Reporting & disclosure / 3 min read
A clearer report begins long before the writing.
Agree the audience, organise the evidence and bring the right people into the process before drafting your sustainability report.
A perspective from Baobab Advisory Services
Be clear about the purpose
Your report may serve several audiences, from customers and employees to investors and business partners. Agree what each audience needs and the reporting approach that is appropriate for your organisation. Understand the relevant requirements with your advisers before setting the scope.
Give each disclosure an owner
Map the information needed to the team best placed to provide it. Confirm the period, boundaries and review process at the outset. Finance, operations, procurement and people teams may all contribute; shared definitions make their inputs easier to combine.
Keep claims close to evidence
Organise supporting records alongside the information they explain. Record the basis for figures, the boundaries of statements and any important limitations. When a claim is difficult to support, revisit the wording or the evidence before it enters the final draft.
Allow time for a useful review
Reviewing the narrative and the numbers together helps identify inconsistencies that separate checks can miss. Give contributors time to challenge the interpretation of their information, and keep track of decisions and changes. A considered review improves clarity as well as confidence.
Make the next cycle easier
After publication, capture what worked and what caused delays. Update responsibilities, evidence requirements and the timetable while the experience is still fresh. Small improvements to the process can make the next reporting cycle more manageable for everyone involved.