http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/07/10/reasons-not-to-publish-a-sustainability-report-at-least-not-yet/ I love sustainability reports. At my company, we think they are a critical aspect of a company’s sustainability strategy, useful for looking back and measuring progress as well as a tool for future planning. That doesn’t mean your company should jump on the sustainability reporting bandwagon, however. In fact, there are several really good reasons not to produce a sustainability report (at least, not yet).

1. REASON’S NOT TO PUBLISH A
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
At Least Not Yet
SSC Blog

2. Reason’s Not To Publish A Sustainability
Report (At Least Not Yet)
 I love sustainability reports. At my
company, we think they are a
critical aspect of a company’s
sustainability strategy, useful for
looking back and measuring
progress as well as a tool for
future planning.
 That doesn’t mean your company
should jump on the sustainability
reporting bandwagon, however. In
fact, there are several really good
reasons not to produce a
sustainability report (at least, not
yet).
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

3. You’re Really Looking For A Marketing
“Puff Piece”
 While it’s true that sustainability
reports can (and should) talk about
all the good things that your
organization is doing, the reality is
that a sustainability report needs to
be a complete and accurate
reflection of what you are doing
right and wrong.
 For each topic that you tackle, plan
to cover the challenges and
opportunities that you face. And
make sure that you’re including all
the topics that your stakeholders
care about — not just the ones
where you shine.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

4. You’re Really Looking For A Marketing
“Puff Piece”
 A report that makes you look 100
percent “right” on sustainability is
going to raise red flags — and
potentially unleash stakeholder
backlash.
 The reports that really resonate
with readers are the ones that are
transparent and honest —
especially when they include a
frank discussion about issues
where you struggle. Honest and
agile — it goes a lot further than a
little too squeaky clean.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

5. You Have A Lot To Say, But You Can’t
Back Up Your Claims With Data
 Before you start talking about
your great energy efficiency
initiatives, or your amazing
employee diversity programs,
or your robust product health
and safety, please make sure
that you have the metrics to
back it up.
 Unfortunately, greenwashing
allegations can plague the
green marketing efforts of both
the best and the worst of
companies.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

6. You Have A Lot To Say, But You Can’t
Back Up Your Claims With Data
 One of the best ways to avoid
this is to ensure you have the
data to back up any and all
claims, and that it is
consistently tracked over time.
The proof is in the pudding;
sooner or later, data is
necessary to confirm a
company’s sustainability
efforts.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

7. You Have A Lot To Say, But You Can’t
Back Up Your Claims With Data
 It’s worth delaying your
sustainability report for months
(or even a year) in order to get
the right data collection and
analysis systems in place.
Remember — you’ll be
reporting on the same metrics
year after year, so it’s worth
getting it right the first time
out of the gate.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

8. You Don’t Have A Cross-Functional Team
Ready To Devote Significant Time And
Effort To The Process
No matter how enthusiastic you are,
you cannot produce a sustainability
report by yourself. (At least, not a
good one.) Different departments will
have different data, and you’ll need
someone who is great at seeing the
big picture, someone who is obsessive
about the details, someone who
understands the data, and someone
who is a great copy editor.
Take some time to get buy-in from the team you’ll be relying on — make
sure that they understand what’s being expected of them, the timeline you’re
proposing, and the effort they can anticipate putting forth.
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

9. Read this blog entry and more by visiting the SSC
website today:
Strategic Sustainability Consulting Blog
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