26 General Issue Categories

ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice is a globally recognised framework that defines practices for effective and credible sustainability systems.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Verification, assurance & certification: Provide a framework for assessing compliance with standards, so that consumers, supply chain partners, investors and other stakeholders know they can trust the results of assessments. It encourages assurance that is rigorous and accessible, providing accurate and transparent results.

ISEAL’s Credibility Principles define the core values of credible and effective sustainability systems. They provide the foundations for systems to deliver greater impact.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Verification, assurance & certification: Support the development and use of credible and effective market-based initiatives like sustainability standards and tools.

The SASB Standards are reporting standards that provide industry-specific disclosure topics and associated metrics for measuring performance across 26 General Issue Categories (or sustainability topics). Management or mismanagement of performance on these sustainability topics may create, preserve or erode value for a typical organisation in a given industry over time.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Communicate: Report to providers of financial capital on sustainability topics that are likely to affect how value is created, sustained or eroded for the organisation over the short-, medium- and long-term.

The SASB Materiality Map is a tool to help companies identify and prioritise sustainability issues that are financially material to their industry. It provides a framework for assessing the relevance and impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors on business performance and value creation.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Communicate: Use disclosure guidance and standards to disclose on material issues, recognising how various sustainability factors have a material impact on the viability of a company as well as its financial performance.