Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
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Agenda
Integrated Reporting
How would you define the target group of your report? And how do you think integrated
reporting might change the behavior of your target group?
Our report targets expert readers from both the financial and the sustainability
communities. It aims to serve as a basis for assessing BASF’s current and future
risks as well as opportunities, and therefore it enables investors and other stake-
holders to evaluate our performance and strategy. Our report also strives to give
a full picture of our company’s performance to enable investors and analysts to
judge whether BASF is a suitable investment. Furthermore, integrated reporting
helps us to further strengthen our reputation as a reliable and responsible business
partner. In the long run, we ensure our license to operate by providing neighbors,
NGOs, politicians, and others with transparent information.
Currently there is no internationally recognized standard for integrated reporting. Could the
work of the International Integrated Reporting Council help to move integrated reporting
into the mainstream?
The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) is in the process of defining a
framework for integrated reporting. The discussions and exchange of information
among different companies in the IIRC pilot program enable us to better meet the
expectations of our stakeholders, and especially those of our investors.
What are BASF’s main challenges regarding integrated reporting?
An integrated report has to reflect an integrated corporate strategy: It is an excel-
lent way of demonstrating that sustainability is an integral part of our strategy and
operations. All information is provided in a single publication that is externally
audited. One challenge we face in the context of integrated reporting is the inclu-
sion of non-financial data within an ambitious reporting time schedule.
What do you think will be the main challenges in the next years?
The main challenge of an integrated report is to provide a view of the material
aspects of a company in a comprehensive way to its stakeholders. It is important
for us as well as the readers of integrated reports that the various initiatives
concerning integrated reporting such as IIRC are compatible with existing
reporting standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the UN
Global Compact.