Managed frameworks

Sustainability Reporting Manager is used to create disclosures to respond to sustainability frameworks.

In Sustainability Reporting Manager, frameworks are categorized as:
Managed
The complete set of framework questions are available in Sustainability Reporting Manager in the Framework Library. Guidance about how to collate responses is provided for each question.
Managed frameworks are updated periodically by the IBM Envizi team to update the guidance or to align the frameworks with updates in the corresponding standards.
Custom
You can add framework questions to Sustainability Reporting Manager and write your own guidance. Then, you manage the assignment of questions and the review cycle in Sustainability Reporting Manager.
Table 1 lists the managed frameworks that are supported.
Table 1. Managed frameworks
Framework Description Summary and attribution or disclaimer
Business Responsibility Sustainability Report (BRSR) - India An environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework for India. BRSR attribution
CDP full corporate questionnaire (CDP) The CDP 2024 corporate questionnaire is a streamlined tool that integrates climate change, water security, and deforestation reporting into a single, cohesive framework. CDP 2024 attribution
European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) Sustainability Reporting Manager supports ESRS as a managed framework to help companies comply with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting directive. ESRS attribution
ESRS summary
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) A globally applicable guidance framework that provides standards for describing in a transparent way how an organization impacts the world through economic, environmental, and social lenses. If an organization is not able to report in accordance with the standard, they are still able to use the standard to report with reference to the standard. The standard is often used by multinational organizations that operate across several regions. GRI disclaimer
New Zealand Climate Standards (NZ CS) The primary object of the New Zealand Climate Standards (NZ CS) to facilitate investment in endeavors that align with New Zealand’s transition toward reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased resilience to climate change effects. NZ CS disclaimer
International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (Ipieca) A sustainability reporting framework for the oil and gas companies. Ipeca attribution
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) A sector-based guidance framework that helps companies publicly disclose performance, risks, and opportunities that are related to sustainability. The framework covers 11 sectors, which are categorized into 77 industries. SASB attribution
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are universal calls to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. SDG attribution
Task-force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) A framework for helping businesses disclose climate-related financial information. TCFD attribution
Task-force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) A framework for helping businesses disclose nature-related financial information. TNDF attribution
United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress (UNGC-CoP) The United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress (UNGC-CoP) is designed to measure and demonstrate progress on the Ten Principles and Sustainable Development Goals in a consistent and harmonized way to stakeholders and the public. UNGC-CoP attribution
Some frameworks are not included as managed frameworks, but reports are provided to help you create custom disclosures to respond to the frameworks. These include:
Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
A global tool that is used to assess the sustainability performance of real estate and property portfolios. Some built-in reports are available in the PowerReports component of IBM® ESG Suite to use when you respond to framework questions.
For more information about the about GRESB support in the Building Ratings and Benchmarks module, see GRESB.
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
A framework for companies to provide information to stakeholders about environmental governance and policy, targets, and scenario analysis. CDP focuses on climate change, water, and forests. Some built-in reports are available in the PowerReports component of Envizi ESG Suite to use when you respond to framework questions.
For more information about the CDP PowerReport, see CDP Climate PowerReport 2024.
For more information about using PowerReports in Envizi ESG Suite, see PowerReports.

Framework library

Managed and custom frameworks are listed in the framework library. On the Sustainability Reporting Manager home page, click Framework Library. Frameworks are enabled by the IBM Envizi team by request. You can browse the frameworks to view the range of topics and categories that each framework supports.

Framework fields

Frameworks include the fields that are listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Framework fields
Field Description
Topic A group of questions in a framework.
For example, in GRI, topics include:
  • GRI 305: Emissions 2016
  • GRI 306: Waste 2020
In SASB, topics include:
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Waste management
Category A group of questions across frameworks. For example, all questions about greenhouse gas emissions are grouped under the GHG Emissions category. Waste management questions are under the Waste category.
Question Code Unique identifier of a question within a framework. Where possible, the question is taken directly from the framework. The fields have a 100 character limit and must be unique.
Question Summary A summary of the question. The field has a 200 character limit.
Question Specifies the question. It might include reporting requirements.
Question Type Defines the format of the response for the question. Select Generic to enable a rich-text response field.
Details Additional details about the question.
Guidance Guidance provided by IBM Envizi to help users collect, manage, and report on ESG data
Default Response The field is provided for custom frameworks only. If a question has a predefined format for the response, or bullet points or standard task that can be included in the response, the content appears in the Final Response field.
Related Question The field is provided for custom frameworks only. It is a comma-separated field. Add related questions by using the question code. For example, when you create a custom question on GHG emission, you can enter GRI 305-1, GRI-305-2, GRI 305-3.