Guide to High-Quality Sustainability Reporting

This whitepaper outlines the Swiss Sustainability Reporting Excellence Awards, which evaluate the sustainability disclosures of publicly listed and large private companies in Switzerland. Launched by PwC Switzerland and the Institute for Law and Economics at the University of St. Gallen, the awards focus on quality, transparency, and comprehensiveness in sustainability reporting. The evaluation methodology combines objective and subjective criteria to assess the non-financial disclosures of companies, aiming to enhance the quality of reporting and drive progress towards sustainability. The document details the sample methodology, which includes 245 companies across various sectors, and emphasizes the importance of sustainability reporting as a strategic tool for corporate governance. It also discusses the increasing regulatory pressures and expectations from stakeholders regarding non-financial disclosures, particularly in light of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Practical takeaways for improving sustainability reporting are provided, alongside key findings from the 2024 assessment.