Bremen, July 6, 2026 – At first glance, many large companies’ sustainability pages appear well-developed in 2026. Goals, reports, key metrics, and guidelines are all present, but they don’t always come together to form a clear narrative. This is precisely where the CR Benchmark 2026 from our colleagues at NetFed comes in, demonstrating that completeness alone does not make for strong communication.
The basic building blocks of sustainability communication are now in place at nearly all large companies. 94% publish a sustainability report, 76% integrate it into their annual report, and 32% visibly anchor sustainability in their corporate strategy. While this has significantly narrowed previous gaps, the real challenge today lies more in the context and comprehensibility of the content.
This is particularly evident when it comes to strategic integration. Only just under one-third of companies visibly demonstrate the role sustainability actually plays in their corporate strategy and business model. Often, individual topics are presented side by side rather than forming a coherent picture. A comprehensive collection alone does not yet amount to a compelling narrative.
A clear trend is also evident in content logic: reports, timestamps, and regulatory references have been greatly expanded, while editorial magazines, current articles, and user-guided entry points are losing importance. Only 8% still operate a corporate responsibility (CR) magazine or blog. Those looking for proof will find it—but those seeking to understand often receive too little guidance.
Another topic is artificial intelligence. Only 24% of companies provide guidelines for dealing with AI, even though the topic is increasingly influencing processes, data management, and content production. This makes AI a relevant responsibility issue for CR communication as well.
At the same time, the best practices highlighted in the benchmark make it clear what really matters: not more topics, but better connections. Not just reports, but also entry points. Not just numbers, but context. This is precisely the challenge for CR communication in 2026.
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