As someone who has written and assured sustainability reports in a number of sectors over the last ten years, my experience from other sectors using GRI is that it takes a critical mass of leading companies (not just the usual suspects) to step up and begin producing reports to encourage others to engage. The danger in my mind for the GRI supplement is that it becomes seen as relevant only to the Olympics and other major one-off events, and not a standard for ongoing company reporting by event organising companies.

Your point about the benefits of reporting is critical. Reporting – particularly independently assured reporting – requires time, skills and financial resources. Companies will need to see the clear commercial benefit to justify this, to themselves and to their clients. You and I may know the business case is there, but I think many MDs will need some convincing! High profile companies leading the way shows their belief in its benefits, and shows how to do it.

Who are the big players in the event industry who will step up and lead the way for the rest of the industry to follow? Now the tools are ready, does the event sector need a ‘Reporting Initiative’ to work together to encourage and support event and company based reporting?

Louise Hawson
Partner, Sustainable Balance

The most reviewed blogs in this debate have so far been
1. http://www.kajembren.com/revolution-recession-and-sustainability/
2. http://www.kajembren.com/greeks-be-aware-of-the-trojan-horse/
3. http://www.kajembren.com/sustainable-capitalism/

GUY BIGWOOD
MCI Group Sustainability Director