Choosing A Sustainability Assurance Provider (Webinar)

Published: 15 July 2011

Executive Summary

This webinar will help CSR and EH&S directors, CSOs and CFOs choose a sustainability assurance provider. Mandatory reporting frameworks and increasing investor interest in sustainability encourage firms to engage assurance providers to enhance the credibility of sustainability reports and provide greater confidence to the Board about management systems, performance data and risk controls. Meanwhile financially material sustainability risks and integrated reporting are shifting sustainability assurance decisions up the CFO’s agenda. This webinar will share the findings of an independent Verdantix benchmark of the capabilities of 13 global assurance providers including BSI, Bureau Veritas, Deloitte, DNV, ERM, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC.

Table Of Contents

What is the state of demand for sustainability assurance services?
‘Assurance’ And ‘Verification’ Are Used Interchangeably, Creating Confusion
There Is No Unifying Architecture For Sustainability Performance Standards
The Multitude Of Standards Can Be A Source Of Confusion For Assurance Buyers
Three Flavours Of Assurance: Pre-Assurance, Internal and External
Customer’s Spending On Assurance Will Match 2010 Levels Or Increase
Credibility, Risk And Lack Of Confidence Drive Purchase Decisions
Spending Currently Targets GHG Inventories, Sustainability Reporting and EMS…
…And Will Continue To Do So In The Near Future
GHG Accounting And Quality Management Are Beginning To Standardise
Firms Preparing An Integrated Annual Report Will Also Integrate Assurance

How are the large, global assurance providers positioned in the market today?
The Scope Of The Study Included Large, Global Assurance Providers
Customers’ Described High Awareness Of The Assurance Services Of The ‘Big Four’
Customers’ Rated The Sustainable Business Expertise Of PwC, KPMG and ERM Highly
How The Green Quadrant Methodology Reflects Market Requirements
Capabilities Criteria That Firms Were Assessed On
Momentum Criteria That Firms Were Assessed On
Verdantix Green Quadrant® Sustainability Assurance (Global)

Which providers should firms select for their assurance engagements?
Match Assurance Requirements To Choice Of Provider
Conduct A Needs Assessment With Stakeholders And Align Spending With Sustainability Maturity
Make The Most Of Assurance Provider Expertise

Please note: this content requires the ARF webex software, which can be downloaded for free at the following page:
http://www.webex.com/downloadplayer.html