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Sustainability Reporting

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Sustainability Reporting
Executive summary:
Sustainability reporting, alternatively known as CSR reporting, is the annual process whereby companies - public, private; large and small - report on their sustainability performance. Reports typically cover social, environmental, economic and ethical performance and incorporate information on a company 's environmental impact or carbon footprint, staff satisfaction, community investment etc. Sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important as a tool companies can use to demonstrate accountability to their stakeholders. The value of the company is determined by the quality of the relationship with in its external as well as internal stakeholders. CSR report provides information to various stakeholders like government, investors, consumers, employees, analysts etc. The main purpose of CSR report is; * to provide detailed information for very specific lobby groups on a range of environmental and social issues; * to provide a balanced view of the organization to consumers or other users of its services; * to articulate a broader view of the organization to prospective employees; * to demonstrate progress on issues on which government may be considering legislation; and * to update the market on leading non-financial indicators of performance and demonstrate understanding of sustainability risks and opportunities.
The main objective of this report is to provide the insights of CSR reporting disclosure. It defines the term CSR reporting from different perspectives. The historical development of CSR report describes the evolution of CSR reporting from early Mesopotamia history to till today. Then it analysis the nexus between the two terms CSR and Triple Bottom line which has direct relationship with each other. In CSR reporting Global reporting initiatives (GRI) plays an important role in setting standards for CSR accounting in different countries. The report analysis the three important theories viz normative



References: Corporate social responsibility: a trend and a movement, but of what and for what? By Kerstin Sahlin-Andersson "Count me in: The Readers’ take on sustainability reporting", prepared by KPMG and Sustainability for GRI, 2008.

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