The validation or external review of sustainability reports is voluntary. However, an external perspective helps to review the selected topics and confirm the plausibility of data, facts and key figures.
The GRI standard is established worldwide and compatible with other frameworks such as the SDGs. It offers a modular framework for sustainability reports, applicable to your industry and the specific topics covered by your company.
GUTcert certifies all common ISO management systems – so linking different topics and the resulting synergies for sustainability reporting are a matter of course for our auditors. And our auditors always take the perspective of the potential readership of your report into account: for example, taxonomy requirements are also incorporated and the ‘state of the art’ of report auditing is always taken into consideration.
Benefits of Certification
Credibility
An audited report proves that the information is accurate, complete and verifiable: stakeholders such as investors, customers and authorities are more likely to trust audited information.
Reputation
You demonstrate your commitment to social and environmental responsibility and position yourself as transparent and responsible.
Preparation for CSRD
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU Directive) makes external audits mandatory for many companies. GRI verification helps companies prepare for this at an early stage.
Optimisation potential
External auditors identify weaknesses and potential for improvement in reporting. The internal sustainability strategy can be developed in a more targeted manner.
Facts and information
The audit always consists of reviewing the draft version of the report, detailed planning and an assessment.
As part of the validation process, the involvement of stakeholders is examined and an assessment is made of how the key aspects of sustainable corporate development have been defined. These topics serve as the basis for setting meaningful sustainability-related goals and measures.
Furthermore, data collection and the corresponding key figures are randomly checked for plausibility. The experts then make recommendations for the further development of sustainable performance.
You determine the timing and exact procedure of your validation together with your auditor. We would be happy to work with you and your specialist departments to plan an accompanying validation process in line with the progress of the individual topics and reporting areas. This usually allows the audit to be completed more quickly after the report has been finalised.
The audit certificate issued by GUTcert will be printed in your sustainability report and confirms the external validation of the data contained therein.
We in the sustainability team would like to thank you very much for your support and persistence. And if I may say so, without the extensive experience of our auditor, the report would not have turned out so well!
Arno Elz, Sonepar Deutschland GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
For us, the ISO audit carried out by GUTcert is proof of the credible and high-quality sustainable development of our events. Thank you for the inspiring cooperation!
Fenja Gewitsch, Deutsche Filmakademie Produktion
[Translated with DeepL]
Many thanks to the GUTcert audit team - you have guided us so wonderfully through this process, which has always given us confidence and courage!
Claudia Loewe, Deutsche Filmakademie Produktion GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
We would like to express our sincere thanks for the excellent cooperation in the context of our ISO 20121 certification. The GUTcert team was always available to us and impressed us with their high level of professionalism and humanity. We always felt we were in good hands and, looking back, we are convinced that we made absolutely the right choice. Thank you very much for your competent guidance and support on our way to sustainable event management.
David Baldig, George P. Johnson GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
From the very beginning, the GUTcert employees impressed us with their expertise, and the seminars they offered on ISO 20121 were a very important and valuable source of support. The list of costs was transparent and comprehensible, with no hidden surprises.
Isabella Anders, meplan GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement und -bericht in der Praxis mehr Infos
Beauftragter (gn) Nachhaltige Veranstaltungen nach ISO 20121 – Modul 1 mehr Infos
Beauftragter (gn) für Nachhaltiges Veranstaltungsmanagement nach ISO 20121 – Modul 2 mehr Infos
Interner Auditor (gn) Nachhaltiges Veranstaltungsmanagement nach ISO 20121 – Modul 3 mehr Infos
Wesentlichkeitsanalyse im CSRD-Nachhaltigkeitsbericht: GAP zu GRI & DNK mehr Infos
Klimaanpassung und Risikomanagement: CSRD-Anforderungen erfolgreich umsetzen mehr Infos
Further services
Integrated MS
With an integrated management system, you save valuable time, human resources and, last but not least, costs
