Leading sustainability advocate Steve Ashkin reports that a vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are actively publishing comprehensive sustainability reports, even as some U.S. states express reservations about the process.

“What we see happening is that other states, along with other countries, are moving forward on stronger sustainability requirements, which require sustainability reports to measure and verify.”

So, we are all on the same page, a sustainability report can be defined as follows:

A disclosure of an organization’s non-financial performance, shared with stakeholders, investors, governments, regulatory agencies, employees, customers, and the public. It helps evaluate an organization’s sustainability practices and encourages more responsible, ethical business operations.

“Companies can’t escape sustainability requirements simply by being headquartered in those states that put less emphasis on them,” Ashkin adds.

“When doing business in states that do have reporting mandates, they must meet those higher standards—regardless of their home state’s minimal requirements.”

He also points out that there are several benefits for companies, large and small, to publish sustainability reports.

Three of the key reasons include the following:

1. Risk Mitigation –Sustainability reporting equips organizations to identify and mitigate environmental risks before they escalate into costly problems or regulatory violations. Reporting helps companies prepare for environmental challenges, like extreme weather, minimizing disruptions and keeping their doors open.

2. Efficiency Gains – Reduces natural resource use and operational costs, boosting profits and market share. These efficiency measures increase profit margins and expand market opportunities with larger, more valued organizations that now require sustainability reports from their vendors.

3. Strategic Insight – Sustainability reporting serves as a valuable assessment tool for companies, highlighting areas where sustainability efforts fall short as well as revealing improvements which lead to the increased efficiency and cost savings as just discussed. 

“When nearly all Fortune 500 companies are publishing sustainability reports, it signals a fundamental shift,” says Ashkin.

“What was once considered optional corporate responsibility has become an essential business strategy. These companies have realized that sustainability reporting isn’t just good PR—it’s good business.”

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About Steve Ashkin

Recognized as the “Father of Green Cleaning” and acknowledged as one of ISSA’s top contributors to the professional cleaning industry, Steve Ashkin is President of The Ashkin Group, Executive Director of the Green Cleaning Network, and CEO of Sustainability Dashboard Tools, LLC. He has been working in sustainability and green practices since 1990 and is considered a leader of the Green Cleaning Movement.

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