Bidvest tops for sustainability report

Monday, 09 January 2012 09:43

The Bidvest Group has won the 2011 Ernst & Young award for Excellence in Sustainability Reporting in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development.

Eskom was runner-up ahead of AngloGold Ashanti, Anglo American Platinum, Exxaro Resources, Gold Fields, Impala Platinum Holdings, Sasol, Northam Platinum and Lonmin Plc.

The top 10 stood out because of their understanding of, and commitment to, sustainability, says the Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Services at Ernst & Young, Jeremy Grist.

"While Bidvest and Eskom are not resource companies (e.g as mines are), they showed a strong commitment to sustainability reporting and that their boards consider it to be important to their businesses," he says.

Many companies, he adds, merely pay lip service to sustainability reporting and do only the minimum to comply.

"Simply adding pages to the annual report does not impress the adjudicators. They want to see that the company has taken a fresh look at the structure of its annual report and put the necessary work into integration.

Says Bidvest Communications Manager, Junette Davidson: "Sustainability talks to more than shareholders. All stakeholders, from employees to suppliers, need assurance that the company is here to stay.

"Effective sustainability reporting sends a clear message that the organisation is sustainable and that management is focused on its long term viability."

Ernst & Young’s Excellence in Sustainability Reporting Survey encourages companies to raise the standard of their reporting and rewards organisations who make the effort to do more for their stakeholders.