July 1, 2020
2020 Flash Report S&P 500
90% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability / Responsibility Reports in 2019
G&A Institute announces the results of its annual S&P 500 sustainability reporting analysis. 90% of the S&P 500 published corporate sustainability reports, an all-time high!
Governance & Accountability Institute (G&A) is pleased to share the results of its annual research tracking sustainability reporting among companies in the S&P 500 Index. For 2019, 9 out of 10 companies published a sustainability or responsibility report — marking an all-time high and continuing a decade-long trend of growing disclosure.
Key Findings
90% of S&P 500 companies published sustainability reports in 2019, up from 86% in 2018 and just 20% in 2011.
51% of S&P 500 reporters used GRI Standards.
14% aligned their reporting with SASB.
5% aligned their reporting with TCFD.
36% aligned with the UN SDGs.
29% utilized external assurance for their disclosures.
65% responded to CDP’s Climate Change questionnaire.
Summary
G&A’s research shows that sustainability reporting has become the norm among large-cap U.S. companies. Since 2011, when only one in five companies in the S&P 500 published a report, disclosure has grown steadily year over year — reflecting investor demand, regulatory developments, and increasing stakeholder expectations. The contents of these reports have also expanded significantly, with more companies aligning with leading frameworks, integrating SDGs, and adopting assurance practices to improve credibility.
What You’ll Learn
The 2020 research report features a detailed breakdown of non-reporters by sector, adoption of frameworks and standards (GRI, SASB, TCFD), alignment with the UN SDGs, and trends in external assurance and survey reporting such as CDP and CSA/DJSI. The findings provide critical insights for companies looking to benchmark their reporting practices, anticipate stakeholder expectations, and strengthen ESG disclosure strategies.
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