Independent Analyst Firm Names Deloitte a Global Market Leader in Sustainability Assurance Services

NEW YORK, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

A new in-depth comparative evaluation of global sustainability assurance services providers, conducted by independent analyst firm Verdantix, has named Deloitte a market leader.

Verdantix attributes specific characteristics to market leaders, including:

• Broad and successful service offerings
• Extensive involvement in the development of standards
• Established global presence
• Clear market vision and sustainability strategies
• Relatively mature internal sustainability programs
• Strong brand awareness among customers

The study, Verdantix Green Quadrant: Sustainability Assurance (Global) June 2011, is the first comparative evaluation of its kind undertaken globally. Verdantix assessed the capabilities of 13 providers of sustainability assurance services based on 48 evaluation criteria, including energy and environment expertise, knowledge of standards, and customer wins.

"As the demand for financial grade sustainability information increases, Deloitte is well positioned to provide sustainability assurance services," said David Metcalfe, Director at Verdantix. "Deloitte's assurance services for sustainability risk management and ethical supply chain stand out from all other providers. Their contribution to the evolution of sustainability accounting and reporting standards through work with the International Integrated Reporting Committee and Global Reporting Initiative are part of their best-in-class sustainability strategy."

"This pioneering evaluation from Verdantix underscores the fact that Deloitte has market-leading capability for assisting clients with emerging issues in reporting and report assurance," said Nick Main, Global Leader for Sustainability & Climate Change, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. "Investment in sustainability assurance is increasing as firms seek to improve the credibility of their sustainability reports. Equally important is the trend toward integrated reporting that increasingly involves the CFO in assurance decisions of this kind. "

The Verdantix report compares BSI, Bureau Veritas, Deloitte, DNV, ERM, Ernst & Young, KPMG, LRQA, PwC, SGS, TUV SUD, UL-DQS, and URS. The criteria and weighting are based on insights from interviews with a panel of 15 international buyers with combined revenues of $362 billion, responses to a 48-point questionnaire, and interviews with practice leaders at participating organizations. The report is available to Verdantix clients at http://www.verdantix.com.

*As used in this press release, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and deep local expertise to help clients succeed wherever they operate. Deloitte's approximately 170,000 professionals are committed to becoming the standard of excellence.