Tunley Environmental and CSR Accreditation Publish Whitepaper on Verified Sustainability Claims

Tunley Environmental and CSR Accreditation (CSR-A) have released a new whitepaper designed to assist organisations in communicating their sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts with greater credibility amid increasing scrutiny of environmental claims.

The document, titled Evidence Over Claims: Safeguarding Corporate Social Responsibility, addresses the mounting pressure on companies to ensure their environmental and social statements are accurate, proportionate, and substantiated by evidence. It also tackles the challenges posed by both greenwashing and green hushing, recognising that while many organisations are making genuine progress, they often find it difficult to share their achievements confidently.

This difficulty is frequently linked to evolving regulatory frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), complex reporting requirements, and ambiguity regarding permissible claims, especially under the UK’s Green Claims Code.

Produced collaboratively by Tunley Environmental and CSR Accreditation, the whitepaper advocates for the use of scientific assessments, structured reporting, independent verification, and accreditation to shift organisations away from vague assertions towards transparent, evidence-based communication.

Key tools highlighted include Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Business Carbon Assessments (BCAs), biodiversity footprinting, impact reporting, and third-party accreditation and verification. These elements are presented as vital for enhancing responsible business communication and fostering stakeholder trust.

Ellis Clark, Head of Marketing at Tunley Environmental, commented: “Many organisations genuinely want to do the right thing, but sustainability communication has become increasingly difficult to navigate. This whitepaper is about helping businesses communicate their progress responsibly and with confidence. The goal is not to discourage organisations from talking about positive initiatives, but to help ensure those claims are supported by evidence.”

Richard Collins, Founder of CSR Accreditation, added: “Responsible business is not only about data and reporting. It is also about recognising the positive impact organisations create for employees, communities and the wider environment. Good storytelling is important, but it must be evidenced up by real action. This whitepaper helps organisations understand how to achieve that balance.”

The publication further emphasises the growing role of accreditation in facilitating structured CSR reporting and independent verification. CSR Accreditation’s four-pillar framework—covering environment, workplace, community, and philanthropy—is showcased as a practical method for organisations to benchmark and communicate their responsible business activities effectively.

The whitepaper is available for download through Tunley Environmental’s website.