Complex CSRD and sustainability terminology explained
Activities aimed at influencing policy or legislation, including organizing events, participating in consultations, running communication campaigns, and producing research papers. These activities are carried out to influence decision-making processes of governments, regulators, and other institutions.
Future greenhouse gas emissions estimates for an organization's main assets or products sold during their operational lifespan.
Designed to be long-lasting and easy to maintain, encouraging extended use. It also ensures that at the end of its life, the product can be recycled or reused without harming the environment.
Marine resources refer to both living and non-living resources found in the oceans, such as minerals, gravels, and seafood products.
Sustainability opportunities that have a positive financial impact on a company's cash flow, ability to obtain financing, or cost of capital in the short, medium, or long term.
Sustainability risks are negative financial impacts that can affect a company's cash flow, ability to obtain financing, or cost of capital in the short, medium, or long term.
A sustainability matter is considered material if it has a significant impact on the environment or if it has a significant financial impact, or both.
Metrics are qualitative and quantitative indicators used to measure and report on the effectiveness of sustainability policies and targets. They also help measure the impact on people, the environment, and the undertaking over time.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that do not biodegrade and accumulate in the environment, including the sea. Their presence in water and potential impact on the environment and human health are growing concerns.
A minimum disclosure requirement is the minimum amount of information that a company must include when reporting on its climate policies, actions, metrics, or targets, either through a standardized reporting system or on an individual basis.
Natural assets are resources found in nature that can be utilized for economic purposes, such as production or consumption.
Actions that protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, while also providing benefits to human well-being, resilience, and biodiversity.
Setting a net-zero target means reducing emissions in line with global goals and offsetting any remaining emissions by removing an equivalent amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. Sectoral variations may be allowed, but overall reductions must align with a recognized pathway.
Non-employees in a company's workforce refer to both self-employed contractors and individuals provided by employment agencies (NACE Code N78).
Non-renewable energy refers to energy sources that cannot be classified as coming from renewable sources.
Operational control refers to the authority of an organization to manage and oversee the activities and relationships of a specific entity, site, operation, or asset.
Sustainability opportunities that have a positive impact on finances.
Overtime refers to the additional hours worked by an employee beyond their agreed-upon work schedule.
Employees are individuals in a work relationship with a company. Non-employees can be independent contractors or individuals provided by companies engaged in employment activities.
The Montreal Protocol lists substances that harm the ozone layer.
Packaging refers to any materials used to contain, protect, handle, deliver, store, transport, and present goods, from raw materials to processed goods, throughout the supply chain.
The total amount of money and benefits that a worker receives from their employer, including any additional or variable components. Pay level refers to the yearly and hourly pay, while median pay level is the amount that half of employees earn more than and half earn less than.
Individuals with disabilities who face obstacles that prevent them from fully participating in society on an equal level with others due to their impairments and various barriers.
Nature-related physical risks are the result of an organization's reliance on natural systems and ecosystem services. These risks occur when natural systems are compromised, leading to changes in ecosystem conditions that organizations depend on. They are often associated with climate-related risks.
The concept of a safe operating space for humanity estimates the limits of Earth's processes that should not be exceeded to prevent harmful global environmental changes. These boundaries are quantified to guide sustainable actions.
A policy is a set of objectives and principles that guide decision-making in an organization. It is implemented to address sustainability issues and is overseen by specific individuals. Policies are validated and reviewed according to governance rules and are carried out through action plans.
Pollutant: A harmful substance, such as heat, noise, or chemicals, found in air, water, or soil that can negatively impact human health, the environment, property, or the enjoyment of the environment.
Pollution refers to the introduction of harmful substances into the air, water, or soil due to human activities. It can have negative effects on human health, the environment, property, and the overall enjoyment of the environment.
Soil pollution refers to the introduction of harmful substances, vibrations, heat, or noise into the soil through human activities. This can cause damage to human health, the environment, property, and interfere with the use of the environment. Soil pollutants include inorganic and organic compounds, pesticides, and nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.
A designated area, legally protected, managed, and aimed at preserving nature, ecosystem services, and cultural values for the future.
"Acquired energy refers to when a company receives its electricity, heat, steam, or cooling from a third party. This can occur when a company, such as a tenant, does not directly purchase electricity but uses energy brought into their facility."
Raw or processed material used in the manufacturing of goods.
Quality standards for carbon credits ensure that they can be verified by independent third parties, have publicly available requirements and project reports, and meet criteria such as additionality, permanence, avoidance of double counting, and rules for calculating, monitoring, and verifying GHG emissions and removals.
Work-related injury or ill health that causes death, time off work, restricted work, medical treatment, or loss of consciousness. Also includes significant injury or ill health diagnosed by a healthcare professional, even if it doesn't result in the above.
Waste-to-energy refers to any process that converts waste into a useful resource, either by replacing other materials or by preparing waste to fulfill a specific function, either within a facility or in the broader economy.
Waste recovery is the process of reprocessing waste materials into new products or substances. It does not include energy recovery or the reprocessing of materials for fuel or backfilling purposes.
Remediation refers to actions taken to offset or rectify the adverse effects caused by certain activities. This can include apologies, compensation, prevention measures, punitive measures, restitution, restoration, and rehabilitation.
Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, geothermal, ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas, and biogas. These sources do not rely on fossil fuels and are sustainable for the environment.
Renewable materials are derived from quickly replenished resources, ensuring that the services they provide, along with other linked resources, are not endangered and can be accessed by future generations.
Input material used in a company's operations or processes.
Resource leaving the facilities of a project or organization.
Enhancing the ability of natural systems to regenerate themselves and restore ecological processes that have been harmed or depleted by human activities.
