Reporting community investment and development in Sustainability Reports
Boston College Corporate Citizenship Conference
1. GRI Master Class
Reporting &
Communications
Featuring GRI’s US Sector Leader Dell
Marjella Alma - Manager External Relations - GRI
alma@globalreporting.org
+1 917 690 0909
Bruno Sarda – Director Global Sustainability - Dell
bruno_sarda@dell.com
Venue, Date
Boston College Corporate Citizenship Conference, 25-27 March 2012
2. Before we get started
• Boston College
New CTP
• Dell
US Sector Leader
• US Organizational Stakeholders
• US GRI reporters
3. “Population must increase rapidly – more rapidly than
in former times – and ere long the most valuable of all
arts, will be the art of deriving a comfortable
subsistence from the smallest area of soil.”
Abraham Lincoln, August 1859 Wisconsin Agricultural Society
4. Vision of the Global Reporting Initiative
A sustainable global economy where
organizations manage their economic,
environmental, social and governance
performance and impacts responsibly and
report transparently.
Question: what essential
information did we forget
to account for in the
past?
5. Outline
What is sustainability reporting
How does GRI help?
Trends
Which GRI resources can I use?
Looking into the future..
7. Range of terminology
• CSR - Corporate [Social] Responsibility
• CC - Corporate Citizenship
• SD - Sustainable Development
• ES - Environmental Sustainability
• BE - Business Ethics
• CE - Corporate Ethics
• CG - Corporate Governance
• ESG - Environmental, Social & Governance
• IR - Integrated reporting
What is your “Footprint”?
8. What does it mean to Dell?
1. Assess, Prioritize and Engage with broad stakeholder activities in
Sustainability Topics
2. Use Business Materiality & Metrics to define key areas of
opportunity and risk mitigation
3. Leverage/Collaborate with resources “embedded” across Dell
business functions to own, drive and measure Dell goals
4. Maintain Executive alignment and accountability of BU strategy
and goals
5. Integrate a core set of “Sustainability” values into every
employee’s role
9. Recent research shows that..
sustainability reporting is de facto
The largest and most law for business
comprehensive survey
of CR reporting trends
published sustainability reporting enhances
financial value
Vast coverage of 3,400+
companies combined reporting leads to IR
Most comprehensive data integrity is essential
study since the first
report in 1993
leaders choose external assurance
KPMG International Corporate Responsibility Reporting Survey 2011
10. Business case for reporting
Competitive
Opportunities
advantage
Innovation
Attract Improved
investment reputation
Improved
business and trust
models
Stakeholder
Internal Attract talent External
dialogue
Waste, CO2
and water
reduction Governmental and
stock exchange
regulation
Risks
11. Supporters of the business case
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) [2006]
– Currently represents over $22 Trillion in investment capital
– Close to 1000 signatories
• Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) [2003]
– Currently represents over $9 Trillion in investment capital
– 90+ members
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) [2002]
– Currently represents over $71 Trillion in investment capital
– act on behalf of 551 institutional investors
• Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) [2001]
– Currently represents $6 Trillion in investment capital
– 70 members
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) [1972]
– Currently represents over $100 Billion
– 300 members
14. Can any of this really be measured?
How would you do this?
15. How does GRI help?
GRI Mission
To make sustainability reporting standard practice by
providing guidance and support to organizations.
16. The GRI Guidelines
GRI Principles:
These guide the content and quality of your
reporting.
Materiality, boundary-setting, inclusiveness,
stakeholder engagement etc.
GRI reporting elements:
1. Profile Disclosures
Strategy, About, Governance.
2. Disclosures on Management Approach
EC, EN, LA, HR, SO, PR
3. Performance Indicators
EC, EN, LA, HR, SO, PR
17. The GRI Guidelines
Environmental
• EN 3 - Direct energy consumption by primary
energy source
Labor
• LA 7 - Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost
days and absenteeism, and number of work related
fatalities by region.
Human Rights
• HR 4 - Total number of incidents of discrimination
and actions taken
Product Responsibility
• PR 6 - Programs for adherence to laws, standards,
and voluntary codes related to marketing
communications, including advertising, promotion,
ad sponsorship.
Economic
• EC 4 – Significant financial assistance received
from government.
