What is Integrated Reporting?

Integrated reporting is an important tool in improving the understanding of the relationship between financial and non-financial factors that determine a company’s performance and of how a company creates sustainable value in the longer term.

When organizations lack clear expectations for performance, they are more likely to lose focus on the long-term objectives. This is one of the reasons why it’s important that companies report on sustainability – not just their financials, but also how they’re managing risks and opportunities in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Integrated reporting helps businesses tell a complete story about what drives their success by addressing both company performance metrics as well as ESG factors. It provides investors with a clearer understanding of how ESGs contribute to business value creation over time. And most importantly, integrated reporting can help drive better decision making for companies by identifying which strategies will be most successful based on ESG considerations in their Reporting.

What are the benefits of integrated reporting?

Companies receive substantial benefits in integrating sustainability into their organization’s approach. Part of that advantage is in the quality of information companies receive when they report on all aspects of performance, not just financials. Oftentimes, organizations are able to identify gaps between company goals and compared with actual accomplishments.

Integrated reporting can provide valuable insights for organizations of all sizes. It is important, however, to make sure that companies are prepared to conduct an effective analysis about how ESG factors contribute to financial success.

Overall, integrated reporting helps your organization better understand its business practices and identify opportunities for future growth. You should consider whether or not it’s worth the effort to adopt this process for your company.

What are the challenges of an integrated report?

The challenges of implementing an integrated reporting program include developing the appropriate reporting framework, identifying materiality thresholds, understanding the information needs of different stakeholders and gaining stakeholder support.

Integrated reporting can provide valuable insights for organizations of all sizes. It is important, however, to make sure that companies are prepared to conduct an extensive and effective analysis about how ESG factors contribute to financial success.

The main purpose of integrated reporting is to provide a more in-depth look at the relationship between financial and non-financial factors that determine a company’s performance.

What does integrated corporate reporting include?

If your organization is considering adopting Integrated Reporting, you should consider the following:

  • How will your company integrate ESG factors into reporting?
  • What kind of analysis will be performed to identify where value is created in your business?
  • Will your organization need any specific training for this process?

All these factors play a role in determining what steps to take when reporting on ESG issues.

What is the main purpose of integrated reporting?

The main purpose of integrated reporting is to provide a more in-depth look at the relationship between financial and non-financial factors that determine a company’s performance. Integrated reporting helps businesses tell a complete story about what drives their success by addressing both company performance metrics as well as ESG factors. It provides investors with a clearer understanding of how ESGs contribute to business value creation over time. And most importantly, integrated reporting can help drive better decision making for companies by identifying which strategies will be most successful based on ESG considerations.

What is the difference between Integrated Reporting and Materiality?

Not every company needs to conduct an in-depth analysis of sustainability factors as part of its business reporting process. If your company has been transparent about its reporting on ESG issues in the past, it may be able to stick with existing reporting practices. That’s where materiality assessments come in. In order to make decisions around what is and isn’t included in your company’s Integrated Report, you will need a clear understanding of your business goals and how ESGs affect those goals.

What is the difference between Integrated Reporting and sustainability reporting?

Integrated reporting provides a more in-depth look at how all material issues affect your business’ performance, such as ESG factors. Sustainability reporting is the basic process of assessing how your company’s practices align with key industry standards and expectations, such as what is outlined in the Global Reporting Initiative.

What are some guidelines for conducting an Integrated Reporting process?

The guidelines provided by the International Integrated Reporting Council can help any organization begin its own reporting assessment. It’s a good idea to consider what your company will need in order to conduct a successful analysis, including:

  • How will your company determine your organization’s key stakeholders?
  • What steps will your company take to identify the relationships between business performance metrics and ESGs?
  • How can your company use public engagement opportunities to get valuable feedback on how ESG factors affect your bottom line?

All these guidelines play a role in determining what kind of analysis you should perform when reporting on your company’s performance. Remember, you can also consider whether or not to use Integrated Reporting for your business based on how it fits with your current reporting practices.

Some of the key elements of Integrated Reporting are linkages, transparency and disclosure.

What are the 6 capitals of integrated reporting?

The 6 capitals of integrated reporting are finance, people, planet, customer, innovation and that capital which is usually forgotten – governance. This 6th capital represents the systems used to create value in society. The 6 capitals collectively, are linked through the triple bottom line (people+planet+profit).

You might also be interested in What are the 3 components of the triple bottom line approach?

What are some key elements of Integrated Reporting?

Some of the key elements of Integrated Reporting are linkages, transparency and disclosure. Integrated reporting should provide information on how a company impacts the world around them and how it makes sure that they create value for their “stakeholders”.

If an integrated report is a success it should be a tool which shows you can see patterns of behavior over time e.g. climate change has been shown to impact coffee prices.

What does the future of Integrated Reporting look like?

Integrated reports can be seen as a “communications tool” and therefore the amount of required information is likely to evolve over time. The general focus for companies however will always be on creating long term value in addition to occupying a responsible social role in society.

What is integrated reporting in financial accounting?

Integrated reporting with regards to financial accounting is the combination of two core financial statements: a traditional income statement and a balance sheet. This is because, under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), a company needs to provide a “statement of financial position” as well as a “statement of operations.” It’s often called the statement of comprehensive income or the statement of changes in equity.

