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The CSR report is one of the main deliverables of a company's CSR strategy. It comprises a wealth of information used to assess a company's societal and environmental impact, as well as the actions it implements. This article explains what a CSR report is and how to create one.
What is a CSR Report?
The CSR report, also known as an extra-financial report, refers to the document published by a company to present its results and actions regarding CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility.
These actions are designed to align with the 3 pillars of sustainable development which are social, environmental, and economic. The company must strive for activities that have a beneficial impact on society while remaining economically viable.
This CSR report is a communication tool for all stakeholders involved with the company. Therefore, this information must be presented with complete honesty and transparency.
Who is required to produce a CSR report?
Following the Grenelle II law of 2019, several companies are obligated to publish an annual CSR report. These include companies that are:
- Listed on the stock exchange
- With a turnover exceeding 100 million euros
- With more than 500 employees
Nevertheless, it is highly recommended to publish a CSR report even if you are not legally required to do so. Indeed, this demonstrates your societal and environmental commitment, which represents an undeniable strategic advantage over your competitors in a world where global warming and environmental issues are at the heart of all discussions.
Your CSR report must present your key figures and strategies clearly and relevantly. The more concrete your actions are and the more they are based on reliable data, the more credible you will be to your stakeholders. Carbon footprints provide an excellent overview of a company's environmental impact. This represents the starting point for any CSR strategy and, consequently, any CSR report. It is also crucial to regularly monitor carbon emissions to determine if the established action plan is following the desired trajectory and is therefore effective.
Why produce a CSR report?
As previously mentioned, a CSR report is intended for the company's stakeholders, namely:
- customers
- suppliers
- shareholders
- employees
- institutions
- citizens…
Its objective is multifaceted and will depend on the specific stakeholder.
For your customers
The CSR report will help to retain your customers, as more and more people are aware of global issues, and knowing that they are consuming products from a company that aligns with their own convictions is important. Furthermore, transparency is the cornerstone of this deliverable. Even if you still have efforts to make to achieve your goals, it is necessary to clearly explain your strategic choices and priorities. Nobody is perfect, but honesty always pays off and will prevent you from being accused of greenwashing.
For your investors
The non-financial report informs investors about the CSR strategy implemented within a company, which provides great visibility into the company's commitments and culture. The CSR report is routinely consulted during investment decisions, so it requires particular attention.
For your employees
Finding purpose in one's work is an extremely important source of motivation for your employees. The CSR report shares a company's values and objectives. If these values align with those of the employees, it strengthens their loyalty to the company and their motivation.
We have just seen that the CSR report is fundamental for a company for various reasons. But what data should be included and how should it be presented? That's what we'll look at next.
What information to find in a CSR report?
The preparation of a CSR report is based on the three pillars of ISO 26000: the social aspect, the economic and societal aspect, and the environmental aspect.
The social aspect
This section can include all information related to working and employment conditions. Statistics on employee gender, age, number of hires and layoffs, salaries, and raises...
The societal aspect
In this section, you can indicate the impact of your activity on society. For example, data on the number of people hired living in the region/city, information on social partnerships or donations made, the number of sustainable suppliers...
The environmental aspect
This category can include all actions and measures implemented by the company to reduce its environmental impact. Actions related to waste management, sustainable resources, greenhouse gas emissions, etc., can be presented in this section.
To reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, tools like Tennaxia ESG allow you to calculate your carbon footprint, define a trajectory, and then monitor your projects to achieve your objectives.
However, content is not the only characteristic of a report; its form is also important. This report is intended to be read by your clients, so it must be appealing. Here are some tips for writing a non-financial report.
How to write a CSR report?
To make your non-financial report appealing, you can focus on:
- An original layout: focus on infographics, images, and explanatory videos to liven up your presentation.
- A report structured like a story with a beginning and an end to capture the reader's attention. Storytelling is an extremely powerful tool for making a text, or in our case, a report, interesting.
- Your creativity! Indeed, a creative and original report will make a difference with your clients.
You now have everything you need to create a comprehensive and impactful CSR report that reflects your CSR strategy. 🌱