GRI has unveiled a major innovation in sustainability reporting with the launch of its new Sustainability Taxonomy.
This digital tool translates the GRI Standards into a machine-readable format, using XBRL – the global language for business reporting – to facilitate faster, more effective, and interoperable disclosures. The taxonomy enables streamlined data collection and greater comparability of sustainability metrics across jurisdictions.
The new framework allows organisations to report in a structured digital format, with support for all GRI Standards, including Universal, Sector, and Topic standards. Reports can be submitted directly to GRI or via an online form, ensuring accessibility for reporters of all sizes and technical capabilities. By incorporating the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), the taxonomy boosts the accuracy and utility of sustainability data, improving alignment with other major standards.
GRI has developed the Sustainability Taxonomy to align closely with other global reporting frameworks, including the ISSB Standards and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), both of which are also XBRL-based. This alignment ensures greater consistency and compatibility in sustainability reporting across borders, reducing fragmentation and supporting regulatory compliance globally.
The taxonomy represents a significant step towards more efficient and accessible sustainability reporting. It aims to close the gap between disclosed impacts and those who rely on this data to inform action. As a result, the GRI Standards remain responsive and relevant in a digital-first reporting environment. The digital transformation is also influencing how GRI develops its standards, promising greater clarity and precision going forward.
XBRL International CEO John Turner welcomed the new release, stating, “We welcome GRI’s new Sustainability Taxonomy, which marks an important advancement for digital sustainability reporting. By applying our XBRL language, GRI reporting can be structured in a fully digital way that ensures data can be effectively presented, analyzed, shared and compared. This Taxonomy increases the trustworthiness and accessibility of information disclosed using the GRI Standards and is a milestone we are proud to support.”
GRI chief engagement officer Cristina Gil White emphasised the importance of this step in democratising digital ESG data: “GRI’s Sustainability Taxonomy is a significant step forward in making sustainability information faster to retrieve and analyze, for both reporting organizations and data users.
“It closes the gap between reported impacts and the people who need to interpret and act on them – making it easier to assess the completeness and alignment of disclosed information. It is a practical, inclusive tool that helps ensure the GRI Standards remain world-leading and fit for purpose in an ever-evolving digital reporting world. Looking forward, the approach to create the Sustainability Taxonomy is shaping how we develop our Standards, bringing greater clarity and precision.
GRI is also working to support the ecosystem around its new taxonomy. Through the GRI Academy, training resources are being developed to help organisations adopt digital reporting practices. In parallel, GRI is planning to release filing tools in late 2025 to verify the consistency of submitted reports with GRI Standards. These tools will improve report reliability and accessibility for stakeholders, from investors and regulators to companies and the general public.
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