GRI joins the Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises

GRI has joined the Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises and will lead efforts to design a sustainability reporting framework dedicated to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of the development of a voluntary legal status for Swiss companies focused on sustainability.   

Drawing from more than 25 years expertise in sustainability reporting, GRI will join the Accounting and Audit Group, co-chaired by Dr. Thomas Berndt, Professor of Accounting at the University of St.Gallen. GRI will lead operations in designing a sustainability reporting framework specifically tailored for SMEs and based on globally accepted standards. This aligns with the Alliance’s wider mission of integrating sustainability factors into accounting norms for SMEs. 

Joining the Alliance was a logical step for GRI, as we bring our expertise in sustainability reporting standards to ensure alignment with global developments. We believe that SMEs hold the key to creating a sustainable future, both locally and globally. Helping SMEs to easily and effectively disclose their sustainability impacts is therefore essential, both for informed ESG decision-making and to enhance their competitiveness in the market.

Peter Paul van de Wijs, Chief Policy Officer at GRI

By leveraging GRI’s extensive experience in sustainability reporting and standards development, we are poised to significantly impact the sustainability practices of SMEs globally. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration that fosters sustainable growth and resilience in the business community

Jonathan Normand, CEO of B Lab Switzerland and spokesperson of the Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises

The Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises is a Switzerland-based coalition comprising: Der Gewerbeverein, ECG Switzerland, öbu, Swiss Leaders, Ethos Fund and coordinated by B Lab Switzerland Foundation.  

Its Manifesto, signed by over 500 organizations, advocates for the establishment of the status of sustainable enterprise for Swiss SMEs, reflecting businesses that effectively incorporate ESG principles into their mission. A new legal status will also provide them with guidance in implementing sustainable decisions and aligning them with global developments in reporting frameworks.