GRI Sustainability Reporting Service

Q: Is GRI reporting mandatory?

The use of GRI Standards is generally voluntary. However, customers, investors, or supply chain programmes may request sustainability data that aligns with GRI. This can create a commercial expectation; GRI itself does not constitute a legal obligation.

Q: Is GRI also necessary if TSRS is mandatory?

TSRS and GRI serve different purposes. TSRS focuses on investor-oriented financial materiality, while GRI focuses on the organisation's impacts on the economy, environment, and people, i.e., impact materiality. A TSRS report does not automatically replace a GRI report; common data points can be reused, but the requirements of each framework should be assessed separately.

Q: How long does it take for our first GRI report?

It varies depending on company size, data infrastructure, reporting scope, and stakeholder engagement. A project plan of approximately 3 to 5 months is a common consulting estimate for a first GRI report; this duration is not a fixed period or delivery guarantee set by GRI.

Q: What is the cost of GRI reporting?

It varies depending on scope, company size, applicable GRI Standards, data preparation, design, and external assurance preference. During a free initial assessment, we analyse your current situation to define the project scope and provide a proposal.

Q: What is Carboniva, and how is it used in the GRI process?

Carboniva is Europecarbon's digital ESG monitoring platform. It can help monitor energy, carbon, water, and social data centrally throughout the year; this can facilitate data consolidation and reuse workflows during the GRI reporting period.

Q: Does a GRI report affect my EcoVadis score?

A GRI report does not directly determine your EcoVadis score or medal. Some policy, indicator, performance, and reporting evidence generated during the GRI process can support EcoVadis documentation preparation; however, each assessment is done according to its own methodology, and results cannot be guaranteed.

What is GRI Sustainability Reporting?

GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) are global sustainability reporting standards for organisations to transparently report their impacts on the economy, environment, and people. GRI uses the Universal, Sector, and Topic Standards structure for environmental impacts (carbon emissions, water use, waste), social issues, and governance practices.

GRI's materiality approach is impact materiality: identifying the organisation's most significant actual and potential impacts on the economy, environment, and people. Financial materiality is emphasised by TSRS/ISSB; the combined assessment of impact and financial materiality is highlighted in the double materiality approach under ESRS.

🌍 Globally Recognised Standard GRI's 23 June 2026 research covers 14,682 large listed companies; 40% of the examined companies use GRI, and companies using GRI represent 62% of global market value.

🔗 Supply Chain Compliance Supports the establishment of consistent impact, policy, and performance data infrastructure for recurring ESG data requests.

📊 EcoVadis and CDP Compliance Can support the reuse of common data points; does not guarantee an EcoVadis score, medal, or CDP outcome.

💡 Impact Materiality The organisation's most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people are identified using the GRI 3 approach.

How Does GRI Differ from TSRS and CSRD?

Comparison of GRI, TSRS, and CSRD/ESRS sustainability reporting frameworks as of 2026
Framework	Mandatory Status	Focus	Target Audience
GRI	Voluntary; may be a commercial expectation for customer/supply chain demands	Impact materiality	Broad range of stakeholders
TSRS	Mandatory for undertakings meeting KGK scope and threshold conditions	Financial materiality / investor-focused sustainability information	Primary users / investors
CSRD / ESRS	Mandatory for companies meeting current scope conditions in EU legislation	Double materiality	Report users within the scope of EU legislation

💡 Can be used together: GRI, TSRS, and ESRS are not the same. GRI focuses on impact materiality; TSRS focuses on financial materiality; ESRS uses a double materiality approach. Common data points can be reused, but the scope, materiality, and disclosure requirements of each framework must be assessed separately.

