A COP is not a communication with the United Nations Global Compact Office, nor a UN Global Compact Local Network. Rather, it's a communication from a company to its stakeholders on progress made implementing the ten UN Global Compact principles. When possible, a COP should be integrated into a company's existing communication with stakeholders, such as an annual, financial, CSR or sustainability report. A Stand-alone COP should be created only if a company has not other vehicle to report on corporate citizenship issues.

Just as important as the medium chosen to communicate progress is the method of distributing a COP to stakeholders. Companies should use the established methods for stakeholder communication, particularly as it relates to sustainability information (e.g., website, direct mailings, employee alerts, open houses). Posting a COP to the UN Global Compact website is not considered a sufficient effort to share information with company stakeholders.