18. Dell’s Stakeholder Engagement
Urgency Environment Society Governance
High Recycling/Hazardous materials Supply chain labor standards Transparency
Energy efficiency Conflict metals Board-level involvement
Medium Production footprint Surveillance/digital discourse Targets/Metrics
Technology for sustainability Digital divide Stakeholder engagement
Obsolescence Privacy/security Exec. compensation
Social innovation
Low Water scarcity Workforce diversity Cross-functional council
Packaging CR in performance reviews
Different stakeholders have different needs –
what type of reporting materials does Dell use
to get the message across?
19. Dell’s 2011 CR report
CR report produced
annually
Full archive available
going back to 1998
Full GRI index & report
publicly available
Much more detail published at
www.dell.com/responsibility
20. Dell’s 2011 CR report
Taken from above:
• GRI Content Index
• G3.1 & Application Level A
• GRI Application Level Check
• Application Level Check Statement
• Application Level Table
• Extent of reporting: fully/partially/not
21. Snapshot Dell GRI Content Index
References to:
• 10 K form
• CSR report
• Other
documents
22. Display it with a GRI content index
As it:
• gives you flexibility to
reach different stakeholders in
different ways.
• gives you flexibility to
reference already existing
content.
• enhances ease of access
for your stakeholders.
• communicates your
Application Level.
23. A GRI report..
makes use of the
G3 or G3.1
Guidelines
includes a
GRI Content Index
and preferably
declares an
Application Level
25. Rationale - Application Levels
Objective classification system for G3/G3.1 reports
• Signifies to what extent the G3/G3.1 Guidelines
have been used in a report.
• Meaning: Tells which set & how many disclosures
have been addressed in the reporting.
A pathway for GRI reporters for incrementally
improving GRI reporting
26. Dell’s experience with Application
Levels
2007 – C level report
2008 – B level report
2009 – B level report
2010 – B level report
2011 – A level report
All reports were GRI-checked
27. Application Level C
For entry-level, SMEs, new
reporters:
• A set of Profile Disclosures.
• No Disclosures on
Management Approach
• 10 core or additional
Performance Indicators – fully
* At least 1 from each Indicator
dimension: EC, EN and Social
28. Application Level B
For medium-level reporters:
• All Profile Disclosures.
• All 6 Disclosures on
Management Approach
• 20 core or additional
Performance Indicators –
fully At least 1 from each
Indicator category:
EC, EN, LA, HR, SO & PR.
29. Application Level A
For advanced reporters:
“tell the complete story”
• All Profile Disclosures.
• All 6 Disclosures on
Management Approach
(DMAs).
• All core Performance
Indicators – addressed (=
fully/partial/not).
30. Index and Application Levels
The GRI Content Index is the specification of an Application Level
and the gateway to your reporting:
1. it has a communication function for reporters to support
their Application Level declaration (report or explain).
2. it has a navigation function for report users, enabling them
to effectively find the ESG data of interest.
NB: The GRI Application Level Check ensures the proper
functioning of 1 & 2.
32. Status external assurance
More than 70 percent of the G250 and 64 percent of
N100 engage major accountancy firms.
Reinforce credibility among
stakeholders
Improve quality of reported
information
Improve reporting
processes
Primarily responding to
legal requirements
Drive performance
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Source: KPMG International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2011
33. External assurance
Reports that seek external assurance can be recognized
by the “+” – A+, B+ C+
GRI recommends external assurance, but does not
endorse particular providers nor approaches.
External assurance should enhance the quality of the
data and the process underlying the data collection.
35. GRI reporting in the USA
200
180
160
140
120
100 USA
80
60
40
20
0
yr99 yr00 yr01 yr02 yr03 yr04 yr05 yr06 yr07 yr08 yr09 yr10
36. 2000
GRI reporting - worldwide
1800
1600 November 2011: The GRI Guidelines
are used by 80 percent of the G250
1400
1200
1000
Rest of Worl
USA
800
600
400
200
0
yr99 yr00 yr01 yr02 yr03 yr04 yr05 yr06 yr07 yr08 yr09 yr10
41. Governments
More governments are making
sustainability reporting
mandatory.
