Global Reporting Initiative Press Release
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Leading companies sponsor new Sustainability Reporting Guidelines
Ten world-leading companies are the global sponsors of the next generation of sustainability reporting guidelines, announces the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) today (Wednesday 29 June 2011). Alcoa, Enel, GE, Goldman Sachs, Natura and Shell are supporting GRI during the two year development of the Guidelines. GRI will also count on the expertise and support of Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC.
An increasing number of organizations worldwide are producing reports on their sustainability performance, enabling their stakeholders to understand the organization’s impacts on the economy, the environment and society.
GRI produces the world’s most comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, which help organizations report their sustainability performance. GRI’s mission is to make sustainability reporting standard practice, and the next generation of Guidelines will help more companies to report their sustainability performance.
The Guidelines’ development is influenced by changes in the sustainability field and in regulation. It is also influenced by the needs of people who use reports, including investors and civil society organizations. The next generation of Guidelines will reflect changes in these areas, covering a new range of sustainability related topics for companies to consider when reporting their performance.
The next generation of GRI’s Guidelines (G4) is now in development. G4 is planned to be published in 2013 and will be developed using GRI’s multi-stakeholder consultation process. Diverse expert Working Groups and approval procedures will ensure that G4’s guidance is consensus-based and reflects the broadest possible stakeholder input through GRI’s due process.
The global sponsors announced today will be part of The Global G4 Consortium, which will advise GRI on topics to consider in the development of G4, to help ensure it addresses the most important current and future challenges in the corporate reporting field.
Nelmara Arbex, Deputy Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative, said: “We are very glad that these leading companies are joining us on this journey to improve and develop the GRI Guidelines. The next generation of GRI’s Guidelines aims to enable more companies to provide their stakeholders with robust, relevant information about their sustainability performance.”
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For more information, contact:
Lucy Goodchild
Media Relations Manager
Global Reporting Initiative
Tel: +31 (0)20 531 0067
Out of office hours: +31 (0)6 303 99 531
Email: goodchild@globalreporting.org
Notes to Editors
1. For more information on G4, see GRI’s website: http://www.globalreporting.org/CurrentPriorities/G4Developments/
2. About the Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) drives sustainability reporting by all organizations. GRI produces the world’s most comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Framework to enable greater organizational transparency. The Framework, including the Reporting Guidelines, sets out the Principles and Indicators organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. GRI is committed to continuously improving and increasing the use of the Guidelines, which are freely available to the public.
Website: www.globalreporting.org
3. About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for nine consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
4. About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.
Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and deep local expertise to help clients succeed wherever they operate. Deloitte’s approximately 170,000 professionals are committed to becoming the standard of excellence.
5. About Enel
Enel is Italy’s largest power company, and Europe’s second listed utility by installed capacity. It is an integrated player, active in the power and gas sectors. Enel today operates in 40 countries worldwide, has over 97,000 MW of net installed capacity and sells power and gas to more than 61 million customers. www.enel.com.
6. About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com
For information about Ernst & Young’s services on climate change and sustainability, please visit www.ey.com/ccass
7. About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.
About the GE Foundation
The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems. In coordination with its partners, it supports U.S. and international education, developing health globally, the environment, public policy, human rights and disaster relief. In addition, the GE Foundation supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2010, the entire GE family — including businesses, employees, retirees and the GE Foundation — contributed more than $250 million in cash, products, and services to charitable organizations around the world. For more information, visit www.gefoundation.com.
8. About Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.
9. About KPMG
KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. We have 138,000 outstanding professionals working together to deliver value in 150 countries worldwide. Our industry alignment and investment in knowledge helps our firms’ clients tackle their most pressing issues.
KPMG’s Global Climate Change & Sustainability (CC&S) practice is comprised of professionals who are specialized in assisting companies with their corporate sustainability-related issues.
Our aim is to help our firms’ clients make the most of the challenges and opportunities presented by a constantly changing business environment. We offer a number of services to help our clients address the issues facing their industry, including the complex and evolving policy, regulatory, and business risks and opportunities relating to climate change and sustainability.
10. About Natura
Natura is the largest Brazilian manufacturer of cosmetics and beauty and personal hygiene products in the direct sales sector. Created in 1969 from a laboratory and small store in São Paulo, today the company possesses more than 6 thousand collaborators, and in 2010 recorded net sales of R$ 5.1 billion, a growth of 21.2% in relation to the previous year. Net profit was R$ 744.1 million. Natura is present in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia and France – where it maintains a store and a technology research satellite center. In Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras it operates through a distribution company. Its sales force is formed by more than 1.2 million consultants, with more than 1 million in Brazil and around 200 thousand abroad.
11. About PwC
At PwC in the Netherlands over 4,500 people work together from 12 offices and three different perspectives: Assurance, Tax & HRS and Advisory. We provide industry-focused services and search for surprising solutions, not only for national and international companies but also for public sector and civil-society organisations. For sustainability services see: www.pwc.com/sustainability
‘PwC’ is the brand under which member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwCIL) operate and provide services. Together these firms form the PwC network. Each firm in the network is a separate legal entity and does not act as agent of PwCIL or any other member firm. PwCIL does not provide any services to clients. PwCIL is not responsible or liable for acts or omissions of any of its member firms nor can it control the exercise of their professional judgment or bind them in any way.
12. About Shell
Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies. Our aim is to meet the energy needs of society, in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally responsible, now and in the future. We believe that oil and gas will be integral to global energy needs for economic development for many decades to come. We work with partners, communities and governments to help meet rising energy demands more sustainably for our customers. As a global energy company we set high standards of performance and ethical behaviours. We are judged by how we act – our reputation is upheld by how we live up to our core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people. For further information, visit www.shell.com.