November 16, 2022
2022 Sustainability Reporting In Focus
All-Time High of Sustainability Reports Among U.S. Publicly-Traded Companies
96% of S&P 500® and 81% of Russell 1000®
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A) is pleased to share the 11th annual edition of our research series tracking sustainability reporting trends among the largest U.S. publicly traded companies. This research highlights the near-universal adoption of reporting among large-cap companies and the rapid acceleration of reporting practices among mid-cap companies.
Key Findings
For the entire Russell 1000 Index, 81% of companies published a sustainability report in 2021, up from 70% in 2020.
The smallest half by market cap of the Russell 1000 showed the largest gains, with 68% reporting in 2021 compared to 49% in 2020.
In the S&P 500, just 20% of companies reported in 2011, but by 2021 only 4% remained non-reporters—demonstrating dramatic progress in a decade.
The 2022 research includes detailed breakdowns of non-reporters by sector, use of reporting frameworks and standards (GRI, SASB, TCFD), alignment with the UN SDGs, and trends in external assurance and survey reporting (CDP, CSA/DJSI).
Summary
Since G&A began tracking the sustainability reporting practices of S&P 500 companies in 2011, the percentage of reporters has increased fivefold, reflecting the mainstreaming of ESG disclosure. The Russell 1000 has also shown significant momentum, with more than four in five companies now publishing sustainability reports, and mid-cap firms quickly closing the gap with large caps. This sharp increase in adoption highlights how reporting has become a best practice for U.S. public companies, driven by investor demand, stakeholder scrutiny, and the use of standardized frameworks and global benchmarks.
What You’ll Learn
This Trends Report provides insights into how sustainability reporting practices have evolved over the past decade. You’ll learn how reporting adoption has spread across the Russell 1000 and S&P 500, where sector-level differences remain, and how companies are using frameworks such as GRI, SASB, and TCFD to strengthen disclosures. The report also explores how companies align with the UN SDGs, engage in external assurance, and participate in survey reporting programs like CDP and CSA/DJSI.
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