The number of companies in the S&P 500 Index that publish sustainability reports is on the rise, according to a new report issued this week.

In an analysis conducted by the Governance & Accountability Institute, a sustainability consulting firm, the number of companies in the S&P 500 Index that published a sustainability report increased from 53 percent in 2012 to 72 percent in 2013. This jump is all the more significant, given that less than 20 percent of S&P 500 companies published a sustainability report in 2012.

                                      

“We are seeing clear indications over the past three years that senior corporate management understands the importance of adopting and implementing strategies that reflect the rising interest of investors and stakeholders in corporate sustainability,” said Louis Coppola, executive vice president of G&A Institute. “Companies headquartered in the United States are publishing sustainability reports in greater numbers, and with more content that meets stakeholder expectations.” 

“The S&P 500 companies in the lead on disclosure and reporting are focusing much more now on the materiality of environmental, social, and corporate governance issues, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders to determine the materiality of report content,” Coppola added. “So, now, along with the sheer volume of corporate reporting increasing, we are seeing greater intensity of focus on what really matters in the report.”