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 Validation
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]
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
Klimarisiken und -folgen systematisch managen nach ISO 14090/91 mehr Infos
Further services
Validation according to VSME
Introduction to reliable, comparable and practical sustainability reporting for SMEs in preparation for the CSRD
