Vancity Group won the top prize for Best Sustainability Report in the sixth annual Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Sustainability Reporting. The runner-up in this year’s judging was Bristol-Myers Squibb. The Award for Best First-Time report was jointly won by Mountain Equipment Co-op and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

“Sustainability reporting is the driver, the lynchpin, to improving corporate performance on sustainability challenges such as workplace conditions or global climate change,’ said Mindy Lubber, president at Ceres. “These winning reports are the best of the best in articulating sustainability strategies, setting clear targets, and identifying actions and areas that need improvement.”

According to a release by ACCA, here is why the winners took home the prizes (for links to sustainability or report pages for winners and those shortlisted, go here):

Best Sustainability Report – VanCity Group

Vancity was the First Runner-Up Award winner in 2004. This year’s report provides a comprehensive dashboard of performance measures, progress to date towards existing goals and action plans, and new goals for the next 3-year
period. It also describes extensive stakeholder engagement efforts, and is verified by an external auditor. VanCity also promotes individual accountability by listing the name of each manager responsible for the goals disclosed in the report.

First Runner-Up, Best Sustainability Report – Bristol-Myers Squibb

This report makes excellent use of the web, with easy-to-use navigation allowing readers to quickly drill down to content of interest. BMS clearly identifies the material sustainability issues affecting the company (such as, Intellectual Property and Pricing and Access to Medicines and Healthcare), and presents long-term goals and targets (2010) with detailed performance indicators. It also includes clear disclosure of areas where the company has yet to meet targets.

Best First-Time Report (Co- winners)

Mountain Equipment Co-op

This report clearly conveys the company’s commitment to transparency through full disclosure of non-compliance in its supply chain. It gives a clear articulation of the material issues for the organization and discusses frankly the dilemmas the company faces with environmental stewardship and how these challenges can lead to business opportunities. The report also incorporates feedback from a stakeholder accountability panel made up of members, supplier representatives and outdoor recreation advocates.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

This report is written in an engaging tone and discusses the complexities of the company’s coffee sourcing activities in a clear and understandable manner. The report allows the comparison of performance data over 3 years, expressed in absolute figures as well as in meaningful percentages and ratios. Green Mountain also provides a thoughtful analysis of employee compensation, one of the few reports to address this issue.