A common framework for sustainability reporting

The Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) vision is that reporting on economic, environmental, and social performance by all organizations becomes as routine and comparable as financial reporting. GRI accomplishes this vision by developing, continually improving, and building capacity around the use of its Sustainability Reporting Framework.

An international network of thousands from business, civil society, labor, and professional institutions create the content of the Reporting Framework in a consensus-seeking process.

What GRI Does: http://www.globalreporting.org/AboutGRI/WhatWeDo/

 Transparency,acountablility,reporting and sustainability. The GRI is a meeting place to converge and accelerate these issues. Learn how this global network developed at the GRI’s history.

Our main work

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance.

 The framework and its benefits

The cornerstone of the framework is the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The third version of the Guidelines – known as the G3 Guidelines - was published in 2006, and is a free public good. Other components of the framework include Sector Supplements (unique indicators for industry sectors) and Protocols (detailed reporting guidance) and National Annexes (unique country-level information).

Sustainability reports based on the GRI framework can be used to benchmark organizational performance with respect to laws, norms, codes, performance standards and voluntary initiatives; demonstrate organizational commitment to sustainable development; and compare organizational performance over time.

GRI promotes and develops this standardized approach to reporting to stimulate demand for sustainability information – which will benefit reporting organizations and those who use report information alike.

The framework development process

In order to ensure the highest degree of technical quality, credibility, and relevance, the reporting framework is developed and continuously improved through a consensus-seeking process with participants drawn globally from business, civil society, labor, and professional institutions. A cross section of global stakeholders who share the vision that reporting on economic, environmental, and social performance by all organizations should become as routine and comparable as financial reporting develop this standard.

Putting reporting into practice

In order to support widespread uptake of of this standardized global framework for sustainability reporting, GRI develops learning materials and accredits training partners. Special guidance is also available for small and medium sized enterprises.

GRI’s global reach

The Global Reporting Initiative refers to the 30,000 strong multi-stakeholder network that collaborates to advance sustainability reporting.

To date more than 1000 organizations, including many of the worlds leading brands, have declared their voluntary adoption of the Guidelines worldwide. Consequently the G3 Guidelines have become the de facto global standard for reporting.

 The GRI is a collaborating centre of the United Nations Environment Programme

Source :http://www.globalreporting.org/AboutGRI/