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Food Retailers & Distributors
The Food Retailers & Distributors industry consists of entities engaged in wholesale and retail sales of food, beverage and agricultural products. Store formats include retail supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse supermarkets, liquor stores, bakeries, natural food stores, specialty food stores, seafood stores and distribution centres. Entities may specialise in one type of store format or have facilities that contain many formats. Products typically are sourced worldwide and include fresh meat and produce, prepared foods, processed foods, baked goods, frozen and canned foods, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and a wide selection of household goods and personal care products. Food retailers also may produce or sell private-label products.
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Health Care Delivery
The Health Care Delivery industry owns and manages hospitals, clinics and other health care related facilities. Entities provide a range of services, including inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, mental health, rehabilitation and clinical laboratory services. Demand for health care delivery services is driven largely by insurance coverage rates, demographics, illness and injury rates. The industry is characterised by high fixed labour and facilities costs, and an increased regulatory focus on reduced costs of care and improved outcomes. Health care delivery entities also face significant competition for patients and resources from private, non-profit and religious health care systems.
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Relevant Issues for both Industries (14 of 26)

Why are some issues greyed out?

The SASB Standards vary by industry based on the different sustainability-related risks and opportunities within an industry. The issues in grey were not identified during the standard-setting process as the most likely to be useful to investors, so they are not included in the Standard. Over time, as the ISSB continues to receive market feedback, some issues may be added or removed from the Standard. Each company determines which sustainability-related risks and opportunities are relevant to its business. The Standard is designed for the typical company in an industry, but individual companies may choose to report on different sustainability-related risks and opportunities based on their unique business model.

Environment
- GHG Emissions
  The category addresses direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that a company generates through its operations. This includes GHG emissions from stationary (e.g., factories, power plants) and mobile sources (e.g., trucks, delivery vehicles, planes), whether a result of combustion of fuel or non-combusted direct releases during activities such as natural resource extraction, power generation, land use, or biogenic processes. The category further includes management of regulatory risks, environmental compliance, and reputational risks and opportunities, as they related to direct GHG emissions. The seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol are included within the category—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
- Air Quality
- Energy Management
  The category addresses environmental impacts associated with energy consumption. It addresses the company’s management of energy in manufacturing and/or for provision of products and services derived from utility providers (grid energy) not owned or controlled by the company. More specifically, it includes management of energy efficiency and intensity, energy mix, as well as grid reliance. Upstream (e.g., suppliers) and downstream (e.g., product use) energy use is not included in the scope.
- Water & Wastewater Management
- Waste & Hazardous Materials Management
  The category addresses environmental issues associated with hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by companies. It addresses a company’s management of solid wastes in manufacturing, agriculture, and other industrial processes. It covers treatment, handling, storage, disposal, and regulatory compliance. The category does not cover emissions to air or wastewater nor does it cover waste from end-of-life of products, which are addressed in separate categories.
- Ecological Impacts
Social Capital
- Human Rights & Community Relations
- Customer Privacy
- Data Security
  The category addresses management of risks related to collection, retention, and use of sensitive, confidential, and/or proprietary customer or user data. It includes social issues that may arise from incidents such as data breaches in which personally identifiable information (PII) and other user or customer data may be exposed. It addresses a company’s strategy, policies, and practices related to IT infrastructure, staff training, record keeping, cooperation with law enforcement, and other mechanisms used to ensure security of customer or user data.
- Access & Affordability
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure broad access to its products and services, specifically in the context of underserved markets and/or population groups. It includes the management of issues related to universal needs, such as the accessibility and affordability of health care, financial services, utilities, education, and telecommunications.
- Product Quality & Safety
  The category addresses issues involving unintended characteristics of products sold or services provided that may create health or safety risks to end-users. It addresses a company’s ability to offer manufactured products and/or services that meet customer expectations with respect to their health and safety characteristics. It includes, but is not limited to, issues involving liability, management of recalls and market withdrawals, product testing, and chemicals/content/ingredient management in products.
- Customer Welfare
