In GRI Standards, what is a 'topic'?

In the context of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, a 'topic' refers to an economic, environmental, or social subject that is significant to an organization’s sustainability performance and reporting. This significance is determined by the impact the organization has on the environment and society, and the expectations of stakeholders regarding those impacts. By defining a topic in this way, GRI emphasizes the need for organizations to focus their reporting on areas that reflect substantial aspects of their operations and that matter most to their stakeholders.

Topics serve as the foundation for effective sustainability reporting, providing a framework for organizations to disclose information that is relevant and useful for stakeholders, including investors, customers, and community members. By categorizing information under these topics, organizations can create structured and organized reports that address critical issues and ensure transparency.

Other offered options, while related to various aspects of a business or reporting, do not capture the broad and significant nature of what a 'topic' entails in GRI Standards. For example, an internal company process is too specific and doesn't encompass the wider environmental, economic, or social aspects that define a topic. Statistical measurements are indicators that may relate to topics but do not themselves define what a topic is. Stakeholder groups are important for understanding who is affected