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Materiality assessment

We identify and prioritise the sustainability issues that your business needs to address.

Our process for delivering a materiality assessment

The precise approach we take depends on the type of materiality assessment being conducted and the stakeholders involved, but the general process is as follows:

01

Identification of environment, social and governance issues.

02

Engagement with stakeholders, directly or indirectly to understand impacts, priorities and business operations.

03

Weighting and combining individual viewpoints to form a collective evaluation of the ESG issues important to a company.

04

Production and communication of a materiality matrix.

How we assess materiality

Companies can impact and potentially positively contribute to a huge range of environmental, social and governance (‘ESG’) issues. Understanding which to prioritise is essential. A materiality assessment evaluates the relative importance of different issues, and establishes the business case for setting strategic targets/actions in certain areas, whilst also clarifying the ESG issues that are not urgent to address.

The end result of a materiality assessment is a materiality matrix, which visibly shows the relative importance of environmental, social and governance issues. A traditional materiality assessment evaluates this through two lenses - the importance of an ESG issue to a business, and the importance of the issue to stakeholders. A double materiality assessment evaluates this through slightly different lenses – the potential an ESG issue has to impact on a business's financial performance, and the potential a business has to impact (positively or negatively) on that ESG issue. We conduct both types of assessment.

Case studies

Adding value with a sustainability strategy and policy

A strategy designed to add value to the client and their housebuilding customers.

Double materiality assessment for major housebuilder

Reassessing priorities to meet stakeholder needs and harmonise with industry benchmarks.

ESG strategy for a financial sector client

A progressive strategy to advance the existing activities of a leading specialist lender.

ESG strategy for the education sector

A comprehensive strategy to embed sustainability in the business and the services it provides.

Meet the companies we have helped prioritise sustainability issues

Ready to prioritise sustainability in your business?

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