Strategic Focus: The Future Of Voluntary Sustainability Reporting

Luke Gowland

Luke Gowland

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

12 Jun, 2023

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Executive Summary

Despite looming ESG disclosure regulations, support for voluntary sustainability reporting remains high on the corporate agenda. This report provides chief sustainability officers (CSOs) with an overview of the current work by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to create a global baseline for voluntary sustainability reporting, as well as guidance on how corporates can manage voluntary and regulated reporting side by side.  
Interoperability between voluntary and mandatory reporting standards is the critical success factor
The ISSB’s objective is a global reporting baseline, not standardization
Corporate appetite for voluntary reporting remains high
Corporates will continue to juggle voluntary and mandatory reporting for the foreseeable future
Figure 1. Formation of the ISSB standards
Figure 2. Interoperability table of major standards
Figure 3. ESG and sustainability processes funding priorities

About the Authors

Luke Gowland

Luke Gowland

Senior Analyst

Luke is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in ESG and sustainability reporting software and financial ESG. He advises both technology buyers and software vendor and s...

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

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