What does the GRI mean by "sustainability performance indicators"?

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) refers to "sustainability performance indicators" as the metrics specifically designed to evaluate how an organization impacts various sustainability aspects in relation to its established goals. These indicators encompass a wide range of factors, including environmental, social, and governance performance, providing comprehensive insights into how well an organization is advancing towards its sustainability objectives.

This approach recognizes that traditional financial metrics are not sufficient for capturing the full scope of an organization's impact and effectiveness in sustainable practices. By focusing on impacts relative to sustainability goals, the GRI enables organizations to demonstrate accountability and transparency in their sustainability efforts.

While quantitative data on financial performance, indicators of employee engagement, and general measures of corporate reputation are important, they do not specifically target the multidimensional impacts on sustainability that the GRI aims to assess with its performance indicators. Therefore, the focus on evaluating impacts relative to sustainability goals is what distinctly defines the correct understanding of "sustainability performance indicators" in the context of GRI.