  The category addresses customer welfare concerns over issues including, but not limited to, health and nutrition of foods and beverages, antibiotic use in animal production, and management of controlled substances. The category addresses the company’s ability to provide consumers with manufactured products and services that are aligned with societal expectations. It does not include issues directly related to quality and safety malfunctions of manufactured products and services, but instead addresses qualities inherent to the design and delivery of products and services where customer welfare may be in question. The scope of the category also captures companies’ ability to prevent counterfeit products.
- Selling Practices & Product Labeling
  The category addresses social issues that may arise from a failure to manage the transparency, accuracy, and comprehensibility of marketing statements, advertising, and labeling of products and services. It includes, but is not limited to, advertising standards and regulations, ethical and responsible marketing practices, misleading or deceptive labeling, as well as discriminatory or predatory selling and lending practices. This may include deceptive or aggressive selling practices in which incentive structures for employees could encourage the sale of products or services that are not in the best interest of customers or clients.
Human Capital
- Labour Practices
  The category addresses the company’s ability to uphold commonly accepted labour standards in the workplace, including compliance with labour laws and internationally accepted norms and standards. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring basic human rights related to child labour, forced or bonded labour, exploitative labour, fair wages and overtime pay, and other basic workers’ rights. It also includes minimum wage policies and provision of benefits, which may influence how a workforce is attracted, retained, and motivated. The category further addresses a company’s relationship with organized labour and freedom of association.
- Employee Health & Safety
  The category addresses a company’s ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment that is free of injuries, fatalities, and illness (both chronic and acute). It is traditionally accomplished through implementing safety management plans, developing training requirements for employees and contractors, and conducting regular audits of their own practices as well as those of their subcontractors. The category further captures how companies ensure physical and mental health of workforce through technology, training, corporate culture, regulatory compliance, monitoring and testing, and personal protective equipment.
- Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure that its culture and hiring and promotion practices embrace the building of a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the makeup of local talent pools and its customer base. It addresses the issues of discriminatory practices on the bases of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors.
Business Model and Innovation
- Product Design & Lifecycle Management
- Business Model Resilience
- Supply Chain Management
  The category addresses management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks within a company’s supply chain. It addresses issues associated with environmental and social externalities created by suppliers through their operational activities. Such issues include, but are not limited to, environmental responsibility, human rights, labour practices, and ethics and corruption. Management may involve screening, selection, monitoring, and engagement with suppliers on their environmental and social impacts. The category does not address the impacts of external factors – such as climate change and other environmental and social factors – on suppliers’ operations and/or on the availability and pricing of key resources, which is covered in a separate category.
- Materials Sourcing & Efficiency
- Physical Impacts of Climate Change
  The category addresses the company’s ability to manage risks and opportunities associated with direct exposure of its owned or controlled assets and operations to actual or potential physical impacts of climate change. It captures environmental and social issues that may arise from operational disruptions due to physical impacts of climate change. It further captures socio-economic issues resulting from companies failing to incorporate climate change consideration in products and services sold, such as insurance policies and mortgages. The category relates to the company’s ability to adapt to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather, shifting climate, sea level risk, and other expected physical impacts of climate change. Management may involve enhancing resiliency of physical assets and/or surrounding infrastructure as well as incorporation of climate change-related considerations into key business activities (e.g., mortgage and insurance underwriting, planning and development of real estate projects).
Leadership and Governance
- Business Ethics
  The category addresses the company’s approach to managing risks and opportunities surrounding ethical conduct of business, including fraud, corruption, bribery and facilitation payments, fiduciary responsibilities, and other behaviour that may have an ethical component. This includes sensitivity to business norms and standards as they shift over time, jurisdiction, and culture. It addresses the company’s ability to provide services that satisfy the highest professional and ethical standards of the industry, which means to avoid conflicts of interest, misrepresentation, bias, and negligence through training employees adequately and implementing policies and procedures to ensure employees provide services free from bias and error.
- Competitive Behaviour
- Management of the Legal & Regulatory Environment
- Critical Incident Risk Management
- Systemic Risk Management

