GRI is a global, independent organization that helps companies, governments and other organizations identify and communicate their impacts, as regards vital sustainability issues. This case study is based on the 2014-2015 Combined Report by GRI published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Please subscribe to the SustainCase Newsletter to keep up to date with the latest sustainability news and gain access to over 100 case studies. These case studies demonstrate how companies are dealing responsibly with their most important impacts, building trust with their stakeholders (Identify > Measure > Manage > Change). What are the material issues the organization has identified? In its 2014-2015 Combined Report GRI identified a range of material issues, such as ethical fundraising, coordination, feedback, complaints and action, public awareness and advocacy, employment, training and education, diversity and equal opportunity. Among these, engaging with its stakeholders and acting on their feedback stands out as a key material issue for GRI. Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows: Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly. Key stakeholder groups GRI engages with: · Emails · Meetings · Webinars · GRI Newsletter · Emails · Meetings · iGRI News · Staff Satisfaction Survey · Emails · Emails · Site visit · Emails · Meetings · Events · Emails · Emails · Calls · Events · Emails · GRI newsletter · GRI newsletter · LinkedIn Group · Webinar for new partners · Emails · Meetings · Emails · Meetings · Emails · Webinars · OS newsletter · Letters · Emails · Social media · Press releases · GRI newsletter · Emails · Meetings · Events · Emails · Webinars · OS newsletter · Emails · Meetings · Emails · Meetings · Events · Calls · Emails How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues To identify “what matters, where it matters”, GRI conducted a stakeholder engagement survey among more than 21,000 external and 147 internal stakeholders. GRI asked stakeholders to prioritize its material aspects and, possibly, suggest additional topics. In addition, GRI contacted, with regard to its impacts, 33 stakeholders through different channels, including email and/or telephone. In its 2014-2015 Combined Report GRI reports that it took the following actions for engaging with its stakeholders and acting on their feedback: Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed? The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-26: Report the organization’s approach to stakeholder engagement, including frequency of engagement by type and by stakeholder group, and an indication of whether any of the engagement was undertaken specifically as part of the report preparation process and the updated GRI Standard is: GRI 102-43: Approach to stakeholder engagement 80% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too. Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism. FBRH GRI Standards Certified and IEMA approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and IEMA approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting. References: 1) This case study is based on published information by the Global Reporting Initiative, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link: https://www.globalreporting.org/resourcelibrary/GRIs%20Combined%20Report%202014-2015.pdf 2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page 3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx 4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/ Note to the Global Reporting Initiative: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.Subscribe for free and read the rest of this case study
With this case study you will see:
Stakeholder Group
Method of engagement
Governance bodies
· Calls
Staff members
· Calls
Academics
· Calls
Assurance providers
· Calls
Bloggers
· Emails
Capital market operators, investors and analysts
· Calls
Certified Software and Tools Providers
· Calls
Civil society organizations
· Formal consultation (related to SDG Compass)
Consultants
· Calls
Data Partners
· Emails
Donors
· Calls
Governmental Advisory Group members
· Calls
GRI Certified Training Partners
· Calls
Labor
· Meetings
Media
· Calls
NGOs
· Calls
Organizational Stakeholders (OS)
· Calls
Partner organizations
· Calls
Policy makers and regulators (government agencies)
· Calls
Reporters
· Emails
Service clients (including clients of Materiality Disclosures and Application Level Services)
· Emails
Suppliers
· Calls
What actions were taken by GRI to engage with its stakeholders and act on their feedback?
(November 2015)
