Global CSR reporting 'is falling below standards'

Standards of thoroughness and accuracy in global corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting are falling outside acceptable parameters, according to a report.

Data collated by Leeds University from more than 4,000 CSR reports and surveys have found that too many companies are still putting out materials that feature inaccurate data, unsubstantiated claims and key omissions.

Fewer than one in six of the companies assessed were shown to be reporting greenhouse gas totals for all their operations, while others did not make clear which of their activities were accounted for, reports the Guardian.

Dr Ralf Barkemeyer, a lecturer in CSR at Leeds, said these figures suggest that too many companies are not taking their CSR responsibilities seriously enough, which is leading to glaring errors being missed.

"In financial reporting to leave out an undisclosed part of the company in the calculation of profits would be a scandal. In sustainability reporting it is common practice," he added.

This comes after a report from KPMG earlier this month suggested the fact that disclosure of sustainability reporting metrics remains unregulated is a major problem.