Disclosure Topics

What is the relationship between General Issue Category and Disclosure Topics?

The General Issue Category is an industry-agnostic version of the Disclosure Topics that appear in each SASB Standard. Disclosure topics represent the industry-specific impacts of General Issue Categories. The industry-specific Disclosure Topics ensure each SASB Standard is tailored to the industry, while the General Issue Categories enable comparability across industries. For example, Health & Nutrition is a disclosure topic in the Non-Alcoholic Beverages industry, representing an industry-specific measure of the general issue of Customer Welfare. The issue of Customer Welfare, however, manifests as the Counterfeit Drugs disclosure topic in the Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals industry.

Food Retailers & Distributors Remove
Access Standard
- GHG Emissions
  The category addresses direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that a company generates through its operations. This includes GHG emissions from stationary (e.g., factories, power plants) and mobile sources (e.g., trucks, delivery vehicles, planes), whether a result of combustion of fuel or non-combusted direct releases during activities such as natural resource extraction, power generation, land use, or biogenic processes. The category further includes management of regulatory risks, environmental compliance, and reputational risks and opportunities, as they related to direct GHG emissions. The seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol are included within the category—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
  - Fleet Fuel Management
    Entities in the Food Retailers & Distributors industry own and operate vehicle fleets to deliver products between its distribution and retail locations. The fuel consumption of vehicle fleets is a significant industry expense, both in terms of operating costs and associated capital expenditures. Fossil fuel consumption can contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution. These environmental impacts may affect food retailers and distributors through regulatory exposure. Efficiencies gained in fuel use can reduce costs, mitigate exposure to fossil fuel price volatility and limit the carbon footprint associated with storage and transportation. Short-term capital expenditures in fuel-efficient fleets and more energy efficient technologies may be outweighed by long-term operational savings and decreased exposure to regulatory risks.
  - Air Emissions from Refrigeration
    Emissions of refrigeration chemicals from equipment used to store and display perishable foods pose unique regulatory risks for the Food Retailers & Distributors industry. International regulations on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) aim to mitigate damage by HCFCs to the earth’s ozone layer. Additionally, many common HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are highly potent greenhouse gases (GHGs), which increases the industry’s exposure to climate change-related regulations. Regulators can assess penalties on entities that violate emissions standards. Entities may be required to upgrade or replace equipment, making capital expenditures to reduce emissions or replace existing refrigerants with potentially costlier but less environmentally-damaging alternatives.
- Energy Management
  The category addresses environmental impacts associated with energy consumption. It addresses the company’s management of energy in manufacturing and/or for provision of products and services derived from utility providers (grid energy) not owned or controlled by the company. More specifically, it includes management of energy efficiency and intensity, energy mix, as well as grid reliance. Upstream (e.g., suppliers) and downstream (e.g., product use) energy use is not included in the scope.
  - Energy Management
    Food retail and distribution facilities are typically more energy-intensive than other types of commercial spaces. These facilities use energy predominately for refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as lighting. Entities in the industry generally purchase the majority of consumed electricity, while some are beginning to generate energy on-site or add renewable energy into their energy mix. Energy production and consumption contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution, which have the potential to indirectly, yet materially, impact the operations of food retailers and distributors. Entities that manage to increase energy efficiency and use alternative energy sources may increase profitability by reducing expenses and decreasing risk.
- Waste & Hazardous Materials Management
  The category addresses environmental issues associated with hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by companies. It addresses a company’s management of solid wastes in manufacturing, agriculture, and other industrial processes. It covers treatment, handling, storage, disposal, and regulatory compliance. The category does not cover emissions to air or wastewater nor does it cover waste from end-of-life of products, which are addressed in separate categories.
  - Food Waste Management
    The Food Retailers & Distributors industry generates food waste at various stages of operation. Food waste includes edible or otherwise useful food that does not reach consumers, as well as foods that spoil or are damaged during transportation or stocking or while sitting on store shelves. For entities, food waste represents losses of both saleable merchandise and resources used in food production, including land, water, labour, energy and agricultural chemicals. Food waste also contributes to food insecurity and can generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during landfill decomposition. Effective food waste management can present financial opportunities to reduce costs associated with inventory loss, as well as help improve food security by more efficiently diverting food resources for beneficial purposes.
- Data Security
  The category addresses management of risks related to collection, retention, and use of sensitive, confidential, and/or proprietary customer or user data. It includes social issues that may arise from incidents such as data breaches in which personally identifiable information (PII) and other user or customer data may be exposed. It addresses a company’s strategy, policies, and practices related to IT infrastructure, staff training, record keeping, cooperation with law enforcement, and other mechanisms used to ensure security of customer or user data.
  - Data Security
    Through electronic payment transactions, food retailers establish a relationship of trust with consumers who share their personal financial data with them. Data breaches can occur through breaches of the physical payment technology, called point-of-sale breaches, as well as through attacks on cybersecurity infrastructure. Data breaches that result in the theft or loss of customers’ personal data undermine trust in an entity’s ability to securely manage confidential information. This loss of confidence could result in reduced number of customer visits, lower revenues and diminished brand value. Retailers with strong technological and managerial systems to avoid data breaches and respond to threats effectively can position themselves favourably with customers and reduce the risk of litigation and other costs.
- Access & Affordability
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure broad access to its products and services, specifically in the context of underserved markets and/or population groups. It includes the management of issues related to universal needs, such as the accessibility and affordability of health care, financial services, utilities, education, and telecommunications.
  
