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GRI principle
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What's behind the principle?
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How does AEGON apply this principle?
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Materiality
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Information in the report covers topics and indicators that reflect the organization's significant economic, environmental and social impact, or that substantively influence the decisions of stakeholders.
Materiality is the threshold at which an issue or indicator becomes sufficiently important that it should be reported.
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AEGON uses its stakeholder framework and annual stakeholder review to help determine the contents of its Sustainability Report, and decide the materiality of specific issues.
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Stakeholder inclusiveness
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The selection of key performance indicators and the content of report draw on the outcomes of stakeholder engagement processes.
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AEGON organizes an annual stakeholder review and assesses all recommendations, incorporating them, where possible, into the company's reporting process.
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Sustainability content
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The report presents the organization's performance in the wider context of sustainability.
The report should seek to present performance in relation to broader concepts of sustainability.
The organization's own sustainability and business organization should be made clear.
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The section 'Our Approach to Sustainability' provides details on AEGON's strategy, policies and governance in this area.
The interview with Marco Keim, Management Board member responsible for Sustainability, gives further information on the broader context in which AEGON is operating.
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Completeness
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The coverage of material topics, key performance indicators and definitions of the scope of the report are sufficient to reflect significant economic, environmental and social impacts, and enable stakeholders to assess the organization's performance during the reporting period.
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In this report, AEGON has provided an overview of key events for the year, as well as disclosure on reports written by third parties on the company's performance in this area.
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Balance
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The report discusses both favorable and unfavorable results and topics.
Information is presented in a format that allows users to see positive and negative trends in performance on a year-to-year basis.
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AEGON's report endeavors to address both favorable and unfavorable subjects.
Criticisms of the company's 2008 report by the stakeholder review are disclosed, as well as other reports by third parties.
Wherever possible, figures are presented on a comparable basis.
This report also discusses AEGON's approach to dilemmas as part of responsible investment.
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Comparability
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Information in the report can be compared on a year-to-year basis.
The organization's performance can be compared with appropriate benchmarks.
Where available, generally accepted protocols for compiling, measuring and presenting information, including the GRI Technical Protocols for Indicators are used.
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This report includes an update on progress made since 2008 on AEGON's key sustainability objectives.
Wherever possible, figures are presented on a comparable basis.
Details are also included on AEGON's membership of key sustainability indices.
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Accuracy
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The data measurement techniques and bases for calculations are adequately described, and can be replicated with similar results.
The report indicates which data has been estimated and which are the underlying assumptions and techniques used to produce these estimates.
Qualitative statements in the report are valid on the basis of other reported information and other available evidence.
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Wherever possible, explanations are provided with regard to methodology and sourcing of information.
AEGON has also introduced limited external assurance for its Sustainability Reports.
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Timeliness
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Information is recent relative to the reporting period.
Information clearly indicates the time period to which it relates, when it will be updated, and when the last updates were made.
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Information included in this report refers to the year 2009, unless stated otherwise.
Financial data has been taken from AEGON's 2009 Annual Report.
The contents of this report are based on comprehensive reporting from AEGON's country units. This reporting took place between January and March, 2010.
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Clarity
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The report avoids technical terms or other content likely to be unfamiliar to stakeholders.
The report contains the level of information required by stakeholders, but avoids excessive and unnecessary details.
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Recommendations from AEGON's annual Stakeholder Review are used to help determine the contents of this report.
Wherever possible, explanations are provided with regard to methodology and sourcing of information.
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Reliability
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The original source of the information in the report can be identified by the organization.
Reliable evidence to support assumptions or complex calculations can be identified by the organization.
Representation is available from the original data or information owners.
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Where relevant, sources of third party information are provided.
AEGON has introduced limited external assurance for its Sustainability Reports.
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