This article discusses corporate social responsibility reporting and the Global Reporting Initiative. It explains that companies are increasingly reporting on their social and environmental impacts to build a more sustainable society. The Global Reporting Initiative provides voluntary guidelines for companies to measure and report on topics like human rights, labor practices, and environmental performance. Following the GRI's guidelines can help companies improve processes, build trust with stakeholders, and gain competitive advantages. The article recommends using the GRI framework for any organization looking to undertake corporate social responsibility reporting.

1. REPORTING ON CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE

2. Article Title:
The Global Reporting Initiative
By: Maef Woods
The CPA Journal June 2003

3. DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLE
• This article takes a look at how we have entered into an age of corporate conscience
• Companies and organisations are more aware of their social and environmental roles
and performances
Social Performance: Health and safety procedures, forced labour, non-discrimination,
child labour, training and education, security, customer health and safety, human
rights freedom of association
Environmental Performance: material use, energy use, waste, land use, emissions,
effluents and biodiversity
• Companies should report on their impact and performance in relation to these roles
in order to build a sustainable society
• Also shows the impact of the Global Reporting Initiative since it was introduced in
1997

4. WHAT IS A CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY REPORT?
• It is a report published by a company or organisation which may be shown on
their website for the public to see
• It includes that particular company’s social, environmental and economic impact
on society
• It is a voluntary report; which can help companies identify fresh new ways to
improve overall performance and thus have an overall financial benefit
• It aims to satisfy the needs of our current generations whilst paving the way for
future generations
• It is influenced primarily by The Global Reporting Initiative

5. WHAT IS THE GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE?
• It is a non-profit research and consultancy organisation that focuses on
environmental issues and maintaining a sustainable community
• It is the leading organisation in this field and promotes the use of sustainability
reporting and responsible decision making
• It sets out clear guidelines for companies to report under
The Global Reporting Initiative vision:
“To support global progress towards sustainable development, The Global
Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting guidelines will become the generally
accepted, broadly adopted worldwide framework for preparing, communicating,
and requesting information about corporate performance”

6. BENEFITS OF CSR REPORTING
• Builds trust – Having a clear report can help reduce risks when it comes to
reputation
• Competitive advantage – companies have a strong bargaining position due to
their leadership and innovation in this area
• Improved processes and systems – Cost can be reduced by taking a look at
energy consumption, material use and waste
• Progressing vision and strategy – an in depth analysis of a company’s
strengths/weaknesses
• Reducing compliance costs – Helps companies meet regulatory requirements, it
avoids costly breaches and helps the company to be more cost effective and
efficient

7. ARTICLE RECOMMENDATION
• We would strongly recommend this article for any company reporting on
corporate social responsibility in an organistation
• It shows a detailed structure of how the company has moved over the years to
develop a better CSR and has released several updated guidelines between
1999-2002 as they developed
• The report gives a concise vision statement and purpose and also gives clear
aims for the future
• In their report content the guidelines given can be adapted and implemented
by any organisation or company
• The report shows facts and figures published by the Financial Times in 2001 of
the results of the Global Reporters survey

8. CONCLUSION
• This report shows us by following the correct guidelines and producing an
informative CSR report your organisation will strive in the current climate
• It is also important to constantly update as the economy and climate changes so
quickly
• This report will save you time, money and keep you ahead of your competitors
in the market.
• It gives you scope and objectives that other competitors will lack, this in turn
will breed confidence and trust into your workers and public

9. REFERENCES
• . 2014. . [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://WWW.GLOBALREPORTING.ORG/RESOURCELIBRARY/THE-BENEFITS-OF-
SUSTAINABILITY-REPORTING.PDF. [ACCESSED 10 NOVEMBER 2014].
• WOODS, MW, 2003. THE GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE. THE GLOBAL
REPORTING INITIATIVE, 73, 4.

10. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING