THE GLOBAL Reporting Initiative (GRI) has launch a new tool to encourage businesses to be more transparent when it comes to reporting about sustainability.
The ‘GRI Sustainability Reporting Process’, has been launch as a ‘how-to’ handbook for companies committed to meeting the G4 reporting guidelines. It provides a step-by-step approach to the five-phase sustainability reporting process and includes activity checklists and case studies on each phase.
The objective is to raise awareness on the importance of focussing on specific indicators. Companies are encouraged to create bespoke reports that will enable stakeholders and industry experts to tackle real issues regarding sustainability and not skim over any challenges or difficulties.
This – GRI claims – will help to prevent ‘selective reporting’ which has been a result of the recently adopted G4 process.
Nelmara Arbex, GRI’s chief advisor on innovation in reporting expands: “There’s always a temptation to emphasise the nice side of business activities and not talk about the problems. This will always be a challenge for the GRI when setting guidelines.”
The new guidelines have addressed the lack of transparency and the impact of this is huge; it’s helping to build trust between companies and their stakeholders.
Arbex explains: “This is why I think sector-related indicators will help businesses realise they are often not alone with the issues they face and they may be able to overcome those issues by working together.”
