Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) Wednesday launched a joint publication to assist issuers in reporting environment and social issues to investors.
A Primer for Environmental & Social Disclosure, which updates and expands on information from TSX’s previous edition, presents valuable information for issuers as investors pay closer attention to business issues relating to environmental and social factors.
The two organizations note that some investors now consider how those factors can impact revenues, costs, product offerings, customer and employee loyalty and, reputation. Investors may even look at an issuer’s supply chain.
The primer outlines key principles for environmental and social business conduct. It discusses mandatory disclosure requirements, voluntary reporting, industry-specific key performance indicators and initiatives in other countries.
“Reporting on environmental and social issues is evolving both at home and abroad,” says Todd Scaletta, a principal with CPA Canada focusing on sustainability and innovation.
“Disclosure relating to these matters is clearly becoming a vital component to the reporting efforts of a growing number of organizations. It is important that the changing landscape be illustrated for issuers,” he says.
The publication also summarizes best practices emerging from the Corporate Reporting Awards, which are presented annually by CPA Canada.