R. Johnson
7/3/2012
Monsanto recently adopted the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework, a comprehensive sustainability reporting structure that is widely used around the world.
The GRI reporting framework provides an opportunity for Monsanto to more effectively measure, build upon and communicate its current sustainability efforts.
GRI—a network-based, non-profit organization—was established in 1997 to provide organizational reporting guidance to help groups work toward a sustainable global economy.
“All companies think they are very unique and different, but they actually have many things in common,” Mike Wallace, GRI Focal Point USA director, said. “The GRI Guidelines standardize the [sustainability measurement] process and make sustainability performance more comparable for all of us. Companies who use GRI find opportunities to reduce waste and improve their business operations and efficiency.”
May 22-23, GRI Focal Point USA held its first conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Focal Point USA was established in 2011 to encourage more U.S.-based companies and institutions to utilize the GRI framework for their sustainability and corporate social responsibility reporting.
By serving as a GRI conference sponsor, Monsanto became a member of GRI’s Organizational Stakeholder Program.
“Sustainability has as many definitions as there are ways to solve the challenges facing our planet,” Maureen Mazurek, Biologicals communication and stakeholder engagement lead, said. “After participating in the Focal Point conference and learning more about GRI it’s clear that Monsanto is doing great things in this space, but we can do a better job of measuring our results and communicating our progress. The GRI framework will help us do this.”
During the conference, more than 200 business and organizational managers, academics, and other stakeholders shared experiences and discussed the value of the GRI framework, which enables companies and organizations to measure and report their sustainability performance in the areas of economic, environmental, social and governance.
Information regarding Monsanto’s GRI application level is included in this year’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (CSR) report.
Wallace said he is excited Monsanto is now a part of the GRI network.
“It’s great to see private companies come on board,” he said. “Monsanto is an agriculture company whose operations touch all of us. By adopting GRI, Monsanto is becoming more transparent and helping to increase awareness about the importance of measuring, managing and reporting on sustainability performance.”
