Understanding the GRI Standards for Sustainability Reporting

Delivered directly from the educators at the GRI Academy, this course introduces the purpose, structure, and use of the GRI Standards - the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

Across the world, societies are facing complex challenges such as climate change and inequality, alongside biodiversity loss and resource scarcity. As sustainability reporting shifts from a nice-to-have to a must-do, organisations are increasingly expected to report their impacts with credibility, clarity, and purpose. This course explains where reporting with the GRI Standards fits in that context, and takes you on a structured, step-by-step journey into what the Standards are and how to use them effectively.

You can expect an engaging learning experience delivered through multiple video clips, organised in five parts. The course starts by answering a foundational question: “Why the GRI Standards?”. It introduces the purpose, benefits, and key features of the Standards. From there, it explores key concepts and provides a closer look at the GRI Standards’ modular system, including its three parts: Universal Standards, Topic Standards, and Sector Standards.

A central focus is impact materiality—how organisations determine what truly matters in their reporting. The course explains the GRI Standards’ impact materiality perspective and its four key concepts: impact, material topic, due diligence, and stakeholder. You will also be guided through the steps for determining material topics for impact reporting.

To bring the learning together, the course includes a fictional case study showing how an organisation applies the GRI Standards in practice, followed by a final knowledge check so you can test your newly gained skills.

By the end, you will have a solid foundation for understanding and working with the GRI Standards.