Reports

Multiple Messages – the purpose and future of Sustainable Development reporting Multiple Messages: sustainability reporting in transparent times - reviews the factors driving SD reporting, finding conflicting and competing pressures and some very basic unanswered questions over why companies do it. But its most significant conclusion is that discussions over the nature and practice of SD reporting are taking place in the shadow of a tidal wave of social and technological change that is fundamentally transforming the way we communicate. Social media, instant access, handheld devices, syndication, and all-powerful search engines have conditioned users to find the content that they want when they want it. At the same time the fast-rising BRICS economies are developing their own views on the role of companies in society and affecting the way global corporations think. The one-size-fits all, once-yearly SD Report is looking increasingly out of date.		Responsibility in global supply chains – how far can a company be expected to go? Simon Hodgson, MD of Acona Ltd and Richard Welford, Chairman of CSR Asia, have been exploring the changing expectations that companies face, in terms of their supply chains, both at home and a key sourcing market, China. The two companies looked at how far a company’s responsibility stretches and the latest challenges to those responsible for supply chains that involve Asia and the UK.
Carbon Salary Survey 2010 For the second time, Acona and Acre Resources have collaborated on a global survey of professionals working in climate change and carbon space. Nearly 1,000 respondents from around the world have provided an in-depth picture of the carbon job market. The survey includes information on: global salary and bonus levels; the different roles and responsibilities currently undertaken; and the educational backgrounds of those working in this growing area of activity sector. The report also contains commentary from leading figures in the sector together with the conclusions of the project partners.		CR Salary Survey 2010 This year, we’ve gone global. The Corporate Responsibility Salary Survey now provides the most accurate picture of how the industry looks on the ground, from those people working day-to-day in corporate responsibility around the world. As in previous years, our survey was based on individuals working both in-house and for consultancies in CR and sustainability. We conducted the survey online throughout January and February 2010 and this year’s results show some of the most exciting insights ever.
Home Front - executive summary The 21st Century Living project report - Home Front - was launched in March 2010. Here is the executive summary.		The Carbon Salary Survey 2009 The Carbon Salary Survey is a collaboration between Acona, Acre Resources and Thomson Reuters. The global survey is aimed at professionals working in the climate change and emissions trading markets to gain understanding into their roles in this quickly evolving field. Nearly 1,200 practitioners completed the survey throughout April 2009, the findings of which are presented here along with commentary from senior professionals within the industry.
Mapping the Landscape: CSR Issues for the Media Sector Acona provides the secretariat function for the Media CSR Forum. Updating the initial stakeholder survey from 2003, for this report we engaged opinion formers from both the CSR and media fields. The report offers a timely overview of the most important concerns facing the industry. For clarity, we have divided CSR issues into three areas: those common to all sectors, those shared with other sectors but with unique implications for the media and, lastly, those unique to the media sector. Download the report by clicking on the image to the right.		Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Across the Value Chain: The New Agenda Over the past few years, the management of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become one of the core corporate responsibility issues. The focus of this activity has evolved from a concentration on direct and indirect (i.e. electricity) emissions, to one that considers wider emissions across the value chain. This report, produced in collaboration between Acona and Insight Investment, sets out our views on current practice on GHG emissions in the value chain and aims to catalyse discussion on how corporate practice may evolve over the next two to three years. Download the full report here.
CSR Salary Survey 2008/2009 Acona, in conjunction with Acre Resources and Ethical Performance, has undertaken the second detailed study of remuneration, working conditions, background and principal activities of those working on corporate responsibility (CR) issues. The fact that more than 350 people (a 26 per cent increase on last year) took the time to complete our questionnaire suggests there is considerable interest in the survey and its results among practitioners.		Rewarding Virtue We recognise the heavy demands placed on Directors of large companies but suggest that, even though Corporate Social Responsibility is often challenging, effective Board action need not involve much extra work. The secret of success is to ensure that – in choosing strategy, approaching regulation, designing incentives, shaping the organisational culture, and overseeing internal control – virtue is rewarded. (Click here for a summary of Rewarding Virtue)
The Customer Assumption A clear trend is emerging; more companies are increasing their involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and more customers want to trust that business practices are ethical. Yet customers are sceptical of the validity of ethical claims, and businesses have doubts about the sincerity of customer interest. In an effort to better understand why businesses are often slow to engage customers on CSR, this report looks firstly at the evidence for customer interest in environmental and social issues, then secondly at some of the common barriers preventing businesses from engaging with customers and markets on the subject of CSR. Finally it reviews best practice in this area to identify approaches taken to overcome some of these barriers and suggests practical steps for better customer engagement. (For a summary, please click here).		Buying Your Way Into Trouble This report is intended principally to stimulate discussion among senior executives with responsibility for purchasing and responsible sourcing. Few companies seem to look at the supply chain as an integrated system and most importantly, at how their own buying practices affect suppliers’ ability to meet their own commitments to uphold international labour standards. The report explores how certain characteristics link to, and may undermine, commitments in typical supply chain labour standards codes of practice. The research leads us to the tentative conclusion that some companies may be inadvertently pursuing a buying strategy that creates tension, or in some cases directly conflicts with their commitments to ethical sourcing.
CSR Salary Survey Acona, in conjunction with Acre Resources and Ethical Performance, has undertaken the first detailed study of remuneration, working conditions, background and principal activities of those working on corporate responsibility (CR) issues. Nearly 300 people participated in what is intended to be an annual survey. The results cover those employed in-house, as well as the growing number of external consultants operating in this field, and provide information on average salaries and bonus levels, location and experience of CR practitioners, and how they spend their time.		Defining best practice in corporate occupational health and safety governance The report presents an outline framework for what, in the authors' view, Best Practice in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) governance looks like. This framework consists of seven basic principles covering: director competence; director roles and responsibilities; culture, standards and values, strategic implications; performance management, internal controls; organisational structure.
Review of socially responsible HR and labour relations practice in international hotel chains The ILO commisioned this report to explore current Human Resources (HR) and labour relations practice within major international hotel chains, regarded as "standard setters" within the industry, in order to form a basis of future dialogue. The report explores the scope of HR policy across a number of international hotel chains and, by illustrating some of the frameworks they use, the way in which HR policy and labour relations are intended to be implemented.		Briefing paper: An uncertain business: the technical, social and commercial challenges presented by nanotechnology Commercialising nanotechnologies presents huge opportunities for business. But at the same time - while the evidence of harm is currently limited - there is real uncertainty over the potential environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks of some nanoscale materials. All businesses with an interest in this area will need strategies for dealing with these uncertainties.

Multiple Messages

The purpose and future of Sustainable Development reporting