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Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

The GRI Standards enable any organization – large or small, private or public – to understand and report on their impacts on the economy, environment and people in a comparable and credible way, thereby increasing transparency on their contribution to sustainable development. In addition to companies, the Standards are highly relevant to many stakeholders – including investors, policymakers, capital markets, and civil society. ​

Introduction to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a pioneering force in sustainability reporting, making it easier for organizations to share their stories about environmental, social, and economic impacts. Founded back in 1997, GRI has dedicated itself to promoting transparency and accountability in how businesses operate and communicate their sustainability efforts.

In today’s world, where the call for sustainable practices is louder than ever, GRI plays a crucial role in helping organizations of all shapes and sizes navigate this complex landscape. By providing a comprehensive framework, GRI empowers companies to measure and disclose their sustainability performance, ensuring they can connect meaningfully with their stakeholders—whether they’re investors, customers, employees, or local communities.

What makes GRI’s approach so effective is its focus on key principles like stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, materiality, and completeness. These principles guide organizations to create reports that are not only informative but also truly relevant to the interests and concerns of those who matter most.

By fostering transparency and encouraging open conversations, GRI aims to build a more sustainable global economy. As more organizations embrace sustainability reporting, GRI’s role in guiding this journey has never been more important. It’s about helping companies tell their sustainability stories, highlight their contributions, and ultimately make a positive impact on the world.

Overview of GRI Standards

The GRI Standards form a structured system of interrelated guidelines designed to help organizations effectively report on their sustainability performance. Organized into three main categories—Universal Standards, Sector Standards, and Topic Standards—these frameworks provide a comprehensive approach to sustainability reporting that can be tailored to the specific needs of any organization.

The Universal Standards are essential for all organizations using the GRI framework. They include:

  • GRI 1: Foundation 2021: This standard introduces the purpose and structure of the GRI Standards, explaining key concepts for sustainability reporting. It outlines the requirements and principles that organizations must follow to ensure compliance with the GRI framework.
  • GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021: This standard provides the necessary disclosures about an organization’s reporting practices and essential details such as its activities, governance, and policies. By sharing this information, organizations give stakeholders insight into their profiles, scale, and the context for understanding their impacts.
  • GRI 3: Material Topics 2021: This standard offers step-by-step guidance for determining material topics relevant to an organization. It includes disclosures for reporting how these material topics were identified, their significance, and how the organization manages them.

The Sector Standards are tailored to address the specific sustainability challenges faced by different industries. Organizations should utilize the Sector Standards relevant to their sectors to identify likely material topics and guide their reporting. By focusing on sector-specific issues, these standards enable organizations to provide more relevant and meaningful disclosures that resonate with stakeholders in their particular fields.

  • GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021 provides information for organizations in the oil and gas sector about their likely
    material topics. These topics are likely to be material for organizations in the oil and gas sector on the basis of the sector’s most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including on their human rights.
  • GRI 12: Coal Sector 2022 provides information for organizations in the coal sector about their likely material topics. These topics are likely to be material for organizations in the coal sector on the basis of the sector’s most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including on their human rights.

  • GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors 2022 provides information for organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors about their likely material topics. These topics are likely to be material for organizations in the sectors on the basis of the sectors’ most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including on their human rights.

  • GRI 14: Mining Sector 2024 provides information for organizations involved in mining activities about their likely material topics. These topics are likely to be material for mining organizations on the basis of the sector’s most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including on their human rights.

The Topic Standards focus on specific sustainability issues that organizations may encounter. These standards provide detailed disclosures for reporting impacts related to various topics. Organizations use the Topic Standards based on the material topics they have identified using GRI 3. This approach ensures that the reported information is relevant and aligned with stakeholder expectations.

  • GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their biodiversity-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 201: Economic Performance 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their economic performance-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 202: Market Presence 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their market presence-related impacts and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 203: Indirect Economic Impacts 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their indirect economic impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 204: Procurement Practices 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their procurement practice-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 205: Anti-corruption 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their corruption-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 206: Anti-competitive Behavior 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their anti-competitive behavior-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 207: Tax 2019 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their tax-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts. The disclosures enable an organization to provide information on how it manages tax, and information about its revenue, tax, and business activities on a country-by-country basis.

  • GRI 301: Materials 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their materials-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 302: Energy 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their energy-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their water-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their biodiversity-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 305: Emissions 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their emissions-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 306: Waste 2020 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their waste-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts. The disclosures enable an organization to provide information on how it prevents waste generation and how it manages waste that cannot be prevented, in its own activities and upstream and downstream in its value chain.

  • GRI 308: Supplier Environmental Assessment 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their environmental impacts in their supply chain, and how they manage these impacts. The disclosures enable an organization to provide information on its approach to preventing and mitigating negative environmental impacts in its supply chain.

  • GRI 401: Employment 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their employment-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 402: Labor/Management Relations 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to labor/management relations, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their occupational health and safety-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 404: Training and Education 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their training and education-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to diversity and equal opportunity at work, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 407: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 408: Child Labor 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to child labor, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 409: Forced or Compulsory Labor 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to forced or compulsory labor, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 410: Security Practices 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their security practice-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 411: Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to the rights of indigenous peoples, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 413: Local Communities 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to local communities, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 414: Supplier Social Assessment 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their social impacts in their supply chain, and how they manage these impacts. The disclosures enable an organization to provide information on its approach to preventing and mitigating negative social impacts in its supply chain.

  • GRI 415: Public Policy 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their public policy-related impacts, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 416: Customer Health and Safety 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to customer health and safety, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 417: Marketing and Labeling 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to marketing and labeling, and how they manage these impacts.

  • GRI 418: Customer Privacy 2016 contains disclosures for organizations to report information about their impacts related to customer privacy, and how they manage these impacts.

Benefits of Using GRI Standards

Adopting the GRI Standards provides organizations with a range of valuable benefits, enhancing their sustainability reporting while driving broader business advantages. These benefits extend beyond compliance and transparency, positioning organizations as leaders in sustainability and responsible business practices. Here are some of the key advantages:

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability

Provides stakeholders with clear, reliable information, building trust and credibility.

Improved Stakeholder Engagement

Encourages active involvement of stakeholders, leading to better identification and management of material issues.

Global Recognition and Best Practice Alignment

Positions organizations as leaders in sustainability by adhering to internationally recognized standards

Risk Management and Resilience

Helps identify and mitigate sustainability-related risks, strengthening long-term business continuity

Informed Decision-Making

Supports strategic planning and operational improvements through comprehensive data and insights.

Regulatory Compliance

Facilitates adherence to evolving sustainability regulations and investor requirements

Fostering Innovation

Encourages creative approaches to sustainability, leading to new technologies and competitive advantages.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Aligns reporting with the SDGs, showcasing the organization’s commitment to global challenges