Comments on: Credibility boost through GRI Check or 3rd Party Checks?

By: Mehrdad Nazari

Mehrdad Nazari — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:17:48 +0000

NB: Need to watch out that a Third Party Check or GRI Check designed to boost credibility does not backfire. See my blog entry:

http://prizmablog.com/2010/08/06/chuckles-courtesy-of-scotiabank-and-cbsr/

By: Mehrdad Nazari

Mehrdad Nazari — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:53:26 +0000

Thanks for your note, Kathee. I agree with you that the GRI/Third Party check is amongst the more confusing and perhaps also misleading elements of the GRI framework. That is one of the constant feedbacks I receive when delivering GRI-certified courses. Best, Mehrdad

By: Kathee Rebernak

Kathee Rebernak — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:01:29 +0000

While having the report checked by the GRI or a third party may create the perception of credibility, some companies abuse the system. I have read several GRI-checked reports that claim to report on certain indicators but actually do not. The GRI does not check whether the reporter reports on each and every indicator claimed but rather checks a sample of indicators. So if, for example, a reporter does not report on indicators not within the GRI’s sample list, the reporter can still claim an A application level, and have it GRI-checked, without actually meeting the application level requirements. This is a key failing of the GRI application level and checking systems. But then again, it’s up to the company to be honest about whether it has reporting on an indicator. Unfortunately, not all are.

By: Mehrdad Nazari

Mehrdad Nazari — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:08:09 +0000

Thanks for your note, Henrik. As you know, the use of Application Level is designed to communicate which elements of the GRI Reporting Framework have been applied in the preparation of a report. This means that either GRI or the Thrid Party checks on the presence or absence of the criteria in the report that corresponds to the report makers self-declared Application Level. As detailed in GRI's FAQ on this subject, the GRI/Thrid Party check does not represent an opion on the value or quality of the report and its content - even though this is a common but wrong assumption of some (many?) report readers. Keeping GRI's guidance in mind, a GRI/Third Party Check is probably not the critical external review (opinion) you may be looking for... for that, you would better turn to other tools and approaches. You may also wish to take a look at a couple of my other blog posts on stakeholder panels and - more generally - common misperceptions about GRI/sustainability reporting.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:19:00 +0000

Yes, I do think they add credibility, in the sense that the reporting organization allows a third party to ask questions about the report and its contents. Although some organizations might do it because they know that readers are unclear about what a third party or GRI check actually means in terms of ESG performance, I think most organizations simply see it as a natural step in making the best possible report.

By: Stakeholder Panels for Sustainability Reporting | Prizma

Stakeholder Panels for Sustainability Reporting | Prizma — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:55:18 +0000

[...] reporting using the GRI framework and a breakdown of latest statistics visit my previous blog post here. An interesting report about stakeholder panels, entitled ‘Critical Friends, The Emerging [...]