2026 Scope Note: The scope of TSRS is not limited to numerical thresholds alone; the undertaking must first be one of the institution, organisation, or undertaking types listed in the KGK Board Decision. For undertakings within the relevant scope, the general thresholds are an asset total of 1 billion TL, annual net sales revenue of 2 billion TL, and an employee count of 500 people, according to the KGK Board Decision dated 13 January 2026 and published in Official Gazette No. 33139 dated 16 January 2026, numbered 75935942-050.01.04-[01/39092]. The exceeding of at least two of the three criteria thresholds for two consecutive reporting periods is taken as a basis. The Board Decision applies to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025. Specific exceptions and provisions for banks and other special cases should be checked separately for each company. In the EU, Directive (EU) 2026/470 updated the general CSRD scope to focus on companies with more than 1,000 employees and net turnover exceeding €450 million; EU scope and transition provisions should be assessed separately for each company. 2026 KGK Board Decision is the primary source.

GRI statement of use: GRI 1: Foundation 2021 defines two distinct statements of use. For “In accordance with the GRI Standards”, all nine requirements must be met; for “with reference to the GRI Standards”, its own three mandatory requirements must be met. “With reference” does not mean that the GRI name can be used freely.

The difference between “in accordance” and “with reference”

Comparison of GRI in accordance and with reference statements of use
Statement of use	Key requirements
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRI STANDARDS	All 9 requirements in GRI 1: Foundation 2021 are met. GRI Content Index is published. The correct “in accordance” Statement of Use is applied. A notification of use is made to GRI. Applicable GRI Sector Standards are used in determining material topics and related disclosures.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE GRI STANDARDS	Selected GRI Standards and/or disclosures are used. GRI Content Index is published. The defined Statement of Use for “with reference” is applied. A notification of use is made to GRI.

Notification of use and Report Registration: Under GRI 1: Foundation 2021, a notification of use to GRI is required for both “in accordance” and “with reference” reporting. GRI also provides a GRI Standards Report Registration System for published reports. The current registration process does not mean the public reuse of the former Sustainability Disclosure Database.

2026 GRI update: GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 is effective from 1 January 2026. GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 and GRI 103: Energy 2025 have been published and will come into effect on 1 January 2027. The applicable set of standards should be checked separately according to the reporting period.

Who is GRI Reporting Important For?

🌍 Exporters in the EU Supply Chain

Large buyers and reporting-obliged companies in the EU may increasingly request systematic ESG data from their suppliers. A significant portion of these demands overlap with GRI, ESRS, and other ESG data sets. A GRI-based data infrastructure supports more consistent responses to recurring supplier inquiries.

🏅 Companies in EcoVadis or CDP Process

EcoVadis assessment and processes like CDP require policy, indicator, performance, and evidence documentation. The data and governance infrastructure established for GRI can support this preparation; however, it does not guarantee any EcoVadis score, medal, or CDP outcome.

📈 Publicly Traded or Listed Companies

Publicly traded companies and those accessing capital markets may face expectations from investors and other stakeholders regarding sustainability information. GRI can be used to systematically disclose a company's external impacts; TSRS or other mandatory reporting obligations are assessed separately.

🏢 Companies with ESG Commitments Outside TSRS Scope

For medium-sized companies falling below TSRS thresholds, GRI is the most recognised tool for documenting voluntary sustainability commitments. It allows you to present a concrete report to your customers, employees, and investors.

What Does Our Service Cover?

We manage the GRI reporting process through scope definition, impact materiality analysis, data collection, GRI content index, and publication stages. The target statement of use for the report, "in accordance" or "with reference," is clarified at the outset.

Project duration note: The following durations are typical consulting planning estimates; they may vary depending on company size, reporting scope, data quality, stakeholder engagement, and assurance preference, and are not fixed durations determined by the standard.

1

Scope Definition and GRI Standards Selection

We determine the applicable set of GRI Universal, Sector, and Topic Standards based on your company's area of activity and reporting objectives. We jointly evaluate the Universal Standards 2021 structure, applicable Sector Standards, and current Topic Standards in force during the reporting period. For the current set of standards, we rely on the GRI Standards source.

