In a preliminary analysis of 2010 annual reports produced by Fortune 100 companies, one trend is clear: elements of corporate responsibility (CR) reporting are being integrated into annual reports. Of the 79 Fortune 100 2010 annual reports available as of mid-April:
- 33% have simple statements about CR initiatives pertaining to social or environmental responsibility
- 25% contain clear goals, results or metrics in communicating the company’s CR activities.
As a design firm with 15 years’ experience in producing annual reports, we believe this trend is significant. Although many large companies started issuing standalone CR reports about a decade ago, environmental and social issues are clearly at the forefront of investors’ (and all stakeholders’) minds – which is why CR information is making its way into annual reports.
How To Effectively Integrate CR Information
Because of its financial nature, and because it addresses business risk, the annual report is very precise in the way it communicates information and data. Messages are simple, broad and accessible. Financial information is tabular and visual, to instantly telegraph meaning. (more…)