142 regulatory instruments in
over 30 countries
USA: WH CEQ - EO 13514
USPS, US Army, etc
GSA
Department of State
SEC
42. MNE’s and their supply chains
Customer
Training
Suppliers
GRI Stakeholders
45. The GRI Guidelines
Free downloads:
• G3.1 Guidelines
• Sector Supplements
(financial services, electric
utilities, airports, mining and
metals, oil and gas, events,
media etc)
https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/late
st-guidelines/g3-1-guidelines/Pages/default.aspx
46. The GRI Content Index and Checklists
Free downloads:
• GRI Content Index templates
• GRI Checklists
GRI recommends organizations to publish the GRI
Index template, but any format is acceptable.
https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/reporting-support/reporting-
resources/content-index-and-checklist/Pages/default.aspx
47. GRI videos and publications
The Get Started Video
https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/get-started/Pages/default.aspx
Learning Publications
https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/reporting-
support/publications/Pages/default.aspx
48. GRI Certified Training Courses
USA Training Partners
Current
BrownFlynn and Isos Group
To be certified
Boston College, Deloitte and ERM
https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/reporting-support/gri-training-and-
workshops/certified-training-partners/Pages/United-States.aspx
49. GRI Webinars
Monthly Organizational Stakeholder Webinars
US Organizational Stakeholder Webinars
General webinars
Friday 20 April – How to create your first GRI
report?
GRI Focal Point USA featuring US Sector Leader Bloomberg
50. GRI Events
Monthly Organizational Stakeholder Webinars
US Organizational Stakeholder Webinars
General webinars
Friday 20 April – How to create your first GRI
report?
GRI Focal Point USA featuring US Sector Leader Bloomberg
53. GRI featured reports
• An individual Profile Page spotlighting your logo and
report information. All Profile Pages are RSS enabled;
• Your organization's name and report front cover on
the homepage and Featured Reports page
• Announcement of your organization's report
publication in the GRI online Newsletter – read by
over 17,000 people
• A profiled entry on the Sustainability Disclosure
Database
• Social Media activity by GRI Focal Point USA
56. Unique features
1. Free access
2. PDF and HTML reports and GRI content indics
3. Disclosure benchmarking
4. Advanced searches on data points
5. Graph generator
6. Upload of videos/pictures
7. Available in English and Spanish
8. Social media, QR coding, embedding functionality
9.Rating functionality
58. An organization-focused application
Each organization that includes a report will have its own profile page
Organizations
Reports
The organization’s profile page will include the Reports will also have their own profile pages
following background information about the linked to the organization:
organization:
• Disclosure level for each GRI indicator
• Company logo
• Integrated reporting
• Description of the organization
• GRI application level
• Basic characteristics
• Assurance, AA1000
• Sector
• Country
• Turnover
• Number of employees Reporting practices
• Size of organization Reporting practices will have their own page
• Sustainability risk and opportunities with special features
• A carousel with its sustainability reports • Responses to GRI indicators
• Contact information • Description
• Link to webpage • Photos
• RSS feed from the company • Videos
• Link to company’s Twitter account • External links
59. The GRI benchmarking tool
reportedon and to what extent.
Sector:
Financial
Services
60. What different stakeholders can do:
• Reporters: how does our sustainability reporting compare with
others?
• Academics: how is the sustainability field developing?
• Investors/analysts: how is GRI looking at ESG
data/performance?
• Assurance providers: which GRI disclosures are being reported
by companies (materiality)?
• Civil society: who is reporting and who is not reporting?
• Regulators/governments/stock exchanges: is sustainability
reporting becoming an established practice?
• GRI: is sustainability reporting increasing and becoming
mainstream?
62. Towards the 4th generation of GRI
G4 - fourth generation
G4 aims to improve on content in the current
Guidelines – G3 and G3.1 – with strengthened
technical definitions and improved clarity.
67. … involvement with GRI
In addition to getting started with GRI reporting,
you can:
• Join the Organizational Stakeholder Program
• Become a US Sector Leader
• Participate in Working Groups
• Participate in Governance Structures
68. Thank you!
More information:
Marjella Alma
alma@globalreporting.org
Bruno Sarda
bruno_sarda@dell.com
Venue, Date www.globalreporting.org
http://database.globalreporting.org