⏱ 3-5 days

2

Materiality Assessment

In line with GRI 3, we identify the organisation's actual and potential, positive and negative impacts on the economy, environment, and people; we then prioritise these by materiality to create a list of material topics. If TSRS or ESRS are also addressed in the same project, financial materiality and double materiality analyses are conducted as separate methodological workflows.

⏱ 2-4 weeks

3

Data Collection and Measurement Infrastructure

We collect the necessary data for selected GRI topics: energy consumption, Scope 1/2/3 emissions, water use, waste management, employee data, workplace accidents, supply chain practices. We also offer internal process recommendations to systematise data collection.

⏱ 4-8 weeks

4

Report Writing and Structuring

We transform the collected data into a readable and stakeholder-focused report compliant with GRI standards. Your report will include: board message and sustainability strategy, materiality matrix, performance data by GRI topics, targets and commitments, and the GRI Content Index.

⏱ 3-4 weeks

5

External Assurance (Optional)

Independent external assurance for GRI reporting can be opted for voluntarily. GRI itself does not verify or certify report content and does not provide approval on report quality. Mandatory sustainability assurance audits under TSRS, however, are conducted by sustainability auditors or auditing firms authorised in accordance with the relevant KGK regulations. Voluntary GRI external assurance and mandatory TSRS assurance audit are separate processes.

⏱ 2-4 weeks

6

Publication and Communication

We provide support for web/PDF publication of the ready report, GRI Content Index review, and stakeholder communication. Under GRI 1: Foundation 2021, a notification of use to GRI is required for both “in accordance” and “with reference” reporting. GRI also provides a GRI Standards Report Registration System for published reports. Notification of use is a GRI 1 requirement; Report Registration is the registration system offered by GRI for published reports. The current process does not mean the public reuse of the former Sustainability Disclosure Database.

⏱ 1 week

⏱ Typical total project plan: The first GRI report can be planned in approximately 3-5 months for most projects; this duration is not a standard commitment and may vary depending on data accessibility, materiality process, scope, and approval cycles. A continuous data monitoring infrastructure can simplify preparation for subsequent reporting periods.

Digital ESG Infrastructure with Carboniva

The energy, carbon, water, and social data you use for GRI reporting can be monitored throughout the year on a centralised data platform like Carboniva; this can facilitate the reuse and control of existing data during the reporting period.

💻 How Carboniva Accelerates the GRI Process?

Monitor energy, carbon, water, and social data on a single platform all year round. Regular data recording can support data consolidation, traceability, and analysis workflows during the GRI reporting period. Some common data points used for CBAM and carbon footprint can also be reused when appropriate.

Explore Carboniva Plans →

Why Europecarbon?

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Technical ESG Expertise

Sustainability reporting is not just about writing text: it requires measurement methodology, data verification, and standard interpretation. Expert team in carbon, water, and environmental engineering.

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Integrated Service

We offer GRI reporting, carbon footprint, CBAM reporting, and EcoVadis consulting services under one roof. Collect the same data once.

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EcoVadis and CDP Compliance

We map GRI data and documentation structures to areas that can be shared with processes like EcoVadis and CDP. Each system has its own criteria; score, medal, or rating outcome is not guaranteed.

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Grant Support

Sustainability consulting may, at certain times, be included in export or transformation support programmes. Eligibility must be verified separately according to the current support programme, company characteristics, and type of expenditure.

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Digital Platform

Monitor your ESG data all year round with Carboniva. Spend time on analysis and strategy, not data collection, during the reporting period.

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GRI Statement of Use and Report Registration Support

We help you correctly separate and carry out the mandatory notification of use under GRI 1 and the GRI Standards Report Registration process. The former Sustainability Disclosure Database is no longer publicly accessible.

Integrated Sustainability Services

The ESG data infrastructure you build for GRI reporting can also be used for your other obligations. Set it up once, serve multiple purposes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is GRI reporting mandatory?

Is GRI also necessary if TSRS is mandatory?

How long does it take for our first GRI report?

What is the cost of GRI reporting?

What is Carboniva, and how is it used in the GRI process?

Does a GRI report affect my EcoVadis score?