The economic dimension of sustainability concerns the organization’s impacts on the economic conditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, and global levels.

Financial performance is fundamental to understanding an organization and its own sustainability. However, this information is normally already reported in financial accounts. What is often reported less, and is frequently desired by users of sustainability reports, is the organization’s contribution to the sustainability of a larger economic system.

ASPECT: ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
EC1 Direct economic value generated and distributed, including revenues, operating costs, employee compensation, donations and other community investments, retained earnings, and payments to capital providers and governments.
EO2. Direct economic impacts as a result of sustainability initiatives

ASPECT: MARKET PRESENCE
EC6 Policy, practices and proportion of spending on locally-based suppliers at significant locations of operation
EC7 Procedures for local hiring and proportion of senior management hired from the local community at locations of significant operation.

ASPECT: INDIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACTS
EC8 Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services provided primarily for public benefit through commercial, in- kind, or pro bono engagement.
EC9 Understanding and describing significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts.