EQS-News: INTEGRITY STAR AWARD HONOURS COMPANIES FOR THE QUALITY OF THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS FOR THE FIRST TIME 

INTEGRITY STAR AWARD HONOURS COMPANIES FOR THE QUALITY OF THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS FOR THE FIRST TIME 

• Top scorers in the GEM ALL, DAX, MDAX, SDAX and GEM SELECTED segments honoured with the Integrity Star Award for the quality of their sustainability reports
• Sustainability reporting was analysed using the well-founded, objective methodology of the GEM ASSAY^TM of the Global ESG Monitor, no jury 
• Analysis results open up learning opportunities for companies in the form of best practice examples, comparative data and benchmark opportunities
• The presentation of the Integrity Stars marks the start of the ‘Impact Challenger Days’ webinar series on the topic of corporate sustainability; participation is free of charge

Wiesbaden, 12 September 2024 – The Global ESG Monitor (GEM) 2024 has analysed the sustainability reporting of a total of 194 companies from the DAX, MDAX and SDAX as well as an international sample. At the start of the Impact Challenger Days webinar series, the top scorers in the GEM ALL, DAX, MDAX, SDAX and GEM SELECTED segments were recognised for the quality of their sustainability reports with the Integrity Star – the first objective award in sustainability reporting. The reports were analysed by an experienced team of analysts on the basis of the sound, objective methodology of the GEM ASSAY^TM using up to 5,000 variables as part of a triple evaluation – and not assessed by a jury. This year, the methodology was again significantly expanded and the ESRS and IFRS requirements (status quo) were integrated for the first time.

In the GEM ALL segment, Deutsche Telekom AG, EDF SA and Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA were recognised as top scorers. Deutsche Telekom AG was also among the top scorers in the DAX segment, together with Siemens AG and Dr Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. In the MDAX, Aroundtown SA, Aurubis AG and Hugo Boss AG were the most convincing, while Adtran Inc, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and BayWa AG were among the top scorers in the SDAX. In the fifth segment, GEM SELECTED, EDF SA, Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA and UniCredit SpA secured the coveted place among the top scorers.

In the entire 2024 sample, the front-runner achieved a score of 79 out of a possible 100 points, while the last-in-class achieved just 13 points. The average score of the companies reached 45 points.

Ariane Hofstetter, Board Member of cometis AG and co-founder of the GEM, explains: “We have been repeatedly confronted with questions as to whether conclusions can be drawn about the quality of sustainability reporting based on index membership, number of employees or turnover. Our study shows that this is only the case to a very limited extent. Rather, top scorers are characterised by the fact that they communicate more comparably, comprehensibly and clearly in all areas and also offer the reader context for understanding their information.“

There is a wide range in the quality of sustainability reports across all indices. Overall, there are still large ‘blank spots’ in the sustainability reporting of the companies analysed. Almost all companies (96 per cent) now state that they have carried out a materiality analysis. However, only just over half (59 per cent) of the companies have carried out a double materiality analysis to date. Companies are still struggling with the so-called ‘financial materiality’ perspective in particular. This indicates a considerable backlog in the comprehensive consideration of financial and non-financial risks and opportunities. It is also noticeable that there is often still a lack of contextualisation of the data. Reports sometimes present isolated figures and measures without categorising them in a strategic, corporate or social context.

“We see many companies making good progress, but with the ESRS coming into force, they need to get out of their comfort zone and consistently develop their sustainability reporting further. After all, transparent and credible reporting has a massive impact on the financial viability of companies,“ summarises Michael Diegelmann, co-founder of GEM and Board Member of the IR and ESG consultancy cometis.

The presentation of the Integrity Stars marked the start of the ESG webinar series (participation free of charge: here) as part of the Impact Challenger Days, in which sustainability topics and selected sector studies are presented. In the ESG webinars, interested parties have the opportunity to discuss first-hand with experts, learn from the in-depth studies and gain inspiration for the upcoming sustainability reporting according to CSRD/ESRS.

Hofstetter adds: “The aim of the Integrity Star Award is to make best practice examples publicly visible and to provide comparative data and benchmarking opportunities and discuss them in webinars, because we want to learn together with the companies and offer them a valuable, data-based second opinion on their reporting.“

Further information on the Global ESG Monitor 2024 is available at www.globalESGmonitor.com.


About the Global ESG Monitor

The Global ESG Monitor (GEM) is an independent think tank dedicated to analysing and comparing the quality of sustainability reports. Since its foundation in 2020, the GEM has analysed over 1,300 reports from more than 500 companies worldwide. The operationalisation of quality (transparency & context) is based on the GEM ASSAY^TM methodology, which integrates the principles and criteria of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), IFRS (IFRS S1 and S2), the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the German Supply Chain Sustainability Act (LkSG). In addition, findings from the dialogue with relevant stakeholder groups are incorporated into the methodology. To ensure very high data quality, each company report is analysed three times. The results of the analyses are published by the GEM Academy and the Impact Challenger Days. Interested companies can access detailed, individual analyses to improve their own sustainability reporting. The GEM thus offers companies a second opinion on their reporting and helps them to continuously develop their sustainability communication through peer group comparisons and benchmark analyses. Further information can be found at www.globalESGmonitor.com.


About the Integrity Star Award

The Integrity Star Award (ISA) recognises the best sustainability reports from the DAX^®, MDAX^®, SDAX^® and an international sample. The award makes best practices publicly accessible and provides comparative data and benchmarking opportunities. The aim is to provide companies with a data-based foundation for improving their sustainability reporting so that they can fulfil the high expectations of stakeholders and regulatory authorities. The assessment is not carried out by artificial intelligence or a jury, but by an experienced team of analysts who analyse the reports using the sound, objective methodology of the GEM ASSAY^TM. At the same time, the companies are shown how their reports could be perceived by stakeholders. The Integrity Star Award is based on the evaluation of the current sustainability reports before the expected changes by the ESRS and can serve as a basis for future progress measurements.


About the Impact Challenger Days

The Impact Challenger Days (ICD) are dedicated to the topic of sustainability reporting in all its facets. The focus is on ESRS and CSRD, materiality, environmental issues and social and governance topics. In addition, the ICD will present sector-specific findings and, thanks to the cooperation with IR24, webinars that take a closer look at the topic of sustainability from a capital market perspective. Take part in the ESG webinar series free of charge: here.


Contact:

Michael Diegelmann
Phone: +49 61120585512
E-mail: [email protected] 

Ariane Hofstetter
Phone: +49 61120585518
E-mail: [email protected]