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In general, reporting processes for non-financial data do not offer the same level of maturity as those for financial reporting. External assurance helps to ensure the reliability of the data and can assist the supervisory board in performing its monitoring function. In addition, external assurance can identify gaps in the reporting process and the approach to controlling, which enables further improvements to the sustainability reporting approach. → Highlight potentials of how blockchain technology can (1) replace parts of the external assurance by the design of the technology (2) Evaluate costs of both approaches (3) increase the interoperability/integration of CSR reports of different companies
Existing Solution Providers
- Responsible Sourcing Blockchain Network (RSBN) - https://www.ibm.com/blogs/blockchain/2020/12/blockchain-and-sustainability-through-responsible-sourcing/
GRI reporting:
- GRI 101: Foundation (https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/media/1036/gri-101-foundation-2016.pdf)
- principles for defining report quality
- accuracy
- comparability
- reliability
- Presenting information
- 2.6 If the reporting organization reports a required disclosure using a reference to another source where the information is located, the organization shall ensure:
- 2.6.1 the reference includes the specific location of the required disclosure;
- 2.6.2 the referenced information is publicly available and readily accessible.
- 2.6 If the reporting organization reports a required disclosure using a reference to another source where the information is located, the organization shall ensure:
- Claims that a report has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards
- → Opportunity: GRI digital signs the reports that are in accordance with the GRI Standards
- Notifying GRI of the use of the Standards
- 3.4.2 registering the report or published material at www.globalreporting.org/standards.
- → Blockchain registry???
- principles for defining report quality
- GRI 102: General Disclosures (2016)
- 1. Organizational Profile
- → Proof of origin of the organization's profile → Verifiable Credentials???
- In general:
- → cryptographic signing of any document provided???
- → Storing hash values of documents to blockchains?
- Disclosure 102-56: External assurance
- Digitally sign the external reports??
- publish a hash value or certain metadata on public blockchain???
- Giving the auditors a digital identity?
- Could a part of the external assurance be automated by smart contracts???
- 1. Organizational Profile
- GRI 103: Management Approach (2016)
- see GRI 102: In general
- GRI 305: Emissions (2016)
- Disclosure 305-1: Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
- "apply emission factors and GWP rates consistently for the data disclosed;"
- → document emissions factors used in an immutable ledger
- "apply emission factors and GWP rates consistently for the data disclosed;"
- Disclosure 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions
- The ‘GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance’ requires organizations to provide two distinct Scope 2 values:
- A location-based method reflects the average GHG emissions intensity of grids on which energy consumption occurs, using mostly grid-average emission factor data
- A market-based method reflects emissions from electricity that an organization has purposefully chosen. It derives emission factors from contractual instruments
- → Utility emissions channel: location-based grid factors are already covered. market-based could be included: Great opportunity to use parts of our existing lab????
- The ‘GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance’ requires organizations to provide two distinct Scope 2 values:
- Disclosure 305-3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions
- ToDo: Great potential!!
- Disclosure 305-1: Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
- GRI 308: Supplier Environmental Assignment (2016)
- "The reporting organization shall report its management approach for supplier environmental assessment using"
- Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria
- Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken
- → Use there published and signed data (and/or reports) to verify their negative environmental impacts
Implementation
TBD
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Resources
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