The establishment of a CSR policy has become more and more essential in business. To report on the actions taken in this framework, a CSR report can, or must be published every year. Here we will detail the various interests associated with the periodical edition of this document, as well as the sections that make it up. You will see that it is useful for all the stakeholders in your company: it is therefore important to take care of drafting it.
What is a CSR report?
Definition
A corporate social responsibility report, or CSR report, is a document published periodically (generally every year) by a company. It transcribes the actions as well as the results of the structure in terms of sustainable development. This includes societal, social, and environmental performance.
This report is an official document, which should allow anyone to understand the measures taken by a company during the year on these types of issues.
Companies concerned by the CSR report
The 2010 Grenelle II law made CSR reporting mandatory for a number of companies. Since September 1, 2017, it has become even more demanding. It is now an extra-financial performance statement (DPEF), directly integrated into the annual management report.
This document is mandatory for :
- Listed companies with a workforce of more than 500 employees, with a balance sheet of more than 20 million euros or a turnover of more than 40 million.
- Unlisted companies that have more than 500 employees and have a balance sheet or turnover of more than 100 million euros.
- Companies that carry out a credit, insurance, mutual or pension activity.
However, all companies, even those that do not meet these criteria, are concerned by the CSR report. It is indeed of great interest both for company employees, but also for all stakeholders.
How do I create a CSR report?
In order to simplify your task we have created a report template to complete with your information!
The interest of the CSR report for the various actors
Publishing a CSR report every year improves the company's transparency regarding the impact of its actions.
For employees
Knowing the company's actions in terms of CSR can be a real source of motivation and loyalty for employees. More and more people want to work in an organization that is aligned with their values. Publishing the report is a good way to prove that the company has made commitments and is complying with them.
For all stakeholders
Whether they are customers, suppliers, partners or even investors, the annual publication of the CSR report is important. This allows everyone to have feedback on all the actions implemented during the year, as well as on their results.
For example, consumers are paying more and more attention to the impact of their purchases on the environment. Your CSR report makes it possible to prove that your communications are based on real facts. The transparency of sustainable development actions is important, as more and more companies claim ethical and responsible actions that they do not really carry out.
The benefits of the CSR report for a company
More generally, there are many benefits to the annual publication of a corporate CSR report. Below is a non-exhaustive list of these benefits.
Positive brand image
Transparency has a positive impact on your branding. So, even if you are not required to publish your CSR report, taking this initiative can be very beneficial for you.
You will also be able to observe positive consequences concerning your employer brand. Officially publishing numerical data gives confidence to your future collaborators.
The commitment of your employees
As we have seen, workers need more and more to find meaning in their missions. In this context, publishing a CSR report makes it possible to better visualize the various social and environmental implications of their organization. This plays a role in employee commitment, and therefore indirectly on the company's performance.
To further strengthen this commitment, do not hesitate to implement a solution that allows employees to invest in CSR projects of their choice. This is what we offer at Teamstarter. Thanks to a very easy to use crowdfunding platform, each employee can suggest projects of their choice, and set them up when he or she has raised enough money. Each month, all employees have a budget defined by the company, which they allocate to the projects that make the most sense for them. It is a very good way to engage your teams, while carrying out projects with a positive impact.
The attraction of partners
Finally, reporting the results of its CSR actions in writing is reassuring for potential new partners. Whether they are institutions, NGOs or investors, publishing a report makes it possible to visualize in a factual way all the actions carried out by the company. It is a A guarantee of trust for anyone or organization who wants to be associated with your business.
The components of the CSR report
A CSR report can be composed of different sections, depending on the actions carried out by the company. Here are the topics that are most often addressed in this type of document. It is possible to add more if relevant.
The social component
It includes all procedures related to jobs and working conditions. Organization of tasks, social relationships, employee well-being, management: all aspects of social policy can be addressed.
In this section, you can find numerical data concerning hires, changes in remuneration, working hours, parameters that affect equality between men and women, or the integration of people with disabilities. The number of hours devoted to training can also be mentioned.
The societal component
This part is about The economic impact of your company on social partners, suppliers, subcontractors, etc. The measures taken in favor of consumers (health, safety), the fight against corruption or even the respect of human rights can be integrated into this part.
The environmental component
Finally, the category that concerns environmental protection is often one of the most discussed in CSR reports. You can include data related to waste and resource management, biodiversity protection, etc.
You can also include the carbon balance of your company in the CSR report. This shows that she is aware of the issues surrounding environmental protection issues. It also shows that you are aware of the points you need to work on to reduce your carbon footprint.
The CSR report is therefore a official document, sometimes mandatory, which companies generally publish every year. If you are not subject to the obligation to write it, it is still strongly recommended that you do so, as it offers you numerous advantages. Whether for your employees or for all the other people who have a link with your company, it exposes essential data to understand the actions you take. in favor of sustainable development. Do not hesitate to involve your employees in the implementation of your CSR policy : this approach allows everyone to give more meaning to their missions, and to be more committed.
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