Below, you’ll find the table of contents from The Book on Sustainability Reporting:
Table of Contents
Introduction – Page 8
Acknowledgements – Page 11
Chapter 1: What are Sustainability Reports – Page 13
- Brief History and Evolution of Sustainability Reporting – Page 13
- The Purpose and Benefits of Sustainability Reports – Page 15
- Who Is Obliged to Report? – Page 22
- Introduction to Reporting Frameworks and Guidelines – Page 26
- Constant Changes in the Regulatory Landscape – Page 27
Chapter 2: Understanding Sustainability Reporting – Page 28
- Defining Sustainability and Other Important Terms – Page 28
- Differentiating between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors – Page 31
- Integrated Reports Versus Standalone Sustainability Reports – Page 34
- Greenwashing — Identifying and Stopping Misleading Environmental and Social Claims – Page 35
- Exploring the Key Frameworks of Sustainability Reporting – Page 40
- Selecting the Appropriate Reporting Framework or Standard – Page 49
- Building Trust and Accountability in Sustainability Reporting – Page 52
Chapter 3: Preparing for Sustainability Reporting – Page 56
- Who Does What Work? – Page 56
- Identifying Stakeholders and Understanding Their Expectations – Page 58
- Conducting Materiality Assessments to Prioritise Reporting Focus Areas – Page 61
- Establishing Materiality in 7 Steps – Page 61
- Identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Reporting – Page 66
Chapter 4: Understanding Data Management for Sustainability Reporting – Page 69
- Gathering Relevant Data and Understanding Data Management Systems – Page 69
- Analysing, Interpreting, and Communicating Sustainability Data – Page 72
Chapter 5: Structuring a Sustainability Report – Page 75
- Different Types of Sustainability Reporting Formats and their Key Differences – Page 76
- Crafting a Clear and Concise Storyline for Your Report – Page 78
- Creating a High-Level Report Outline and Sub-Sections – Page 84
- Introduction and Organisational Profile – Page 88
- The Governance and Management Approach – Page 93
- The Materiality Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement – Page 106
- Sustainability Goals and Performance – Page 108
- The ‘Environment’ and ‘Social’ (S) Sections of a Sustainability Report – Page 110
- Concluding Remarks, Future Goals, and Outlook – Page 118
- Showcasing Partner Organisations – Page 120
- Acronyms, Appendices, and Data Reports – Page 121
Chapter 6: Publishing Your Sustainability Report – Page 124
- Mandatory Publication – Page 125
- Non-Mandatory Publication – Page 126
Chapter 7: Creating Additional Sustainability Communication Materials – Page 128
- Steps for Furthering Your Sustainability Communication – Page 128
- Writing Social Media Updates Based on Sustainability Performance – Page 131
Chapter 8: Reviewing the Communication Progress – Page 137
Chapter 9: Evolving Trends and Future Considerations in Sustainability Reporting – Page 142
- Leveraging Technology for Improved Sustainability Reporting – Page 143
- Can and Should I Use AI To Write My Sustainability Report – Page 143
- AI Tools That Support the Creation of Your Report – Page 144
Conclusion – Page 149
- Encouragement for Organisations to Embrace Standalone Sustainability Reports – Page 149
About the Author – Page 150
Author’s Note — The Use of AI In This Book – Page 152
Appendix – Page 153
Index – Page 154