What is the integrated reporting framework?

The integrated reporting framework is a framework developed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) to help businesses create reports which are focused on creating long term value. It includes 6 “capitals” which are linked via the triple bottom line, these capitals are finance, people, planet, customer, innovation & governance. It is based on 3 pillars of sustainability reporting – economic value-added (EVA), social capital and environmental capital.

Integrated reports are seen as one way to see how a company’s performance is changing over time, allow organisations to understand the risks associated with their operations and provide more transparency on how they operate (i.e. using language which is understandable for stakeholders). Integrated reports can include all types of businesses, however they are most suited for companies who want to communicate directly with their stakeholders e.g. company’s that trade in financial markets or that operate in industries that rely on long term stability (e.g. mining).

What is the triple bottom line?

The triple bottom line (abbreviated to TBL or 3BL) is a framework for understanding sustainability, which was coined by John Elkington in 1994 and describes social equity, environment and financial performance as three pillars of sustainable development. The triple bottom line is often used in reporting to show how a company’s activities and processes affect society and the environment.

What does “stakeholders” mean?

Stakeholders are generally defined as people who have an interest in the performance of an organization, whether it is positive or negative, voluntary or involuntary. Stakeholders can include owners, managers and employees, directors and regulators as well as customers, suppliers and local communities.

What is the connection between Integrated Reporting and sustainability?

Integrated reporting can be seen as a tool to help companies understand the risks associated with their operations (including those related to climate change), as well as providing transparency of how they function internally. Sustainability, which is part of the triple bottom line, means that companies should not only look at their immediate profits but also consider the environmental and social impacts of their decisions in order to protect stakeholders interests in the future.

What are “non-financial” factors?

Non-financial factors are outcomes or impacts on a company’s performance which are not recorded as transactions, but still have an effect on the company. These factors include social and environmental factors that affect how society can interact with the business (e.g. employee relations or ethical conduct of the business).

Having this level of trust means that shareholders are more likely to view them as “investment worthy.”

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is generally understood as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainable development is closely tied with social and environmental factors because they are not reflected in financial statements. Social sustainability refers to how a business affects its employees, local communities and stakeholders while environmental sustainability refers to how it affects the environment.

What is manufactured capital in integrated reporting?

Manufactured capital is a term used by the International Integrated Reporting Council to refer to a business’ collective investment in physical assets (buildings, equipment, vehicles) and intangible capital (patents, or brand equity).

What is sustainability or CSR in integrated reporting?

Sustainability is the responsible use of natural resources without compromising the needs of future generations. CSR is the concept that business decisions should be based not only on financial gain, but also consideration for the social good.

What are the characteristics of an integrated report?

An integrated report describes how a company creates sustainable value through its return on invested capital and cash flow generation as well as its ability to sustain and enhance its brands, intellectual capital and other intangible assets.

What is a framework for integrated reporting?

A framework for integrated reporting provides a general purpose structure to develop individual reports and, if relevant, particular messages tailored to meet stakeholder information needs.

Why is corporate disclosure important?

The main function of disclosures in corporate governance are to provide information about a company’s activities, financial position and prospects to allow stakeholders to make informed decisions.

Disclosures also play a role in increasing transparency and honesty. If companies disclose their actions truthfully, they will gain the public’s trust. Having this level of trust means that shareholders are more likely to view them as “investment worthy.”

The legal framework of disclosures varies by country. For example, in the United States there is only one law specifying mandatory obligations for companies to disclose certain types of information – SOX. This means that some countries have more detailed disclosure requirements than others.

In conclusion on international integrated reporting framework

In conclusion, we have learned about the term and definition of integrated reporting and how it has to do with several factors that determine a business performance. These include non-financial, social and environmental factors to make sure businesses benefit not only at the present time, but also in sustainable ways for future generations. We learned about how society looks upon these three types of determinants to make sure businesses stay afloat at all times and how integrated reporting makes sure we get a better understanding of all three categories. Lastly, we learned about the main functions and legal framework of corporate disclosures and how it could shape our future through sustainable and responsible business practices.

Caveats, disclaimers & international integrated reporting council

We have covered many topics in this article and want to be clear that any reference to, or mention of council iirc, external, international, committee, model, value, certified, professional, thinking, statements, foundation, concise communication, benefits, partners, key, ir, landscape, overview, not for profit, future, stability, globally accepted, public interest, commentary, global network, natural capital, registered office, narrative reporting, private sector, non financial, independent entities, relevant coalition, competitive advantage, federation, listed interested, decision useful concepts, member draft, deloitte touche tohmatsu limited, new legally separate, published or challenges facing in the context of this article is purely for informational purposes and not to be misconstrued with investment advice or personal opinion. Thank you for reading, we hope that you found this article useful in your quest to understand ESG.

Author Bio

Research & Curation

Dean Emerick is a curator on sustainability issues with ESG The Report, an online resource for SME’s and Investment professionals focusing on ESG principles. Their primary goal is to help middle market companies automate Impact Reporting with ESG Software. Leveraging the power of AI, machine learning and AWS to transition to a sustainable business model. Serving clients in the United States, Canada, Uk, Europe and the global community. If you want to get started, don’t forget to Get the Checklist! ✅