Metrics
Explore the MetricsThis set of 21 core and 34 expanded metrics and disclosures were published in September of 2020, in the World Economic Forum report Measuring Stakeholder Capitalism: Towards Common Metrics and Consistent Reporting of Sustainable Value Creation.Focused on four themes, People, Planet, Prosperity and Principles of Governance, these metrics and disclosures reflect a six-month consultation process with more than 200 companies, investors and other interested parties.
Percentage of employees per employee category, per age group, gender and other indicators of diversity (e.g. ethnicity)
Gender, ethnic and cultural diversity, particularly within executive teams, continues to be correlated to financial performance across multiple countries worldwide. What drives this correlation is that more diverse companies are better able to innovate, attract top talent, improve their customer orientation, enhance employee satisfaction and secure license to operate.
Companies that focus on improving the representation of a diverse work force and effectively utilize inclusion and diversity as an enabler to develop their talent can reap tangible and intangible benefits.
Ratio of the basic salary and remuneration for each employee category by significant locations of operation for priority areas of equality: women to men; minor to major ethnic groups; and other relevant equality areas
Inclusion and diversity can only be achieved by promoting equal pay and by providing equal remuneration for the same jobs, in order to address social disparity and to maximize professional opportunities for all people irrespective of gender, color, caste, creed, religion and other diversity aspects.
Organizations in which imbalances exist expose themselves to reputational and legal risk, based on racial and other discrimination.
Fair compensation and benefits contribute to the economic well-being of workers since the distribution of wages and income is crucial for eliminating inequality and poverty.
A wide gap between the CEO compensation and the median reinforces inequality and could impede long‑term value creation. Depending on how the organization is structured, it can become a crucial aspect for investors to make appropriate decisions.
An explanation of the operations and suppliers considered to have significant risk for incidents of child labour, forced or compulsory labour. Such risks could emerge in relation to type of operation (such as manufacturing plant) and type of supplier; or countries or geographic areas with operations and suppliers considered at risk.
Child, forced or compulsory labour is a violation of fundamental human rights and has been identified as hindrance to development. There is a strong link between household poverty and child labour, which can also trigger to lower the standard of living across the generations.
The ripple effects arising from these issues can translate into legal and reputational risk for the companies, especially those with extensive value chains.
Maintaining strong standards of health, safety and labour rights can improve employee productivity and operational efficiency. Working proactively in these areas of business will help identify and mitigate risks and it is increasingly required by law.
Mental health and emotional wellbeing as components of overall worker health and safety are becoming increasingly important to drive innovation and deliver goods and services that are increasingly reliant on intellectual capital. In addition, health- related employee benefits that address physical illness and mental and emotional wellbeing issues are gaining importance.
Skilled employees enhance a company’s human capital and contribute to employee satisfaction, which correlates strongly with improved performance.
Building human capital to secure a motivated, productive and skilled workforce is a key priority for companies. When firms fail to invest in training, education, skilling and reskilling of their employees, it can affect their business performance, reputation and ability to attract talented workforce. It can also lead to higher operating costs related to recruiting, developing and retaining employees.
Significant investment in training and development across all levels of the workforce will serve as a testament to the organization’s commitment on learning and development for all employees and supports the agile transformation of the companies.
For all relevant greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, F-gases etc.), report in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) GHG Protocol Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
Estimate and report material upstream and downstream (GHG Protocol Scope 3) emissions where appropriate.
GHG emissions are the primary driver of rising global temperatures and therefore a key focus for policy, regulatory, market and technology responses to limit climate change. As a result, business models associated with significant emissions are likely to be more impacted by risks in the transition to a low carbon economy. While challenges remain in the accurate quantification of Scope 3 emissions, companies across all major sectors of the economy already report on Scope 3 emissions and in the context of the transition to a low carbon economy, material Scope 3 emissions may have a significant bearing on a company’s potential for long term value creation.
Fully implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). If necessary, disclose a timeline of at most three years for full implementation. Disclose whether you have set, or have committed to set, GHG emissions targets that are in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement – to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C – and to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050
The TCFD recommendations are already established as the primary framework for disclosure of information on the management of climate related risks and opportunities in main annual filings. Elevating disclosure of metrics relating to people, planet, prosperity and principles of governance into main annual filings is a key objective of this initiative and we therefore lend our full support to broader adoption of the TCFD recommendations. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of GHG emissions targets that are in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Report the number and area (in hectares) of sites owned, leased or managed in or adjacent to protected areas and/or key biodiversity areas (KBA).
