Sustainability Reports: what investors want to see
October 2, 2024: Sillion hosted its first webinar “Sustainability Reports: What Investors Want to See” in conversation with two of the contributors to our Annual Investor Sustainability Report, to hear what investors are really looking to see in companies' sustainability reporting.
Panellists:
Brunno Maradei, CFA - Global Head of Responsible Investment at Aegon Asset Management
Maria Lombardo – Global Head of ESG Advisory Sustainable Finance at Standard Chartered
Marion Betsch – Lead researcher and author of Sillion’s Annual Sustainability Investor Sustainability Report
Here are the of the key insights from the session:
Clear structure and strong executive summary: Investors value reports that clearly present targets, commitments, and material issues. A successful report balances quantitative data (e.g., emissions, targets) and qualitative insights (e.g., actions taken, challenges faced). Common pitfalls include lack of specificity, an overemphasis on successes, and poor organization.
Focus on material issues: Companies should be targeted and thorough, linking actions to impacts instead of covering too many topics. This keeps reports relevant and impactful.
Transparency is key: Honest communication is crucial, even when reporting challenges or areas needing improvement. Investors value authenticity.
Integration with business strategy: Sustainability should be embedded in your core business strategy and operations, rather than treated as a separate initiative.
Standardized metrics are useful, but narrative matters: While frameworks like GRI, CDP, and CSRD enhance comparability, a strong narrative linking sustainability efforts to broader business goals is equally important.
If you're interested in diving deeper, feel free to explore Sillion’s Investor Sustainability Report 2024/25, which provides UK-listed companies with guidance on meeting investor expectations in sustainability disclosures.
Should you have any questions about reporting or want to benchmark your sustainability report against industry peers, we’d be happy to arrange a conversation. Just let us know, and we’ll set up a time to chat.