In many countries, legal regulations oblige enterprises to voice ecological and social questions regarding their activities. Environmental or sustainability reports are mandatory:

• in Denmark (since 1995)
• in Norway and the Netherlands (since 1999)
• in France (since 2003)

Listed companies in Germany can also reckon with the duty to include information regarding environmental and employee interests in their annual reports.

There are, however, other reasons for publishing sustainability reports. For instance, creating a positive or avoiding an unfavourable image. Your public commitment to sustainability is at its strongest when only a few of your competitors can match it. And the number of companies e.g. in Germany that have not yet reported is large. In some countries sustainability reports are almost already standard procedure. An enterprise that doesn't report stands out negatively. Moreover, the public demand for information on sustainability is ever-increasing:

• Listed companies are being confronted with rating enquiries
• Large companies are forced to make justifications for their suppliers in the globalization discussion - and pass the pressure on to their suppliers
• Consumers are becoming critical: as a result the German product testing agency 'Stiftung Warentest' has started to quiz manufacturers on sustainability information.

The step from first reacting to such enquiries up to publishing your own report is not huge. More in this topic under: www.sofi-software.com

In many countries, legal regulations oblige enterprises to voice ecological and social questions regarding their activities. Environmental or sustainability reports are mandatory:

• in Denmark (since 1995)
• in Norway and the Netherlands (since 1999)
• in France (since 2003)

Listed companies in Germany can also reckon with the duty to include information regarding environmental and employee interests in their annual reports.

There are, however, other reasons for publishing sustainability reports. For instance, creating a positive or avoiding an unfavourable image. Your public commitment to sustainability is at its strongest when only a few of your competitors can match it. And the number of companies e.g. in Germany that have not yet reported is large. In some countries sustainability reports are almost already standard procedure. An enterprise that doesn't report stands out negatively. Moreover, the public demand for information on sustainability is ever-increasing:

• Listed companies are being confronted with rating enquiries
• Large companies are forced to make justifications for their suppliers in the globalization discussion - and pass the pressure on to their suppliers
• Consumers are becoming critical: as a result the German product testing agency 'Stiftung Warentest' has started to quiz manufacturers on sustainability information.

The step from first reacting to such enquiries up to publishing your own report is not huge. More in this topic under: www.sofi-software.com