On October 19, 2016, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) released the GRI Standards, the new version of their guidelines that supersede the G4. Companies will be required to make the transition from the G4 Guidelines to the Standards by July 1st, 2018, but are encouraged to adopt the new guidelines as soon as possible. The Standards cover the same content as G4, presenting it in a newly structured and more flexible format. They have similar requirements for in-accordance claims (for Core, Comprehensive and Referencing the Standards), and include additional guidance on concepts like delineating topic boundaries. The Standards also provide a clearer distinction between reporting requirements (details that must be included, characterized by the use of the verb “shall”) and general recommendation for each disclosure (optional details which are encouraged, but not required, characterized by the use of the verb “should”).
The EcoVadis platform can provide a wealth of information to support GRI reporting on responsible supply chain management, delivering three main types of information around supplier assessments:
- Quantitative results (e.g., scores, number of suppliers assessed, corrective action plans implemented, etc.), that help provide a holistic picture of supply chain sustainability performance and specific data;
- Qualitative results (e.g., suppliers’ strengths and improvement areas, etc.) that complement quantitative results by providing clear opportunities and risks emerging from the assessments; and
- Management approach details (e.g., corrective action plans, actions implemented as a result of the assessments, etc.) that can be used to describe the management system’s results.
Our new white paper provides guidance on answering general reporting requirements (“shalls”) using the EcoVadis results. The paper also outlines how, in many instances, the platform can deliver additional details and context suggested in the recommendations and guidance (“shoulds”), which can be obtained from Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Corrective Action Plan (CAP) modules. Content deriving from the platform’s supplier assessments can also be complemented by details from the assessment roll-out programs that are customized for each enterprise client.
For example, see the table below for a snapshot of the information requested in disclosure GRI 414-2 (G4-LA15, G4-HR11 and G4-SO10), Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken, and the type of EcoVadis content that can be used for reporting:
Similar to the disclosure example above, the EcoVadis platform can provide information for the following GRI disclosures:
EcoVadis platform users can also access a series of KPIs that can help support and visualize their sustainable supply chain management disclosures (even if not specifically requested as part of reporting requirements or recommendations and guidance), including supplier score average (globally and by theme), percentage of spend assessed, and number of corrective actions enacted or completed.
While the EcoVadis platform cannot be used to collect raw data from suppliers on their annual consumption figures (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions), as this information is shared confidentially, the EcoVadis assessments can provide many details on a supplier’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and management systems in place. Together, the platform and the roll-out program designed for each enterprise client can deliver information that can be used both for specific GRI disclosures and for preparing the management approach disclosures for material topics.
Continue Reading:
The New GRI Standard Launched: A Brief Summary of Changes to Supply Chain Reporting
Are You Ready For Supply Chain Sustainability Reporting requirements?
