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The CSR report is one of the main deliverables of a company's CSR strategy. It is made up of a wealth of information that makes it possible to assess a company's social and environmental impact, as well as the actions it is implementing. This article explains what a CSR report is and how to produce it. Enjoy your reading!
What is a CSR report?
The CSR report, also known as the extra-financial report, is the document published by a company to present its results and actions with regard to CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility.
These actions are designed to align with the 3 pillars of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic. The company must aim for an activity that will have a beneficial impact on society, while being economically viable.
The CSR report is a communication tool for all the company's stakeholders. It is therefore essential to present this information honestly and transparently.
Who should produce a CSR report?
Following the Grenelle II law of 2019, several companies are obliged to publish an annual CSR report. These companies are :
- Listed on the stock exchange
- with sales in excess of 100 million euros
- With more than 500 employees
Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended that you publish a CSR report, even if you are not legally obliged to do so. This is 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 in a clear and relevant way. The more concrete your actions and the more reliable the data, the more credible you will be in the eyes of your stakeholders. Carbon footprints provide an excellent overview of a company's impact on the environment. This is the starting point for any CSR strategy, and therefore for any CSR report. It is also essential to monitor carbon emissions on a regular basis, so as to know whether the action plan established is following the desired trajectory and is therefore effective.
Why produce a CSR report?
As mentioned above, a CSR report is intended for the company's stakeholders, i.e. :
- our customers
- suppliers
- shareholders
- employees
- institutions
- citizens ...
Its purpose is manifold, and will depend on the person involved.
For your customers
The CSR report will help build customer loyalty, as more and more people are aware of global issues, and knowing that they are consuming products from a company that is in line with their own convictions is important. What's more, transparency is the keystone of this deliverable. Even if you still have some way to go to reach your objectives, you need to clearly explain your strategic choices and priorities. Nobody's perfect, but honesty always pays off, and you'll avoid being accused of greenwashing.
For your investors
The extra-financial report informs investors of the CSR strategy implemented by a company, giving them a high degree of visibility on the company's commitments and culture. The CSR report is systematically consulted during the investment process, so it deserves special attention.
For your employees
Finding meaning 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 are in line with those of employees, this strengthens their loyalty to the company, as well as their motivation.
As we've just seen, CSR reporting is essential for any company, for a variety of reasons. But what data should be included and how should it be presented? That's what we're going to look at right now.
What information is included in a CSR report?
The drafting of a CSR report is based on the three pillars of the ISO 26000 standard: the social aspect, the economic and societal aspect and the environmental aspect.
The social aspect
In this section, you'll find all the information you need about working and employment conditions. Statistics on employee gender, age, hiring and firing figures, salaries and pay rises ...
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 who live in the region/city, information on social partnerships or donations made, the number of sustainable suppliers...
The environmental aspect
This category covers all the actions and resources implemented by the company to reduce its impact on the environment. Actions linked to waste management, sustainable resources, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. can be presented in this section.
To reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, there are tools like Traace, which allow you to calculate your carbon footprint, define a trajectory and then monitor your projects to achieve your objectives.
But substance is not the only characteristic of a report: form is equally important. This report is intended to be read by your customers, so it needs to be attractive. Here are a few tips for writing a non-financial report.
How do you write a CSR report?
To make your non-financial report attractive, you can rely on :
- an original layout: use infographics, images and explanatory videos to liven up your presentation.
- A report constructed like a narrative 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! Yes, a creative and original report will make all the difference to your customers.
You now have all the keys you need to produce a comprehensive, impactful CSR report that reflects your CSR strategy. 🌱
