How do you show off your CSR impact in reports?

1 Know your audience

Before you start writing your CSR report, you need to identify who you are writing for and what they want to know. Your audience may include customers, investors, employees, regulators, media, NGOs, and others. Each group may have different expectations, interests, and needs. For example, customers may care more about your ethical sourcing and product quality, while investors may focus on your financial performance and risk management. To tailor your report to your audience, you need to understand their motivations, concerns, and questions, and address them in your report.

2 Define your scope and framework

Your CSR report should cover the most relevant and material aspects of your social, environmental, and economic impacts. To do this, you need to define your scope and framework. Your scope determines what topics, issues, and indicators you will include in your report, based on your business strategy, stakeholder feedback, and industry standards. Your framework provides the structure, format, and guidelines for your report, based on internationally recognized standards and principles. For example, you can use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Principles, or the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) Framework.

3 Tell your story

Your CSR report should not be a dry collection of facts and figures. It should be a narrative that tells your story, highlights your achievements, and acknowledges your challenges. To tell your story, you need to use clear, concise, and engaging language that reflects your brand voice and values. You also need to use visual elements, such as photos, videos, graphs, charts, and infographics, to illustrate your impact and make your report more appealing and accessible. Moreover, you need to use examples, case studies, testimonials, and quotes to showcase your initiatives, outcomes, and stakeholder perspectives.

4 Be transparent and accountable

Your CSR report should not be a one-sided or exaggerated presentation of your impact. It should be a transparent and accountable disclosure of your performance, progress, and gaps. To be transparent and accountable, you need to use reliable data, methods, and sources to measure and report your impact. You also need to provide context, explanations, and references for your data and claims. Furthermore, you need to disclose your challenges, risks, and areas for improvement, and how you plan to address them. Additionally, you need to seek external assurance or verification for your report, such as from an independent auditor, a certification body, or a stakeholder panel.

5 Align with your goals and values

Your CSR report should not be a standalone or isolated document. It should be aligned with your overall business goals and values. To align your report with your goals and values, you need to show how your CSR impact supports your vision, mission, and strategy. You also need to demonstrate how your CSR impact contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global agenda for social, environmental, and economic development. Moreover, you need to communicate your future plans, targets, and commitments for enhancing your CSR impact and addressing the emerging issues and opportunities.

6 Engage your stakeholders

Your CSR report should not be a one-way or static communication. It should be a two-way and dynamic engagement with your stakeholders. To engage your stakeholders, you need to involve them in the reporting process, such as by soliciting their feedback, input, and expectations. You also need to share your report with them through various channels, such as your website, social media, newsletters, events, and webinars. Furthermore, you need to invite them to interact with your report, such as by asking them questions, encouraging them to share their opinions, and providing them with contact details and resources.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?