Væsentlighedsanalyse i medicinalbranchen

Abstract

The analysis of sustainability reporting within the pharmaceutical sector of the C25 index reveals notable disparities in the execution of materiality assessments. While most companies include sections on materiality assessment, the extent to which they present the results, such as in matrix form, is limited. This inconsistency directly affects the comparability of sustainability reporting across companies, preventing stakeholders' ability to track industry progress and benchmark companies' sustainability performance. The lack of standardization and harmonization in terminology and reporting structures further worsen the non-comparability of reports, compounded by varying interpretations and descriptions of sustainability topics by different companies. Moreover, materiality assessments lack transparency in stakeholder inclusion and identification of material sustainability topics, leading to a limited understanding of companies' sustainability prioritization. This lack of comparability undermines stakeholders' trust in companies' sustainability reporting and their ability to fulfill stated sustainability goals and commitments. These findings contradict the principles of fair representation in relevant legislation, where comparability is a central tenet. The introduction of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has significant implications for companies' sustainability reporting practices. Although mandatory compliance with CSRD for EU-listed companies with over 500 employees commences in 2024, several companies have voluntarily adopted CSRD principles. Voluntary compliance offers benefits such as preparation for future mandatory requirements, testing of standards, and improvement of internal processes and understanding of sustainability issues and strategies. However, despite voluntary efforts, reports often lack quality, as evidenced by the absence of foundational considerations and parameters underlying materiality assessments. Likewise, not all companies adequately describe stakeholder involvement, as required. The analysis reveals a gap between current reporting practices and those mandated under CSRD, highlighting the need for enhanced reporting quality and transparency to align with regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations.