A sustainability report might be compared to seeing a doctor for a complete physical examination. A good doctor will ask lots of questions; listen to heartbeat; feel bones and tissue for irregularities; and run a wide range of blood tests. Of course, a clean bill of health is the desired outcome, but a thorough exam will sometimes uncover the need for corrective action.

The reality is that many corporations are "unhealthy" in their social and environmental performance. A financially unhealthy company knows it -- and their shareholders know it, too -- as a result of annual and quarterly reporting. Only recently have corporations begun to take a good look at their social and environmental health, disclosing the findings publicly, and developing strategies to get