Influencing power: reviewing the conduct and content of corporate lobbying

This report examines how some of the world’s largest companies report on their lobbying activities. In particular the report aims to assess corporate transparency on lobbying and public policy behaviour, and the degree to which reported activities align with core business values.

Main findings of the report are:

• approximately 50% of major companies are now providing at least some information on their lobbying and public policy activities
• only handful of major companies provide information which can be categorised as systematic
• questions have been raised about wider lobbying activities of a number of companies, which do not make it into their formal corporate responsibility report; this refers in particular to the sponsorship or participation in associations whose goals may be inconsistent with the sustainability activities of the company in question
• although transparency around lobbying is increasingly accepted, most companies strike an overwhelmingly defensive tone — asserting their right to lobby and their positions on particular issues
• current approaches to reporting on lobbying ca be seen as 'second generation' corporate responsibility, where the main driver is risk management of the company’s reputation.

With regards to the future development in the area of reporting on lobbying activities, the report makes the following points:

• legislative developments and growing interest from shareholder activists and NGOs, plus internal aspirations for greater alignment, are likely to drive change
• a third generation approach should views corporate responsibility as a strategic differentiator and recognises the potential for lobbying to help drive stronger social and environmental policy frameworks in support of core business activities.

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