Study links Independent Assurance and Consumer Credibility
16th April 2010
A new report released from ‘Smart Sustainability’ in March reveals that Carbon and sustainability data disclosed by companies in the FTSE 350 lack credibility, as reported by NetworkWorld.com.
The study, carried out by sustainability consultancy Smart Sustainability, identified a need for standardisation and transparency in companies’ carbon reports, and questioned why some companies do not externally verify their carbon data.
SAP, Barclays, BP, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, British American Tobacco, CII and BPR Group sponsored the report. The study was conducted in response to investor demand for a way to compare the credibility of sustainability reports.
Smart Sustainability rated the carbon data reports against a set of criteria agreed with stakeholders and an expert indepent advisory panel. For example, in order to be considered best practice, assurance needed to be provided by an independent and qualified assurance provider, and has to accord with recognised and relevant assurance standards.
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