edie has today (4 May) published a brand-new, free report detailing how sustainability professionals can relay the importance of sustainability to key stakeholders during the coronavirus pandemic; along with fresh insights to create, deliver and share a compelling sustainability report. The report is free to download for sustainability professionals.

Published as part of edie’s ENGAGE Week of themed content, the Sustainability Reporting and Communications Handbook outlines best-practice case studies of how corporates have engaged key stakeholders on the topic of sustainability, as well as outlining all the key frameworks and considerations to putting together a compelling sustainability report.

The report features a foreword from the World Benchmarking Alliance’s engagement director Pauliina Murphy. Writing in the report, Murphy states: “There is more focus on people and human rights now and companies that continue to look after their people – be it in their operations or supply chains – will lead the global recovery. High performing companies will continue to focus on their employees, customers and communities even through a crisis as they have both the culture and processes built in to default to.

“We hope this crisis could be the start of a new relationship between the private sector and society. Companies are a vital part of the social fabric that holds societies together and they can better understand their influence and invest in this fabric, which is what the world needs to see.”

The report also includes a pull-out page of “six top tips for engagement and reporting during the coronavirus lockdown”, which features exclusive insight from sustainability professionals interviewed as part of edie’s #SustyTalks and coronavirus content.

The report is split into two sections. The first outlines how sustainability professionals can engage with consumers, suppliers colleagues, investors and the board to help cement sustainability as a business-critical issue. The second part focuses on how frameworks and standards, integrated reporting processes, human rights and social sustainability and global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations can help improve the storytelling aspects of a report.

Click here to download the 2020 Sustainability Reporting and Communications Handbook.