Applying the Guidelines

Getting Started

All organizations (private, public, or non-profit) are encouraged to report against the Guidelines whether they are beginners or experienced reporters, and regardless of their size, sector, or location. Reporting can take various forms, including web or print, stand alone or combined with annual or financial reports.

The first step is to determine report content. Guidance for this is provided in Part 1. Some organizations may choose to introduce reporting against the full GRI Reporting Framework from the outset, while others may want to start with the most feasible and practical topics first and phase in reporting on other topics over time. All reporting organizations should describe the scope of their reporting and are encouraged to indicate their plans for expanding their reporting over time.

GRI Application Levels 

Upon finalization of their report, preparers should declare the level to which they have applied the GRI Reporting Framework via the “GRI Application Levels” system. This system aims to provide:

• Report readers with clarity about the extent to which the GRI Guidelines and other Reporting Framework elements have been applied in the preparation of a report.
• Report preparers with a vision or path for incrementally expanding application of the GRI Reporting Framework over time.

Declaring an Application Level results in a clear communication about which elements of the GRI Reporting Framework have been applied in the preparation of a report. To meet the needs of new beginners, advanced reporters, and those somewhere in between, there are three levels in the system. They are titled C, B, and A, The reporting criteria found in each level reflects an increasing application or coverage of the GRI Reporting Framework. An organization can self-declare a “plus” (+) at each level (ex., C+, B+, A+) if they have utilized external assurance. 

An organization self-declares a reporting level based on its own assessment of its report content against the criteria in the GRI Application Levels.

In addition to the self declaration, reporting organizations can choose one or both of the following options:

• Have an assurance provider offer an opinion on the self-declaration
• Request that the GRI check the self-declaration.

For more information on Application Levels, and the complete criteria, see the  Application Levels information pack (PDF). 

Request for notification of use

Organizations that have used the Guidelines and/or other elements of the GRI Reporting Framework as the basis for their report are requested to notify the Global Reporting Initiative upon its release. While notifying GRI, organizations can choose any or all of the following options:

• Simply notify the GRI of the report and provide hard and/or soft copy
• Register their report in GRI’s online database of reports
• Request GRI check their self-declared Application Level. 

Maximizing Report Value

Sustainability reporting is a living process and tool, and does not begin or end with a printed or online publication. Reporting should fit into a broader process for setting organizational strategy, implementing action plans, and assessing outcomes. Reporting enables a robust assessment of the organization’s performance, and can support continuous improvement in performance over time. It also serves as a tool for engaging with stakeholders and securing useful input to organizational processes.