Photo credit - TradeMutt
Expectations are shifting. Customers, investors, and employees now demand authentic social impact, not just financial performance. Edelman’s 2025 Brand Trust report found that 64% of consumers buy, choose, or avoid brands based on their beliefs about what’s happening in society.
When expectations outpace compliance, the gap isn’t just a challenge—it’s a risk. The leading organisations are already embedding social value into their business strategy to create long-term value. You can too, with our support.
For a limited time, we’re providing some exclusive offers to become a Social Traders Supporter member. Take up this digital membership and join the industry body in social performance, helping over 300 business and government leaders deliver social value for a competitive advantage.
Social performance is about creating social value through business. It covers all the impacts of business on employees, suppliers, customers, and the wider community.
A recent KPMG study of over 1,300 global CEOs revealed a pragmatic shift – recognising that environmental and social factors are inextricably linked to financial performance. ESG is no longer a side consideration; it’s a growth strategy.
Across our network, business leaders are focusing on social performance as central to sustainable value creation. It’s how leading organisations build trust, resilience, and competitive advantage.
The leaders know that social performance isn’t a tick-box exercise – it adds to business value. It’s led by leadership, embedded across teams, and driven by action, not compliance.
In fact, companies with a clear corporate purpose generated 58% higher revenue than those without, according to the 2023 S&P Global 1200.
We see change on the horizon and expect social performance to become a mandatory requirement for businesses to deliver and report.
In January 2025, we saw the introduction of Mandatory Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards for large businesses and this will expand over time to cover businesses of all sizes.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) introduced assured integrated reporting on responsible corporate behaviour. Australian business subsidiaries with ‘in scope’ parent companies or contracting with ‘in scope entities’ may be subject to new checks on human rights and environmental standards.
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has an open research project covering ‘human capital’ as a next consideration for mandatory disclosures.
It’s not a matter of if, but when social performance will be part of mandatory reporting. That’s why we’ve expanded our membership offerings to include support for delivering and reporting on social performance. The "S" social taxonomy is being defined now and varies by company and industry. We continue to provide our expertise in shaping this together with our members, adding to their competitive edge.
Since 2017, Social Traders has been certifying social enterprises in Australia. As part of this, we collect over 200 data points to help organisations understand, measure and report tangible social impact outcomes including jobs created and training delivered. Our unique impact reports provide confidence to our members and mitigates social washing.
By becoming a member of Social Traders, we'll help you get ahead of the curve.
We’ve expanded our services to help organisations deliver social value across their business:
We help organisations move beyond regulation - integrating social performance into operations, strategies, and reporting frameworks.
We know for busy professionals, having access to tools that save time and deliver results helps. That's why we've designed our member portal as a one-stop shop for resources, connections to certified social enterprises, and reporting to make the work easier - enhancing social performance with confidence.
With intuitive, self-serve functionality, businesses can:
The right support unlocks the greatest results. Our specialists team works in partnership with our members to achieve positive results.
Customers and employees are watching closely, and more organisations are investing in social impact strategies to future-proof their business when it comes to talent, customers and regulatory requirements.
Delivering social value alongside profit is the future of good business.
Join the industry body in social performance: Exclusive offers
Until 19 December 2025, we’re providing some exclusive offers to become a Social Traders Supporter member. Take up this digital membership and join the many business and government leaders already delivering social value for a competitive advantage.
For 17 years, Social Traders has proudly stood at the heart of Australia’s social enterprise sector - connecting businesses that want to create more social value, with certified social enterprises delivering real-world impact.
We’ve partnered with more than 300 business and government organisations and supported over 900 certified social enterprises to help shape a thriving, purpose-led economy.
Our vision is simple: a future where all businesses place purpose alongside profit - creating positive outcomes for people and the planet so that “doing good” becomes the way the economy works.
Together, let’s find the good in business.