Society

This document sets the SVI Standard to apply Principle 8: Be Responsive. The essence of this Principle is to take action; to make decisions about social value in response to data and measurement.

Use this resource to:

• Integrate and act: Create a structured ‘impact management approach’ that can guide decision making at strategic, tactical, and operational levels to optimise impacts on wellbeing for all materially affected stakeholder groups. This means implementing activities that are designed to maximise the extent and rate of positive changes in wellbeing, whilst also identifying and eliminating activities that result in negative changes in wellbeing as fast as possible.

Reporting standards designed to help organisations understand and disclose their impacts in a way that meets the needs of multiple stakeholders. These standards are arranged by a set of Universal Standards that apply to all organisations, and 35 Topic Standards that contain disclosures for impacts related to economic, environmental and social topics.

Tool designed to help organisations measure and manage their impact on workers, community, environment, and customers.

Use this resource to:

• Identify sustainability topics: Fill in the online questionnaire to understand performance on sustainability topics that are likely relevant to manage, based on the organisation’s size, sector, and geography. B Lab’s questionnaire is developed through research and public consultation, and so provides an evidence-based starting point for identifying sustainability topics to measure.
• Measure sustainability performance: Use the B Impact Assessment as a set of metrics. The questionnaire enables organisations to quickly get started collecting information on performance on sustainability topics that are likely relevant to manage, based on the organisation’s size, sector, and geography.
• Assess impacts: Fill in the questionnaire to track change in performance over time. Each question is scored – some with reference to social or ecological thresholds – to help the organisation determine whether it is performing sustainably on that topic.
• Benchmark: Compare performance with peers on each sustainability topic or as a whole organisation. If an organisation scores 80 points or above on the questionnaire, it can apply to be certified as a B Corp. The tool provides guidance to help organisations improve their score every year, and all B Corps must update their responses to the self-assessment to re-certify every three years.

Practice standards that provide a common language and a system for integrating sustainable development issues, the Sustainable Development Goals and impact management into business and investment decision-making. These practice standards also outline the ‘ABC’ classification methodology, which helps organisations assess whether an impact ‘Acts to reduce harm’, ‘Benefits stakeholders’, or ‘Contributes to solutions’ in relation to the SDGs.

Use this resource to:

Set up processes and embed practices that orient an organisation towards achieving the SDGs. The SDG Impact Standard contains practice indicators that are relevant to several actions. Use the links below to access guidance for different practice indicators. Alternatively, view the whole guidance document here.

• Governance, strategy, and management approach:
  • 2.1.1 / 2.1.2 / 2.1.3 / 2.1.4 / 2.1.5 / 2.1.6 / 2.1.7
  • 4.1 / 4.2 / 4.3
• Set and revise objectives:
  • 1.1.1 / 1.1.2 / 1.1.3 / 1.1.4 / 1.1.5 / 1.1.6 / 1.1.7 / 1.1.8 / 1.1.9 / 1.1.10 / 1.1.11
  • 1.2.1 / 1.2.2 / 1.2.3 / 1.2.4 / 1.2.5 / 1.2.6 / 1.2.7
• Identify sustainability topics:
  • 1.1.6 / 1.1.7 / 1.1.8
  • 2.2.1 / 2.2.2 / 2.2.3
• Measure sustainability performance:
  • 2.1.6
  • 2.2.4
  • 2.3.2
• Assess impact:
  • 2.1.6
  • 2.2.1 / 2.2.2 / 2.2.3 / 2.2.4
  • 2.3.1 / 2.3.2 / 2.3.3 / 2.3.4
• Estimate value created:
  • 2.2.1 / 2.2.4 / 2.2.5
• Verify:
  • 2.2.6
  • 3.6
• Integrate and act:
  • 2.2.5
  • 2.3.1 / 2.3.2 / 2.3.3 / 2.3.4 / 2.3.5
• Disclose:
  • 3.1 / 3.2 / 3.3 / 3.4 / 3.5 / 3.6

The excel-based Impact Mappings are standalone versions of the research embedded in UNEP-FI’s Impact Analysis Tools, split into two parts.

First, the Sector Mappings show the strength of connection between economic activities (using ISIC classification) and positive and negative impacts (using UNEP-FI’s Impact Radar). Second, the Needs Mappings track a selection of indicators at global, country and local levels as a way to estimate the sustainable development needs in different geographies.

Tool to help investors holistically understand and manage the actual and potential impacts of their portfolios.

This report recommends a set of sector-specific, SDG-related metrics by drawing on metrics from existing standard setters and benchmarks.

The Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD) is a group of 30 large investment firms convened by the United Nations Secretary General. The GISD sits within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and aims to scale-up long-term finance and investment in sustainable development.

Use this resource to:

• Identify sustainability topics: The report suggests SDGs and related sustainability topics for eight sectors. Organisations can consider their sector and check whether the SDGs and related sustainability topics suggested are applicable to their own business.
• Measure sustainability performance: The report suggests SDG-related metrics for eight sectors. Organisations can consider measuring the metrics specific to their sector.
• Disclose: Organisations can include the recommended SDG-related metrics in their disclosure to stakeholders.

This short guidance recommends an approach to SDG-related disclosure based on the approach set out in the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

The Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD) is a group of 30 large investment firms convened by the United Nations Secretary General. The GISD sits within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and aims to scale-up long-term finance and investment in sustainable development.

Use this resource to:

• Disclose: Organisations can use the recommendations to guide their disclosure related to SDGs.

Research on impact valuation published in the form of case studies and white papers. Specific illustrative examples are provided for product impact.

Forthcoming: Assurance criteria for demonstrating adherence to the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises, Private Equity Funds or Bonds, and associated certification.