  None
- Product Quality & Safety
  The category addresses issues involving unintended characteristics of products sold or services provided that may create health or safety risks to end-users. It addresses a company’s ability to offer manufactured products and/or services that meet customer expectations with respect to their health and safety characteristics. It includes, but is not limited to, issues involving liability, management of recalls and market withdrawals, product testing, and chemicals/content/ingredient management in products.
  - Food Safety
    Maintaining product quality and safety is crucial for the Food Retailers & Distributors industry, since contamination by pathogens, hazardous substances or spoilage can present risks to human health. Contamination can occur at any stage in the food value chain, including food production, processing, transportation, distribution and retail. Although entities may not be directly responsible for all food safety and recall incidents, they are involved in the process and still may experience consequences associated with incidents, such as financial ramifications, damage to brand value, lower revenues and increased costs. Measures to prevent spoilage and contamination include temperature control, frequent food inspection and careful supplier selection.
- Customer Welfare
  The category addresses customer welfare concerns over issues including, but not limited to, health and nutrition of foods and beverages, antibiotic use in animal production, and management of controlled substances. The category addresses the company’s ability to provide consumers with manufactured products and services that are aligned with societal expectations. It does not include issues directly related to quality and safety malfunctions of manufactured products and services, but instead addresses qualities inherent to the design and delivery of products and services where customer welfare may be in question. The scope of the category also captures companies’ ability to prevent counterfeit products.
  - Product Health & Nutrition
    Consumer awareness of food content and nutritional value and their relationship to health, shapes the industry’s competitive landscape. Demand for food products that are made with natural ingredients, certified to be organic, low-fat or low-sugar, or produced without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can create opportunities for entities. Although the links between consumer health and some foods are not well-established, consumers have nonetheless shown preferences for food categories that are perceived to be healthier than others. Food retailers that recognise the risks and opportunities presented by consumers’ shifting preferences and adapt to consumer demands may be better positioned to capture opportunities for increasing revenue and market share.
- Selling Practices & Product Labeling
  The category addresses social issues that may arise from a failure to manage the transparency, accuracy, and comprehensibility of marketing statements, advertising, and labeling of products and services. It includes, but is not limited to, advertising standards and regulations, ethical and responsible marketing practices, misleading or deceptive labeling, as well as discriminatory or predatory selling and lending practices. This may include deceptive or aggressive selling practices in which incentive structures for employees could encourage the sale of products or services that are not in the best interest of customers or clients.
  - Product Labelling & Marketing
    Communication with consumers through product labelling and marketing is an important facet of food retail. The accuracy and depth of information presented in food labelling is important to shoppers and regulators. Labelling is especially relevant for the sale of private-label products manufactured for food retailers, with direct consequences on brand reputation. To inform purchasing decisions, consumers may seek additional information about product ingredients, such as the presence of genetically modified organism (GMO) content or other ingredients considered healthy or nutritious. These issues can affect competition among entities in the industry, since entities may be subject to litigation or criticism resulting from making misleading statements or failing to adapt to consumer demand for increased labelling transparency. These factors can have consequences on retailers’ brand value and revenue growth. Regulations addressing the accurate labelling of products and their ingredients present an additional risk of penalties or litigation for entities.
- Labour Practices
  The category addresses the company’s ability to uphold commonly accepted labour standards in the workplace, including compliance with labour laws and internationally accepted norms and standards. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring basic human rights related to child labour, forced or bonded labour, exploitative labour, fair wages and overtime pay, and other basic workers’ rights. It also includes minimum wage policies and provision of benefits, which may influence how a workforce is attracted, retained, and motivated. The category further addresses a company’s relationship with organized labour and freedom of association.
  - Labour Practices
    The Food Retailers & Distributors industry employs many hourly workers. Low average wages in the industry, which help entities maintain low prices for products, may result in labour-related risks. Worker dissatisfaction with wages and benefits, combined with high unionisation rates, can result in strikes which can in turn lead to business disruption and reputational damage. Additionally, entities that are involved in gender and racial discrimination cases can experience costly financial settlements. Entities may benefit from taking a long-term perspective on managing workers, including their pay and benefits, in a way that protects the rights of workers and enhances their productivity and strengthens the entity’s reputation and brand value.
- Employee Health & Safety
  The category addresses a company’s ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment that is free of injuries, fatalities, and illness (both chronic and acute). It is traditionally accomplished through implementing safety management plans, developing training requirements for employees and contractors, and conducting regular audits of their own practices as well as those of their subcontractors. The category further captures how companies ensure physical and mental health of workforce through technology, training, corporate culture, regulatory compliance, monitoring and testing, and personal protective equipment.
  
  None
- Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure that its culture and hiring and promotion practices embrace the building of a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the makeup of local talent pools and its customer base. It addresses the issues of discriminatory practices on the bases of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors.
  
  None
- Supply Chain Management
  The category addresses management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks within a company’s supply chain. It addresses issues associated with environmental and social externalities created by suppliers through their operational activities. Such issues include, but are not limited to, environmental responsibility, human rights, labour practices, and ethics and corruption. Management may involve screening, selection, monitoring, and engagement with suppliers on their environmental and social impacts. The category does not address the impacts of external factors – such as climate change and other environmental and social factors – on suppliers’ operations and/or on the availability and pricing of key resources, which is covered in a separate category.
  - Management of Environmental & Social Impacts in the Supply Chain
    Food retailers and distributors source merchandise from a wide range of manufacturers. These suppliers face a myriad of sustainability-related challenges that include resource conservation, water scarcity, animal welfare, fair labour practices and climate change. When poorly managed, these issues can affect the price and availability of food. Additionally, consumers increasingly are concerned with the production methods, origins and externalities associated with the foods they purchase, which may affect an entity’s reputation. Food retailers and distributors also can work with suppliers on packaging design to generate cost savings in transport, improve brand reputation and reduce environmental impact. Entities that can manage effectively product supply risks by assessing and engaging with suppliers, implementing sustainable sourcing guidelines and enhancing supply chain transparency positioned more advantageously to improve supply chain resiliency, mitigate reputational risks, and potentially increase consumer demand or capture new market opportunities.
- Physical Impacts of Climate Change
  The category addresses the company’s ability to manage risks and opportunities associated with direct exposure of its owned or controlled assets and operations to actual or potential physical impacts of climate change. It captures environmental and social issues that may arise from operational disruptions due to physical impacts of climate change. It further captures socio-economic issues resulting from companies failing to incorporate climate change consideration in products and services sold, such as insurance policies and mortgages. The category relates to the company’s ability to adapt to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather, shifting climate, sea level risk, and other expected physical impacts of climate change. Management may involve enhancing resiliency of physical assets and/or surrounding infrastructure as well as incorporation of climate change-related considerations into key business activities (e.g., mortgage and insurance underwriting, planning and development of real estate projects).
  
