Wirz provides support in sustainability communication

Companies with more than 500 employees can now get support from Wirz in their sustainability efforts. The agency's Competence Center for Sustainability provides support from the first steps through to the implementation of a creative ESG report, which will be mandatory for larger companies from next year.

The foundations for transparent and credible reporting should be laid at the outset: This includes the development of a sustainability strategy and a materiality analysis involving all stakeholders. The reporting standards to which non-financial reporting should be aligned can be defined on the basis of the constantly growing new regulatory requirements. This enables a well-founded ESG report that does not run the risk of being accused of greenwashing. "A good sustainability report must be much more than a colorful advertising brochure. It is based on an ESG management system that is practised internally, continuously developed and coordinated with all stakeholder groups," explains Marleen Diener, Head of the Competence Center for Sustainability at Wirz.

The requirements are increasing

Switzerland has already laid down provisions for sustainable corporate governance to protect people and the environment in the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO) in 2022 - based on EU requirements. Swiss companies with more than 500 employees, a balance sheet total of CHF 20 million or an annual turnover of CHF 40 million will have to publish a non-financial report for the 2023 financial year for the first time next year. Mandatory reporting points include environmental, social, employee and human rights issues as well as measures to combat corruption.