Key biodiversity areas (KBA) provide a science-based and internationally recognized means of identifying sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity while protected areas indicate nationally (and often internationally) recognized areas of ecological or cultural importance, typically with specific legal protections. Having operations inside or close to such areas indicates heightened risk of adverse impacts on biodiversity and heightened risk of exposure to associated legal or reputational risk.
Report for operations where material, mega litres of water withdrawn, mega litres of water consumed and the percentage of each in regions with high or extremely high baseline water stress according to WRI Aqueduct water risk atlas tool.
Estimate and report the same information for the full value chain (upstream and downstream) where appropriate
Water consumption and water withdrawal in water-stressed areas are indicators of the potential for negative societal impacts (resulting from competition with other water users) and associated business risks including the potential for operational disruptions and shutdowns.
Employment and job creation are key drivers of economic growth, dignity and prosperity.
The metrics provide a basic indication of a company’s capacity to attract diverse talent, which is key to innovate new products and services. Employee turnover may serve as an indication of employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction and potential unfairness in the workplace. These metrics are related to the “People” pillar but included within “Prosperity” because it captures the degree to which a company is supporting employment within a region.
Economic contribution provides a basic indication of how a company has created wealth for stakeholders.
Investment is a key driver of an economy’s growth and a company’s capacity to expand its operations and create additional employment.
Wealth creation from investment activities can be evidenced through the company’s expenditures to grow the business as compared to distribution of capital to shareholders.
Total costs related to research and development
Innovation, and therefore R&D, is key to prosperity. Total R&D expenses gives a basic indication of a company’s efforts to innovate new products and services and be fit for the future.
This can also provide insight into the capacity of the company to create new offerings, generate social or environmental benefits and more detailed specific disclosure could demonstrate progress against the SDGs.
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The total global tax borne by the company, including corporate income taxes, property taxes, non-creditable VAT and other sales taxes, employer-paid payroll taxes and other taxes that constitute costs to the company, by category of taxes
Reporting of total tax paid provides global information on the company’s contribution to governmental revenues through the different forms of taxation imposed on it. This reporting provides information on the company’s global tax profile and on the various categories of taxes that support governmental functions and public benefits.
The company’s stated purpose, as the expression of the means by which a business proposes solutions to economic, environmental, and social issues. Corporate purpose should create value for all stakeholders, including shareholders
Oversight of a company’s chosen priorities in terms of economic, environmental, and social issues requires a clear understanding and articulation of the firm’s purpose. The more that firms can link their purpose and core business, the better they can deliver long‑term value for all stakeholders, including shareholders.
Composition of the highest governance body and its committees by: competencies relating to economic, environmental, and social topics; executive or non-executive; independence; tenure on the governance body; number of each individual's other significant positions and commitments, and the nature of the commitments; gender; membership of under-represented social groups; stakeholder representation
The capabilities and perspectives of board members are important for making robust decisions on an ongoing basis. This disclosure captures a variety of important dimensions to composition, going beyond a single metric, and emphasizing competencies relating to economic, environmental, and social topics.
A list of the topics that are material to key stakeholders and the company, how the topics were identified, and how the stakeholders were engaged
This disclosure highlights the importance of the relationship between what is material to a firm and to its stakeholders; it captures the output of a process to understand the impact of the company on its stakeholders, and the implications for the company.
Corruption undermines stakeholder legitimacy and trust; it is linked to misallocation of capital, environmental harm, human exploitation and unethical and illegal behaviour.
Anti‑corruption training and investment in initiatives to improve both operating environment and culture develop a company’s anti‑corruption capabilities. The total number and nature of corruption incidents are a proxy for the effectiveness of a company’s overarching anti‑corruption culture and capabilities.
A description of internal and external mechanisms for
This disclosure focuses on the ongoing ability of a company to both prevent and remedy ethical issues.
Company risk factor and opportunity disclosures that clearly identify the principal material risks and opportunities facing the company specifically (as opposed to generic sector risks), the company appetite in respect of these risks, how these risks and opportunities have moved over time and the response to those changes. These opportunities and risks should integrate material economic, environmental, and social issues, including climate change and data stewardship
This disclosure focuses on company specific risks and opportunities, the onus on the board to oversee management of those risks and opportunities, and the corporate response over time as they change; it provides broad, management and board-centred insight.