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New figures indicate that annual stand-alone corporate environment reports in the UK are on the way out.
Statistics released last month by CorporateRegister.com show that environment reports accounted for less than 15 per cent of non-financial reports issued in the UK in 2006 – the seventh straight year in which the proportion has declined.
In 2000 more than 50 per cent of the non-financial reports published by companies concentrated solely on environmental matters, but the percentage has fallen as companies have switched to reports that include environmental issues but also cover social, community and health and safety matters.
Two-thirds of the UK non-financial documents now being produced are categorized by CorporateRegister as CSR reports – covering environmental, health and safety and social impacts. Most of the remainder are ‘sustainability’ reports, covering environmental, social and economic factors. In the year 2000, CSR reports accounted for only two per cent of the total.
The rise of the CSR report has also led to a drop in the number of dedicated environment, health and safety reports produced.
Ian Buckland, senior adviser at the Sd3 consultancy, which works with companies to produce non-financial reports, told EP: ‘It’s certainly true that the heyday of the environment report is over, especially for large corporations. However, for smaller organizations, which are now being required for the first time to report on carbon and energy emissions, it may be that short, more targeted environment reports, perhaps based on templates, will encourage a resurgence in this area.’
Statistics released last month by CorporateRegister.com show that environment reports accounted for less than 15 per cent of non-financial reports issued in the UK in 2006 – the seventh straight year in which the proportion has declined.
In 2000 more than 50 per cent of the non-financial reports published by companies concentrated solely on environmental matters, but the percentage has fallen as companies have switched to reports that include environmental issues but also cover social, community and health and safety matters.
Two-thirds of the UK non-financial documents now being produced are categorized by CorporateRegister as CSR reports – covering environmental, health and safety and social impacts. Most of the remainder are ‘sustainability’ reports, covering environmental, social and economic factors. In the year 2000, CSR reports accounted for only two per cent of the total.
The rise of the CSR report has also led to a drop in the number of dedicated environment, health and safety reports produced.
Ian Buckland, senior adviser at the Sd3 consultancy, which works with companies to produce non-financial reports, told EP: ‘It’s certainly true that the heyday of the environment report is over, especially for large corporations. However, for smaller organizations, which are now being required for the first time to report on carbon and energy emissions, it may be that short, more targeted environment reports, perhaps based on templates, will encourage a resurgence in this area.’
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