  None
- Business Ethics
  The category addresses the company’s approach to managing risks and opportunities surrounding ethical conduct of business, including fraud, corruption, bribery and facilitation payments, fiduciary responsibilities, and other behaviour that may have an ethical component. This includes sensitivity to business norms and standards as they shift over time, jurisdiction, and culture. It addresses the company’s ability to provide services that satisfy the highest professional and ethical standards of the industry, which means to avoid conflicts of interest, misrepresentation, bias, and negligence through training employees adequately and implementing policies and procedures to ensure employees provide services free from bias and error.
  
  None
Health Care Delivery Remove
Access Standard
- GHG Emissions
  The category addresses direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that a company generates through its operations. This includes GHG emissions from stationary (e.g., factories, power plants) and mobile sources (e.g., trucks, delivery vehicles, planes), whether a result of combustion of fuel or non-combusted direct releases during activities such as natural resource extraction, power generation, land use, or biogenic processes. The category further includes management of regulatory risks, environmental compliance, and reputational risks and opportunities, as they related to direct GHG emissions. The seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol are included within the category—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
  
  None
- Energy Management
  The category addresses environmental impacts associated with energy consumption. It addresses the company’s management of energy in manufacturing and/or for provision of products and services derived from utility providers (grid energy) not owned or controlled by the company. More specifically, it includes management of energy efficiency and intensity, energy mix, as well as grid reliance. Upstream (e.g., suppliers) and downstream (e.g., product use) energy use is not included in the scope.
  - Energy Management
    Health Care Delivery entities operate energy-intensive facilities and rely on both purchased electricity and fuel. The consumption of both can contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution. Legislative attempts to limit these impacts and to incentivise energy efficiency and renewable energy may result in price volatility associated with fossil fuels and conventional electricity. Entities that improve energy efficiency may decrease costs and limit exposure to energy price fluctuations.
- Waste & Hazardous Materials Management
  The category addresses environmental issues associated with hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by companies. It addresses a company’s management of solid wastes in manufacturing, agriculture, and other industrial processes. It covers treatment, handling, storage, disposal, and regulatory compliance. The category does not cover emissions to air or wastewater nor does it cover waste from end-of-life of products, which are addressed in separate categories.
  - Waste Management
    Health Care Delivery entities generate a significant amount of regulated medical and pharmaceutical waste. Disposal fees for these types of waste are typically higher than that of conventional waste and may present a significant cost for the industry. Entities that reduce the amount of waste generated by enhanced waste segregation strategies, recycling and reuse may limit their exposure to these costs.
- Data Security
  The category addresses management of risks related to collection, retention, and use of sensitive, confidential, and/or proprietary customer or user data. It includes social issues that may arise from incidents such as data breaches in which personally identifiable information (PII) and other user or customer data may be exposed. It addresses a company’s strategy, policies, and practices related to IT infrastructure, staff training, record keeping, cooperation with law enforcement, and other mechanisms used to ensure security of customer or user data.
  - Patient Privacy & Electronic Health Records
    Many jurisdictions require health care providers to establish administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect the integrity, confidentiality, interoperability and availability of patient health information. Failure to comply with such regulations may result in civil and criminal penalties.
- Access & Affordability
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure broad access to its products and services, specifically in the context of underserved markets and/or population groups. It includes the management of issues related to universal needs, such as the accessibility and affordability of health care, financial services, utilities, education, and telecommunications.
  - Access for Low-Income Patients
    Some care delivery entities will continue to face challenges associated with serving uninsured and low-income patients. Health care delivery entities that develop innovative pricing structures that allow them to profit from increased private insurance enrolment and to expand their patient base may create a positive effect on revenue. Disclosure on how entities manage the provision of care to uninsured populations may allow users to understand the associated risks and opportunities.
- Product Quality & Safety
  The category addresses issues involving unintended characteristics of products sold or services provided that may create health or safety risks to end-users. It addresses a company’s ability to offer manufactured products and/or services that meet customer expectations with respect to their health and safety characteristics. It includes, but is not limited to, issues involving liability, management of recalls and market withdrawals, product testing, and chemicals/content/ingredient management in products.
  - Quality of Care & Patient Satisfaction
    Quality care delivery and patient satisfaction are essential value drivers for health care delivery entities. The link between quality of care performance and value creation may be strengthened by effective management focus on improving health care quality measures. In addition, entities may improve health care outcomes and preserve brand value by developing programmes to reduce excessive patient readmission rates and hospital-acquired conditions.
- Customer Welfare
  The category addresses customer welfare concerns over issues including, but not limited to, health and nutrition of foods and beverages, antibiotic use in animal production, and management of controlled substances. The category addresses the company’s ability to provide consumers with manufactured products and services that are aligned with societal expectations. It does not include issues directly related to quality and safety malfunctions of manufactured products and services, but instead addresses qualities inherent to the design and delivery of products and services where customer welfare may be in question. The scope of the category also captures companies’ ability to prevent counterfeit products.
  - Management of Controlled Substances
    The Health Care Delivery industry is in a unique position with respect to the evolving use of controlled substances and managing the risk of addiction. As the provider of care, the industry also treats individuals suffering from addiction and related health concerns. Health Care Delivery entities face significant costs in addressing the health care needs of those suffering from addiction and related illnesses. Industry-wide efforts to re-evaluate controlled substance management strategies through the development of new policies, training and oversight may have positive financial effects.
- Selling Practices & Product Labeling
  The category addresses social issues that may arise from a failure to manage the transparency, accuracy, and comprehensibility of marketing statements, advertising, and labeling of products and services. It includes, but is not limited to, advertising standards and regulations, ethical and responsible marketing practices, misleading or deceptive labeling, as well as discriminatory or predatory selling and lending practices. This may include deceptive or aggressive selling practices in which incentive structures for employees could encourage the sale of products or services that are not in the best interest of customers or clients.
  - Pricing & Billing Transparency
    Concern regarding pricing and billing transparency in the Health Care Delivery industry has resulted in increased legal and regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions. Coupled with increased attention to health care cost containment, this scrutiny may increase regulatory oversight of pricing and billing practices in this industry. Entities that achieve compliance and institute transparent pricing structures may better protect shareholder value.
- Labour Practices
  The category addresses the company’s ability to uphold commonly accepted labour standards in the workplace, including compliance with labour laws and internationally accepted norms and standards. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring basic human rights related to child labour, forced or bonded labour, exploitative labour, fair wages and overtime pay, and other basic workers’ rights. It also includes minimum wage policies and provision of benefits, which may influence how a workforce is attracted, retained, and motivated. The category further addresses a company’s relationship with organized labour and freedom of association.
  
