ESG Reporting Made Simple: Frameworks & Standards Explained

A Smarter Framework for Sustainable Business

An ESG reporting framework is a set of guidelines that help businesses share their sustainability performance. It focuses on three key areas:

• Environmental – How your operations impact nature (carbon emissions, waste, water usage)
• Social – How you treat people (employees, customers, communities)
• Governance – How your business is run (transparency, leadership, ethics)

 A Quick Look at the Top 5 ESG Frameworks

1. GRI – Global Reporting Initiative

• Best for: Companies that want to show their impact on the world
• Use it when: You’re reporting to a broad audience—customers, NGOs, communities
• Bonus: Covers all ESG areas in detail

2. SASB – Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

• Best for: Companies looking to share financial risks related to ESG
• Use it when: Investors want to know how sustainability affects your bottom line
• Bonus: Industry-specific guidelines

3. TCFD – Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

• Best for: Companies that want to report climate risks
• Use it when: You need to show how climate change could affect your business
• Bonus: Helps with long-term strategic planning

4. CDP – Carbon Disclosure Project

• Best for: Tracking carbon emissions and water use
• Use it when: Transparency in environmental performance matters to stakeholders
• Bonus: You get a performance score!

5. IR – Integrated Reporting

• Best for: Large businesses integrating sustainability into financial strategy
• Use it when: You want to show how ESG and business value go hand-in-hand
• Bonus: Combines financial and non-financial reporting

The Right Framework = Better Reporting & Better Results

Your Goal	Best Framework
Report full social & environmental impact	GRI
Show investors what matters financially	SASB, TCFD
Measure & disclose environmental data	CDP
Align business value with ESG goals	IR
Just getting started with sustainability	GRI or CDP

Final Takeaways from Planetary Plus: Smarter Data, Stronger Climate Action

ESG reporting isn’t just about ticking the boxes. It’s about building trust and creating a better   future. At Planetary Plus, we know that starting the ESG journey can be challenging. But with the right framework, it becomes easier to track your impact, communicate clearly, and grow responsibly.

Be transparent. Stay consistent. Improve each year. That’s the Planetary Plus way.

Are you ready to take the next step? Let’s do this — together.