Society
Standard on applying Principle 8: Be Responsive
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.
GRI Standards
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.
For organisations
Use this resource to:
- Measure sustainability performance: Identify metrics to measure for each significant topic. The standards themselves provide guidance on selecting metrics to report. Using standardised metrics helps the organisation and its stakeholders compare performance with others.
- Disclose: Report to all stakeholders on ‘material topics’ that reflect the organisation’s most significant impacts.
For investors and financial institutions
Use this resource to:
- Assess: Assets use the measurement and disclosure standards and guidance for organisations, and investors can provide capacity to help adherence.
B Impact Assessment
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.
SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises
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:
- 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:
- Measure sustainability performance:
- Assess impact:
- Estimate value created:
- Verify:
- Integrate and act:
- Disclose:
Impact Mappings
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.
For organisations
Use this resource to:
- Identify sustainability topics: Cross-check the organisations economic activities and geographic location against the Impact Mappings when identifying sustainability topics to measure.
For investors and financial institutions
Use this resource to:
- Identify: Understand the impact areas and topics associated to different economic activities by consulting the Sector-Impact map; understand both positive and negative associations; identify key sectors for different impact areas and topics.
- Assess: Review existing indicators and metrics for impact assessment by consulting the Indicator Library. Indicators and metrics from reporting standards and frameworks (GRI, SASB, CDP, TCFD), impact investor and development bank resources (IRIS+ and HIPSO), government taxonomies (EU Adaptation and Mitigation Taxonomies) and other sources have been collated to support indicator selection and interoperability between frameworks.
Investment Portfolio Impact Analysis Tool
Tool to help investors holistically understand and manage the actual and potential impacts of their portfolios.
For organisations
Use this resource to:
- Set and revise objectives: Set relevant and meaningful objectives by using the tool. It provides an impact analysis and management workflow that starts from the identification of impact associations and needs, facilitates the collection and assessment of impact performance data, and accordingly enables specific targets to be set and monitored over time.
- Identify sustainability topics: Identify impact areas and topics (economic, environmental and social) associated with a portfolio, based on an objective review (cartography) of the portfolio, sectoral and geographic breakdown. The tool contains collated research on the association between sectors (ISIC – International Standard Industrial classification) and 22 Impact Areas that cover all the SDGs, as well as a framework to enable a contextualisation of impact associations vis a vis the impact needs present in the country/ies of operation of the bank and its clients.
- Measure sustainability performance: Review existing metrics for impact measurement by consulting the Indicator Library embedded within the tool. UNEP FI has collated metrics from reporting standards and frameworks (GRI, SASB, CDP, TCFD), impact investor and development bank resources (IRIS+ and HIPSO), government taxonomies (EU Adaptation and Mitigation Taxonomies) and other sources to support indicator selection and interoperability between frameworks. This indicator library primarily supports use of the tool, but is also a useful standalone resource.Investors may also refer to the Real Estate Impact Analysis Tool which uses a complementary approach for real estate portfolios.
For investors and financial institutions
Investors may also refer to the Real Estate Impact Analysis Tool which uses a complementary approach for real estate portfolios.
Use this resource to:
- Identify: Use the tool to identify impact areas and topics (economic, environmental and social) associated with an investment portfolio, based on an objective review (cartography) of the portfolio, sectoral and geographic breakdown.
- Assess: Assess your current practice and performance vis a vis its most significant impact areas by combining the tools ‘Identification’ outputs with additional data; use the assessment as a basis for target-setting and to define the bank’s action plan.
GISD Sector-Specific SDG-related Metrics for Corporate Reporting
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.
GISD Recommendations on SDG-related Disclosure
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.
Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative Research
Research on impact valuation published in the form of case studies and white papers. Specific illustrative examples are provided for product impact.
For organisations
Use this resource to:
- Estimate value created: Use research to learn about key considerations when monetising impact, using publicly available information on companies.
For investors and financial institutions
Use this resource to:
- Assess: Learn about the key considerations when monetising impact, using publicly available information on companies.
SDG Impact Seal and Assurance Framework
Forthcoming: Assurance criteria for demonstrating adherence to the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises, Private Equity Funds or Bonds, and associated certification.
For organisations
Use this resource to:
- Verify: Certify that an organisation’s systems and processes adhere to the SDG Impact Standards.
For investors and financial institutions
Use this resource to:
- Assess: Review certifications from underlying assets to check their systems and processes adhere to the SDG Impact Standards.