  None
- Employee Health & Safety
  The category addresses a company’s ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment that is free of injuries, fatalities, and illness (both chronic and acute). It is traditionally accomplished through implementing safety management plans, developing training requirements for employees and contractors, and conducting regular audits of their own practices as well as those of their subcontractors. The category further captures how companies ensure physical and mental health of workforce through technology, training, corporate culture, regulatory compliance, monitoring and testing, and personal protective equipment.
  - Workforce Health & Safety
    The Health Care Delivery industry is heavily dependent on a skilled workforce, and employees routinely are exposed to injury, illness and infection during regular duties. Relative to other industries, Health Care Delivery has one of the highest rates of injury and illness. Entities that manage this issue more effectively may reduce costs associated with workers’ compensation, productivity, morale and employee retention. Entities often mitigate risks by implementing proactive health and safety management protocols, developing employee training requirements, and conducting regular audits of their own safety practices.
- Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion
  The category addresses a company’s ability to ensure that its culture and hiring and promotion practices embrace the building of a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the makeup of local talent pools and its customer base. It addresses the issues of discriminatory practices on the bases of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors.
  - Employee Recruitment, Development & Retention
    Health care delivery entities will continue to face increased competition for physicians because of increased demand, which is intensified by current and future shortages. The ability to recruit, develop and retain health care practitioners is critical to success in this industry, and disclosure on related performance indicators allows users to understand how entities are managing this important human capital issue.
- Supply Chain Management
  The category addresses management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks within a company’s supply chain. It addresses issues associated with environmental and social externalities created by suppliers through their operational activities. Such issues include, but are not limited to, environmental responsibility, human rights, labour practices, and ethics and corruption. Management may involve screening, selection, monitoring, and engagement with suppliers on their environmental and social impacts. The category does not address the impacts of external factors – such as climate change and other environmental and social factors – on suppliers’ operations and/or on the availability and pricing of key resources, which is covered in a separate category.
  
  None
- Physical Impacts of Climate Change
  The category addresses the company’s ability to manage risks and opportunities associated with direct exposure of its owned or controlled assets and operations to actual or potential physical impacts of climate change. It captures environmental and social issues that may arise from operational disruptions due to physical impacts of climate change. It further captures socio-economic issues resulting from companies failing to incorporate climate change consideration in products and services sold, such as insurance policies and mortgages. The category relates to the company’s ability to adapt to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather, shifting climate, sea level risk, and other expected physical impacts of climate change. Management may involve enhancing resiliency of physical assets and/or surrounding infrastructure as well as incorporation of climate change-related considerations into key business activities (e.g., mortgage and insurance underwriting, planning and development of real estate projects).
  - Climate Change Impacts on Human Health & Infrastructure
    An increase in extreme weather events associated with climate change may present physical threats to health care delivery facilities and create challenges in serving affected populations. Coupled with the potential spread of infectious diseases and food and water scarcity, these events may present material implications for the Health Care Delivery industry.
- Business Ethics
  The category addresses the company’s approach to managing risks and opportunities surrounding ethical conduct of business, including fraud, corruption, bribery and facilitation payments, fiduciary responsibilities, and other behaviour that may have an ethical component. This includes sensitivity to business norms and standards as they shift over time, jurisdiction, and culture. It addresses the company’s ability to provide services that satisfy the highest professional and ethical standards of the industry, which means to avoid conflicts of interest, misrepresentation, bias, and negligence through training employees adequately and implementing policies and procedures to ensure employees provide services free from bias and error.
  - Fraud & Unnecessary Procedures
    Health care delivery entities may be subject to significant fines and penalties if their staff are found to be engaged in medical fraud. Many entities must have written policies for all employees and contractors regarding false claims, false statements and whistle-blower protections. The ability to ensure compliance in this area may have implications for health care delivery entities, including one-time charges and reputational damage.

