- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Six Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2011 https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/11755?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/11755?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/11755?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Six Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2011&body=ESG News from Addison https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/11755?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Business & Employee Engagement](/CSR-News/responsible-business-employee-engagement) # Six Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2011 Feb 15, 2011 10:00 AM ET [Six Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2011](http://addison.com/pages.cfm/whats-new/opinions/six-sustainability-trends-watch-2011.html) It’s that time of year when we reflect on the past twelve months and start planning for the next cycle. With that in mind, here's our pick of the sustainability trends that emerged in 2010 that we anticipate will continue to grow in prominence in 2011. A quick snapshot: - [SIRAN ](http://www.siran.org/projects_s_and_p_reporting_comparison.php)(Sustainable Investment Research Analyst Network) reported that 93 of the S&P 100 now disclose at least some sustainability information. - The [GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)](http://www.globalreporting.org/NewsEventsPress/LatestNews/2010/60PercentUpsurgeinGRIReportsin2010.htm) noted a 60 percent increase in reporting worldwide in 2010 over 2009. - [IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Committee)](http://www.integratedreporting.org/) was formed in August with the aim of creating a globally accepted framework for accounting for sustainability in an integrated format. With this in mind, here are six trends to watch in 2011: 1\. Stakeholder Engagement Through Social Media Further supporting the trend toward transparency, the digitally connected world will continue to be a powerful tool for engagement in 2011. Half a billion people are on Facebook, and Twitter is growing at a rate of over [1,000 percent ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/trendspotting-sustainability-issues-2011)a year. Companies that ignore this space or try to stifle the conversations that occur through these media do so at their own peril. Nestlé learned this in March 2010 when a site administrator for Nestlé’s fan page responded aggressively to a user who changed his picture to an edited [Nestlé logo](http://www.bealoud.com/social-media/nestle-facebook-fail/). This failure to engage in open and democratic conversation led to a tide of negative comments on the fan page and critical media coverage, both online and off. Companies will learn from missteps in 2010 and be proactive about their engagement, following the lead of companies like SAP, who devote a quarter of their sustainability report site to soliciting stakeholder feedback through tools such as an [interactive materiality matrix](http://www.sapsustainabilityreport.com/feedback/materiality-matrix). Similarly, the Guardian, a UK newspaper, published a post on their CSR blog entitled “[Can you help us with our latest sustainability report](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainability/blog/sustainability-audit),” and incorporated suggestions in the Comments page into the final report. Continue reading [here...](http://addison.com/pages.cfm/whats-new/opinions/six-sustainability-trends-watch-2011.html) To learn more about Addison's outlook for 2011 and our sustainability practice, please contact: Judy Sandford Senior Strategist Sustainability Communications 212-229-5082 ADD11755 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/Addison_wordmark_RGB.jpg)](/profiles/addison) ### More from Addison ###### [Sarah Sasaki Tsien Joins Addison as Practice Lead of Sustainability Communications ](/news/sarah-sasaki-tsien-joins-addison-practice-lead-sustainability-communications) Feb 25, 2015 11:50 AM ET ###### [Hannon Armstrong’s Sustainable Yield: Financing the Low Carbon Economy](/news/hannon-armstrongs-sustainable-yield-financing-low-carbon-economy) Oct 14, 2014 11:15 AM ET ###### [Addison Supports Plastic Bag Bill with City Council Members Brad Lander and Margaret Chin](/news/addison-supports-plastic-bag-bill-city-council-members-brad-lander-and-margaret-chin) Sep 18, 2014 6:00 PM ET ###### [Sustainable Brands Releases Free Context-Based Goals e-Book: Addison Co-Moderated Section with GE](/news/sustainable-brands-releases-free-context-based-goals-e-book-addison-co-moderated-section-ge) Jul 8, 2014 2:00 PM ET ###### [Trends in Sustainability Reporting: More Transparent and Transportable](/news/trends-sustainability-reporting-more-transparent-and-transportable) Jun 3, 2014 1:30 PM ET ###### [Addison Celebrates Ceres’ 25th Anniversary by Designing Special Annual Report](/news/addison-celebrates-ceres-25th-anniversary-designing-special-annual-report) May 30, 2014 6:00 PM ET ###### [Toward Context-Based Reporting Webinar](/news/toward-context-based-reporting-webinar) Dec 3, 2013 4:15 PM ET ###### [Addison's Winter Wishes Event ](/news/addisons-winter-wishes-event) Nov 26, 2013 4:15 PM ET