widely
addressed, recognition of biodiversity impacts is worryingly low. A
revised GRI Biodiversity Standard, to launch in 2023, will be a key
driver for increased reporting on this crucial topic, which goes
hand-in-hand with efforts to tackle climate change.
What the survey does not yet reflect are
new developments in the corporate reporting landscape, including
incoming sustainability standards from the IFRS Foundation, and the
European Union. I can reassure GRI reporters that we have an essential
bridging role across both these initiatives, underlining the growing
relevance of our Standards.”
Published since 1993, the KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting
has charted a sustained rise in reporting around the world, which has
mirrored GRI’s growth since the organization was established 25 years
ago. Over the past two decades, sustainability reporting by the G250
rose from 45% in 2001 to 96% today.
GRI
© GRI - Global Reporting Initiative