General Issue Category

Remove Food Retailers & Distributors Access Standard

Remove Health Care Delivery Access Standard

GHG Emissions

Fleet Fuel Management
Entities in the Food Retailers & Distributors industry own and operate vehicle fleets to deliver products between its distribution and retail locations. The fuel consumption of vehicle fleets is a significant industry expense, both in terms of operating costs and associated capital expenditures. Fossil fuel consumption can contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution. These environmental impacts may affect food retailers and distributors through regulatory exposure. Efficiencies gained in fuel use can reduce costs, mitigate exposure to fossil fuel price volatility and limit the carbon footprint associated with storage and transportation. Short-term capital expenditures in fuel-efficient fleets and more energy efficient technologies may be outweighed by long-term operational savings and decreased exposure to regulatory risks.
Air Emissions from Refrigeration
Emissions of refrigeration chemicals from equipment used to store and display perishable foods pose unique regulatory risks for the Food Retailers & Distributors industry. International regulations on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) aim to mitigate damage by HCFCs to the earth’s ozone layer. Additionally, many common HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are highly potent greenhouse gases (GHGs), which increases the industry’s exposure to climate change-related regulations. Regulators can assess penalties on entities that violate emissions standards. Entities may be required to upgrade or replace equipment, making capital expenditures to reduce emissions or replace existing refrigerants with potentially costlier but less environmentally-damaging alternatives.

Energy Management

Energy Management
Food retail and distribution facilities are typically more energy-intensive than other types of commercial spaces. These facilities use energy predominately for refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as lighting. Entities in the industry generally purchase the majority of consumed electricity, while some are beginning to generate energy on-site or add renewable energy into their energy mix. Energy production and consumption contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution, which have the potential to indirectly, yet materially, impact the operations of food retailers and distributors. Entities that manage to increase energy efficiency and use alternative energy sources may increase profitability by reducing expenses and decreasing risk.

Energy Management
Health Care Delivery entities operate energy-intensive facilities and rely on both purchased electricity and fuel. The consumption of both can contribute to environmental impacts, including climate change and pollution. Legislative attempts to limit these impacts and to incentivise energy efficiency and renewable energy may result in price volatility associated with fossil fuels and conventional electricity. Entities that improve energy efficiency may decrease costs and limit exposure to energy price fluctuations.

Waste & Hazardous Materials Management

Food Waste Management
The Food Retailers & Distributors industry generates food waste at various stages of operation. Food waste includes edible or otherwise useful food that does not reach consumers, as well as foods that spoil or are damaged during transportation or stocking or while sitting on store shelves. For entities, food waste represents losses of both saleable merchandise and resources used in food production, including land, water, labour, energy and agricultural chemicals. Food waste also contributes to food insecurity and can generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during landfill decomposition. Effective food waste management can present financial opportunities to reduce costs associated with inventory loss, as well as help improve food security by more efficiently diverting food resources for beneficial purposes.

Waste Management
Health Care Delivery entities generate a significant amount of regulated medical and pharmaceutical waste. Disposal fees for these types of waste are typically higher than that of conventional waste and may present a significant cost for the industry. Entities that reduce the amount of waste generated by enhanced waste segregation strategies, recycling and reuse may limit their exposure to these costs.

Data Security

Data Security
Through electronic payment transactions, food retailers establish a relationship of trust with consumers who share their personal financial data with them. Data breaches can occur through breaches of the physical payment technology, called point-of-sale breaches, as well as through attacks on cybersecurity infrastructure. Data breaches that result in the theft or loss of customers’ personal data undermine trust in an entity’s ability to securely manage confidential information. This loss of confidence could result in reduced number of customer visits, lower revenues and diminished brand value. Retailers with strong technological and managerial systems to avoid data breaches and respond to threats effectively can position themselves favourably with customers and reduce the risk of litigation and other costs.

Patient Privacy & Electronic Health Records
Many jurisdictions require health care providers to establish administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect the integrity, confidentiality, interoperability and availability of patient health information. Failure to comply with such regulations may result in civil and criminal penalties.

Access & Affordability

Access for Low-Income Patients
Some care delivery entities will continue to face challenges associated with serving uninsured and low-income patients. Health care delivery entities that develop innovative pricing structures that allow them to profit from increased private insurance enrolment and to expand their patient base may create a positive effect on revenue. Disclosure on how entities manage the provision of care to uninsured populations may allow users to understand the associated risks and opportunities.

Product Quality & Safety

Food Safety
Maintaining product quality and safety is crucial for the Food Retailers & Distributors industry, since contamination by pathogens, hazardous substances or spoilage can present risks to human health. Contamination can occur at any stage in the food value chain, including food production, processing, transportation, distribution and retail. Although entities may not be directly responsible for all food safety and recall incidents, they are involved in the process and still may experience consequences associated with incidents, such as financial ramifications, damage to brand value, lower revenues and increased costs. Measures to prevent spoilage and contamination include temperature control, frequent food inspection and careful supplier selection.

Quality of Care & Patient Satisfaction
Quality care delivery and patient satisfaction are essential value drivers for health care delivery entities. The link between quality of care performance and value creation may be strengthened by effective management focus on improving health care quality measures. In addition, entities may improve health care outcomes and preserve brand value by developing programmes to reduce excessive patient readmission rates and hospital-acquired conditions.

