21/09/2022

September 2022 marks a quarter of a century since Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the global standard setter for sustainability reporting,  was founded back in 1997. Since then, organizations have relied on GRI as the global leader for sustainability reporting and the catalyst for transparency.

GRI was founded in Boston in 1997 by the non-profit organizations CERES and the Tellus Institute (with involvement of the UN Environment Programme). The aim was to create the first accountability mechanism to ensure companies adhere to responsible environmental conduct principles, which was then broadened to include social, economic and governance issues.

The first version of what was then the GRI Guidelines (G1) published in 2000 – providing the first global framework for sustainability reporting. The following year, GRI was established as an independent, non-profit institution. In 2002, GRI relocated to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the first update to the guidelines (G2) launched. As demand for GRI reporting and uptake from organizations steadily grew, the guidelines were expanded and improved, leading to G3 (2006) and G4 (2013).

With participation in sustainability reporting spreading around the world, GRI started opening a series of regional offices. This led to the current network of hubs being established in Brazil (2007), China (2009), India (2010), USA (2011), South Africa (2013), Colombia (2014) and Singapore (2019).

In 2016, GRI transitioned from providing guidelines to setting the first global standards for sustainability reporting – the GRI Standards. The Standards continue to be updated and added to, including new Standards and the continued roll-out of Sector Standards. 

Thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries already use the GRI reporting framework to disclose non-financial information to their stakeholders and manage their impacts on the economy, the environment and society. GRI plans to build on this success, leveraging its global multi-stakeholder network to drive the evolution of sustainability reporting.

At present, the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards) are the most widely used standards for sustainability reporting. They help companies identify and disclose their impact on issues such as climate change, human rights, inequality, governance, as well as social well-being. The practice of disclosing sustainability information leads to increased transparency, which paves the way for decisions that support sustainable and inclusive global economic growth. Through sustainability reporting, companies can contribute to building a better world, while reaping the benefits of more efficient use of resources, improved reputation, enhanced brand loyalty and stronger stakeholder relations. Organizations can also turn to GRI to comply with the emerging global sustainability regulations.

As GRI mentions, while they can look back with pride on their achievements, their focus is on what’s to come. Deepening accountability for impacts, across all countries and sectors, is GRI’s continuing mission for the next 25 years.