What is the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)?

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a globally recognised organisation that sets standards for sustainability reporting. These standards help companies, both large and small, report transparently on their environmental, social, and economic impacts. Whether you run a small business or a larger organisation, GRI provides a framework to make your sustainability efforts visible and elevate them to the next level.

How do the GRI Standards work?

GRI consists of three Universal Standards, GRI 1, 2, and 3, which are always applicable and comprise:  

• GRI 1 outlines the purpose of the GRI standards, clarifies essential concepts, and explains how to use them.
• GRI 2 contains information on how companies can report their sustainability practices.
• GRI 3 explains how a company can determine important and relevant topics.

In addition, Sector Standards apply specifically to the industry in which a company operates. These provide an overview of relevant standards, mandatory reporting, and recommendations specific to that sector. There are also Topic Standards, which allow companies to report specific information on subjects such as waste management, occupational safety, and taxes. Each standard summarises the relevant topic and the corresponding reporting information.

Why is GRI important for SMEs?

For SMEs, the GRI offers a powerful tool to enhance transparency around sustainability efforts and communicate them effectively to stakeholders. By reporting in line with GRI standards, businesses can build trust with customers and partners, demonstrating a commitment to responsible practices and a sustainable future.

Globally, GRI is the most widely adopted standard for sustainability reporting, with more than 70% of companies worldwide using it to guide their reporting. This percentage highlights the global importance of this standard. For companies with an international profile, GRI helps improve sustainability practices. Communicating through GRI creates a global competitive advantage in a market increasingly focused on environmental consciousness.

Benefits of using GRI Standards

Although GRI standards are not legally mandatory, they provide several key business advantages. These standards help companies report their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts in a structured and transparent manner, which benefits the company and its stakeholders. Here are the key benefits of GRI:

• Increased transparency

GRI standards are globally accepted. This helps businesses communicate their sustainability efforts clearly, building trust with stakeholders like investors and customers.

• Risk management

By following GRI, companies can identify and address sustainability-related risks. This helps mitigate long-term risks and avoids short-term reputational damage from miscommunication.

• Competitive advantage

Small and medium-sized companies that adopt GRI standards stand out to environmentally conscious customers and stakeholders. This offers a direct competitive edge, especially with large clients and buyers.

How does Eevery apply GRI Standards?

Eevery’s platform and the questions in the sustainability assessments are based on international standards and regulations. This ensures an objective measurement of your company's sustainability. One of the standards we use is GRI. During the sustainability assessments, we highlight which GRI standards apply to the topics relevant to your business. The recommended improvements on our platform are also aligned with these standards, ensuring that you always operate following international best practices. Upon completing the assessment, you receive an overview of the relevant GRI standards and associated reporting guidelines.

GRI Certification Eevery

We proudly announce that Eevery is officially GRI-certified and a recognised software and tools partner. This is important because it confirms that our platform and services meet international quality standards in transparency and sustainability reporting. This certification helps our business clients ensure the objectivity of their sustainability efforts. It also builds trust with our partners and demonstrates that our solution effectively delivers objective sustainability reports in line with international standards.

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Ready to make your sustainability efforts more transparent? Let Eevery guide your business through GRI and other international frameworks. Contact our team today to start aligning with global sustainability standards.