Customer Welfare

Product Health & Nutrition
Consumer awareness of food content and nutritional value and their relationship to health, shapes the industry’s competitive landscape. Demand for food products that are made with natural ingredients, certified to be organic, low-fat or low-sugar, or produced without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can create opportunities for entities. Although the links between consumer health and some foods are not well-established, consumers have nonetheless shown preferences for food categories that are perceived to be healthier than others. Food retailers that recognise the risks and opportunities presented by consumers’ shifting preferences and adapt to consumer demands may be better positioned to capture opportunities for increasing revenue and market share.

Management of Controlled Substances
The Health Care Delivery industry is in a unique position with respect to the evolving use of controlled substances and managing the risk of addiction. As the provider of care, the industry also treats individuals suffering from addiction and related health concerns. Health Care Delivery entities face significant costs in addressing the health care needs of those suffering from addiction and related illnesses. Industry-wide efforts to re-evaluate controlled substance management strategies through the development of new policies, training and oversight may have positive financial effects.

Selling Practices & Product Labeling

Product Labelling & Marketing
Communication with consumers through product labelling and marketing is an important facet of food retail. The accuracy and depth of information presented in food labelling is important to shoppers and regulators. Labelling is especially relevant for the sale of private-label products manufactured for food retailers, with direct consequences on brand reputation. To inform purchasing decisions, consumers may seek additional information about product ingredients, such as the presence of genetically modified organism (GMO) content or other ingredients considered healthy or nutritious. These issues can affect competition among entities in the industry, since entities may be subject to litigation or criticism resulting from making misleading statements or failing to adapt to consumer demand for increased labelling transparency. These factors can have consequences on retailers’ brand value and revenue growth. Regulations addressing the accurate labelling of products and their ingredients present an additional risk of penalties or litigation for entities.

Pricing & Billing Transparency
Concern regarding pricing and billing transparency in the Health Care Delivery industry has resulted in increased legal and regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions. Coupled with increased attention to health care cost containment, this scrutiny may increase regulatory oversight of pricing and billing practices in this industry. Entities that achieve compliance and institute transparent pricing structures may better protect shareholder value.

Labour Practices

Labour Practices
The Food Retailers & Distributors industry employs many hourly workers. Low average wages in the industry, which help entities maintain low prices for products, may result in labour-related risks. Worker dissatisfaction with wages and benefits, combined with high unionisation rates, can result in strikes which can in turn lead to business disruption and reputational damage. Additionally, entities that are involved in gender and racial discrimination cases can experience costly financial settlements. Entities may benefit from taking a long-term perspective on managing workers, including their pay and benefits, in a way that protects the rights of workers and enhances their productivity and strengthens the entity’s reputation and brand value.

Employee Health & Safety

Workforce Health & Safety
The Health Care Delivery industry is heavily dependent on a skilled workforce, and employees routinely are exposed to injury, illness and infection during regular duties. Relative to other industries, Health Care Delivery has one of the highest rates of injury and illness. Entities that manage this issue more effectively may reduce costs associated with workers’ compensation, productivity, morale and employee retention. Entities often mitigate risks by implementing proactive health and safety management protocols, developing employee training requirements, and conducting regular audits of their own safety practices.

Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion

Employee Recruitment, Development & Retention
Health care delivery entities will continue to face increased competition for physicians because of increased demand, which is intensified by current and future shortages. The ability to recruit, develop and retain health care practitioners is critical to success in this industry, and disclosure on related performance indicators allows users to understand how entities are managing this important human capital issue.

Supply Chain Management

Management of Environmental & Social Impacts in the Supply Chain
Food retailers and distributors source merchandise from a wide range of manufacturers. These suppliers face a myriad of sustainability-related challenges that include resource conservation, water scarcity, animal welfare, fair labour practices and climate change. When poorly managed, these issues can affect the price and availability of food. Additionally, consumers increasingly are concerned with the production methods, origins and externalities associated with the foods they purchase, which may affect an entity’s reputation. Food retailers and distributors also can work with suppliers on packaging design to generate cost savings in transport, improve brand reputation and reduce environmental impact. Entities that can manage effectively product supply risks by assessing and engaging with suppliers, implementing sustainable sourcing guidelines and enhancing supply chain transparency positioned more advantageously to improve supply chain resiliency, mitigate reputational risks, and potentially increase consumer demand or capture new market opportunities.

Physical Impacts of Climate Change

Climate Change Impacts on Human Health & Infrastructure
An increase in extreme weather events associated with climate change may present physical threats to health care delivery facilities and create challenges in serving affected populations. Coupled with the potential spread of infectious diseases and food and water scarcity, these events may present material implications for the Health Care Delivery industry.

Business Ethics

Fraud & Unnecessary Procedures
Health care delivery entities may be subject to significant fines and penalties if their staff are found to be engaged in medical fraud. Many entities must have written policies for all employees and contractors regarding false claims, false statements and whistle-blower protections. The ability to ensure compliance in this area may have implications for health care delivery entities, including one-time charges and reputational damage.

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