Do Social-Environmental Economic Performance Indicators Work?

" 'Economic impact is not about changes in the financial health of the organization itself,' explains Dunstan Hope, a BSR director in advisory services. 'For example, a company may impact on the economic well being of employees or local communities; and through the sale of its products and services may impact on the productivity, competitiveness or growth of a national economy. This change in economic circumstance is important to understanding an organization’s social and environmental impacts...' "

GRI Economic Performance Indicators, established in 2002, are for voluntary use by organizations for reporting on the economic, environmental and social dimensions of their activities, products and services. By the end of August 2005, 714 organizations had referenced the GRI Guidelines in their reports, and of these 62 were published “in accordance” with the GRI Guidelines.