• Back to latest news

The Guardian: Companies are embracing corporate responsibility in their Annual Reports

29 September 2011

The Guardian uses an article written by Black Sun which looks at Black Sun's research findings into the level of integration of non-financial information into FTSE 100 and G20 Annual Reports. To do this Black Sun reviewed the links and integrated connections between an organisation's strategy, governance and financial performance and the social, environmental and economic context within which it operates.

Our findings from our research of the FTSE 100 over the past six years has shown dramatic growth in the quantity of corporate responsibility reporting. Our latest analysis showing 97% of the FTSE 100 reported on corporate responsibility in their Annual Reports, with an increase in the integration of corporate responsibility into the group strategy, with 56% of FTSE 100 companies taking this approach, up from 36% last year.

Within the G20, we found that companies are still working towards achieving full integration, with less than half of those analysed (43%) meeting what is considered current integrated reporting good practice.

These figures appears to indicate that non-financial issues are becoming strategic priorities and suggests companies are increasingly recognising the importance of the integration of corporate responsibility into their business. Companies appear to be taking up the challenge to build an integrated picture of their business throughout all areas of the business from strategy, remuneration and governance, to risk, opportunities and performance, in order to tell their story.

So it appears that we are seeing momentum for change in reporting. Companies are increasingly seeing their role in society as contributing to its long-term sustainable development. However, this is a journey of change in established thinking and will evolve over the coming years as companies better understand and make decisions on the relationship between different factors that contribute to their success.

To see the full article please go to The Guardian: Companies are embracing corporate responsibility in their Annual Reports

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact:

David Christopherson, CEO:
christophersond@blacksunplc.com
tel: 020 7736 0011

Laura MacSweeny, Business Development Manager:
lmacsweeny@blacksunplc.com
tel: 020 7736 0011

Black Sun Plc is one of Europe’s leading strategic corporate communications consultancies. It brings together corporate reporting, corporate responsibility communications and digital communications. Black Sun Plc delivers integrated reporting solutions that encompass a powerful combination of best practice advice on strategy, creative and multi-channel delivery, through Annual Reports, CSR reports, online reports, investor presentations and corporate websites.

Recent awards include

2011 ICSA Hermes Transparency in Governance Awards: BAE Systems for ‘Best Board Disclosure for a FTSE 100’.
2011 IRS Best Practice Annual Awards: Tullow Oil for ‘Best communication of governance and risk in the Annual Report’, and Xstrata for ‘Best communication of corporate responsibility in the Annual Report’.
2011 14^th Yearly Federal Contest of Annual Reports and Corporate Websites organised by Securities Market magazine and Investor.ru in cooperation with the Federal Service for Financial Markets: NMLK won 1st place for ‘Best all round representation’ and ‘Best interactive Annual Report’ and were awarded 2nd place for ‘Best level of information disclosure in an issuer’s Annual Report’, ‘Best Annual Report in the metals and mining sector’ and ‘Best Annual Report among Central Federal District public companies’.
2011 14^th Yearly Contest of Annual Reports organised by the RTS and MICEX Stock Exchanges:
NMLK for ‘Best presentation of the company’s investment case in an Annual Report’ and ‘Best Annual Report among central federal district companies’. Kazakhmys won 3rd place for ‘Best Annual Report by a foreign company nomination’.

• Back to latest news