An update fro GRI, the Global Reporting Initiative for guidelines for sustainability reporting.
Measurement Working Group Presents Documents for Public Comment

The work of the ten MWG subgroups will be completed this fall, and the resulting information will be rolled into the next Guidelines revision, set for release in mid-2002. Each group has prepared a document outlining their findings thus far, and is requesting public feedback. All interested parties are invited to review the documents and submit their feedback to Iain Watt at the GRI Secretariat no later than 1 October 2001.

Job Opening at GRI Secretariat

The GRI is looking for an energetic, committed, and experienced individual to help manage the Guidelines revision process and support other GRI activities. The position will be located at the GRI Secretariat office in Boston and is funded through at least June 2002. Opportunities may arise for the longer term after GRI becomes a permanent organisation at a location yet to be determined. The successful candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds including NGO, business, accounting, or consulting. She or he will have experience in coalition-building and multi-stakeholder programs, and will possess the agility to support diverse activities in addition to the revisions process. Please view the complete job description and application instructions. Applications are due by 14 September 2001.

Structured Feedback Process Responses Are In!

Earlier this year, 31 pioneering companies agreed to test the June 2000 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. They have provided detailed feedback about their experiences via questionnaire, and their responses are now available. Companies also committed to consider using the Guidelines during the preparation of their sustainability reports.

Korean Translation of the Guidelines now online

The GRI is grateful for the hard work of Professor Jee In Jang of Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea who handled this most recent translation of the Guidelines. Professor Jang is also a Director of the Management Research Institute (MRI) at Chung-Ang. The Korean version, as well as Guidelines in six other languages, can be downloaded here.

Summary of Briefings in South America

An Argentina briefing was hosted by CEADS (Consejo Empresario Argentino para el Desarrollo Sostenible) in Buenos Aires on 6 August 2001. More than 30 representatives from business, NGOs, financial and academic institutions met to discuss corporate accountability and transparency. Argentinean companies and NGOs shared knowledge about the local experience in environmental reporting and how it can build corporate credibility, improve internal management and overall performance, and strengthen positioning in the global marketplace.

Three days later, 9 August, the Instituto Ethos de Empresas e Responsabilidade Social (Ethos Institute) hosted a briefing in São Paulo, Brazil at the facilities of Natura Cosmeticos – a company actively involved in local social reporting initiatives, and the Structured Feedback Process. More than 150 people from business, financial institutions and NGOs attended the briefing to learn about the GRI and reporting trends in Brazil, and to participate in an open debate about the challenges and future directions of social reporting. Following the briefing, representatives from Brazilian NGOs, business, financial community, and Ethos Institute met in discussion groups to explore future opportunities for long-term collaboration, and to map out steps for increased Brazilian involvement in the GRI process.

Further information about the South American briefings will be posted on the GRI website in the near future.

Notes from the GRI Symposium in Tokyo

The Environmental Auditing Research Group (EARG) hosted an EARG/GRI Symposium entitled Securing the Credibility and Reliability of Environmental Reports on 9 July 2001. It took place at Chuo University Surugadai Kinenkan, and was attended by 110 Japanese business, governmental, NGO, and academic representatives, in addition to a small group of participants from other Asian countries. The symposium focused on current and future GRI developments, and issues relating to credibility and reliability of sustainability reports in Japan and worldwide. Further information about this symposium will be posted on the GRI website in the near future.

Summary of Verification Working Group Meeting

The VWG Asian Regional meeting on 10 July in Tokyo was hosted by EARG and attended by 35 participants from eight countries. View the participants list and agenda.

Discussions focused on report users’ needs and expectations about the verification of environmental and sustainability reports. Participants identified future goals and priorities for further development of verification in Asia and worldwide. Participants shared their extensive reporting experience and presented information on the current state and future directions for development of environmental reporting and verification in Japan.

The VWG North American regional meeting is scheduled for November in Toronto, Canada.

FINAL REMINDER! Call for Nominations to the GRI Board of Directors

The Nominating Committee of the GRI invites nominations for individuals to serve on the first Board of Directors.
The Nominating Committee seeks nine (9) individuals committed to the GRI’s core mission: To elevate the quality and quantity of sustainability reporting worldwide through design and continual enhancement of a sustainability reporting framework using a multi-stakeholder, global consultation process.
The nomination process is open until 15 September 2001. The Nominating Committee solicits nominations from individuals representing business, civil society, environmental, human rights, labour, accounting, research, investment, government, and other interested bodies.
It’s not too late! Please take the time to submit a complete nomination to ensure the Nominating Committee has a comprehensive, diverse and strong list of candidates from which to select the first GRI Board of Directors.
Find detailed information on the nomination process, a Board of Directors description, timeline, nomination forms, and Board Member criteria on our website or contact us.

More Organisations Release Sustainability Reports

We have been alerted that the following organisations have prepared reports informed by the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines:

* Anheuser-Busch Companies (USA)
* BASF (Germany)
* BC Hydro (Canada)
* Eskom (South Africa)
* Heidelberg (Germany)
* Marathon Oil (USA)
* Natura (Brazil)
* Smith & Nephew (UK)
* Umgeni Water (South Africa)
* University of Florida (USA)

Since following the Guidelines is entirely voluntary, companies are not obligated to inform GRI of adoption or use. However, to monitor GRI’s progress, and identify needs for GRI outreach and future Guidelines revisions, the Secretariat asks all such companies to inform the secretariat of their use of the Guidelines at info@globalreporting.org. We are keeping a cumulative list of companies that state they used the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines in preparing their reports.