Circular economy is a strategy that focuses on designing, producing, and distributing materials and products to maximize their use and value. It includes eco-design and tools like repair, reuse, and remanufacturing to optimize resource utilization.
Reuse is the process of using products and components again for their original purpose without major modifications, often involving cleaning or minor adjustments.
Sustainability risks refer to negative financial impacts caused by environmental, social, or governance issues that can harm a company's financial position, performance, cash flow, access to finance, or cost of capital in the short, medium, or long term.
Catchment: Land area where all surface run-off flows through streams, rivers, and possibly lakes, into the sea at a river mouth, estuary, or delta.
Scenarios are hypothetical descriptions of the future based on assumptions about key factors. They are not predictions, but are used to understand the potential consequences of different developments and actions.
Scenario analysis is a method used to evaluate various possible outcomes of future events in uncertain conditions.
Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from sources that are owned or controlled by a company or organization. These emissions contribute to climate change.
Indirect emissions refer to the greenhouse gas emissions produced from the use of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling by a company or organization.
Scope 3 GHG emissions are all indirect emissions in a company's value chain, not included in scope 2. They include both upstream and downstream emissions and can be categorized further.
Scope 3 GHG emissions are one of the 15 types of emissions identified by the GHG Protocol. They can be accounted for using ISO 14064-1:2018, excluding indirect GHG emissions from imported energy.
Sensitive information refers to data that is protected under Regulation (EU) 2021/697 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which establishes the European Defence Fund.
Site refers to the location of one or more physical installations, which may be owned or operated by different entities. If shared infrastructure and facilities are present, the entire area where the installations are located can be considered a site.
Dialogue refers to negotiations, consultations, or information exchange between government representatives, employers, workers' representatives, and their organizations. It can be tripartite, involving the government, or bipartite, involving only workers' representatives and management or trade unions and employers' organizations.
A collection of actions aimed at lessening and averting poverty and vulnerability throughout all stages of life.
Soil is the upper layer of the Earth's crust, containing minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. It lies between the bedrock and the surface.
Soil degradation refers to the decline in the ability of soil to meet the needs of its users by providing essential resources and functions.
Soil sealing refers to covering soil in a manner that prevents water from penetrating it, such as with a road. This can have negative environmental effects, as outlined in EU Regulation (EU) 2018/2026.
Specific load is the mass of pollutant released per mass of product manufactured. It helps compare environmental performance of installations regardless of production volumes, unaffected by mixing or dilution.
Stakeholder engagement is a continuous process where the undertaking actively listens, comprehends, and addresses the interests and concerns of those involved, promoting effective communication and collaboration.
Stakeholders are individuals or groups who can be affected by or affect a project. There are two main groups: affected stakeholders and users of sustainability statements, including investors, creditors, business partners, and civil society. Some stakeholders may belong to both groups.
Chemical elements and their compounds, excluding radioactive substances, genetically modified micro-organisms, and genetically modified organisms released into the environment.
Chemicals that meet specific requirements outlined in the REACH regulation and have been identified as such.
A substance that meets certain criteria and is classified as hazardous in various ways, including being carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to the environment, or harmful to human health. It may also negatively impact material re-use and recycling.
A supplier is a company that provides products or services to an organization, either directly or indirectly through the organization's supply chain, for the development of its own products or services.
Upstream activities refer to the processes and activities conducted by entities that supply products or services to a company. This includes both direct and indirect relationships with suppliers.
Inland waters, transitional waters, and coastal waters are included in the definition, except for groundwater. However, when considering chemical status, territorial waters are also included.
ESG factors, which include sustainability factors as defined in EU Regulation 2019/2088, encompass environmental, social, human rights, and governance considerations.
This section of the management report presents information on sustainability matters, following the guidelines of Directive 2013/34/EU and the ESRS.
The impact of an activity or business on the environment and people, including their human rights. It can be positive or negative, short or long-term, intended or unintended, and reversible or irreversible, and shows the contribution to sustainable development.
Sustainability-related opportunities refer to uncertain events or conditions that could have a positive impact on a company's business model, strategy, goals, and value creation. These opportunities are assessed based on their potential impact and likelihood of occurring.
Sustainability-related risks refer to uncertain events or conditions that could negatively impact a company's business model, strategy, goals, and ability to create value. These risks influence decision-making and business relationships, and are determined by the magnitude and probability of their impact.
Systemic risks are failures of the entire system, not just individual parts. They occur when small tipping points combine to cause large failures, with cascading effects and the inability to recover after a shock. An example is the loss of keystone species like sea otters, which disrupts ecosystem structure and reduces biomass production.
Targets are specific, time-limited goals that a company or organization sets to address material impacts, risks, or opportunities. They can be voluntary or legally required.
Species at risk of extinction, both plants and animals, that are included in the European Red List or the IUCN Red List, as mentioned in Section 7 of Annex II to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139.
Efforts implemented by an organization to enhance the abilities and knowledge of its employees, which may involve various approaches like in-person and virtual training.
A targeted plan adopted by a company to achieve a public policy goal or address specific actions related to a strategic decision, business model change, or important actions and resources allocation.
Transition plan: A strategic framework that outlines an organization's goals, actions, and resources for moving towards a low-carbon economy. It includes measures like reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieving climate neutrality.
Transition risks refer to the potential dangers faced by organizations or investors when their strategies and management do not align with the evolving regulatory, policy, or societal landscape. These risks can arise from various factors, including government actions, technological advancements, market shifts, legal disputes, and shifting consumer preferences, all aimed at addressing climate and environmental concerns.
Primary users of sustainability statements include investors, lenders, creditors, asset managers, insurance companies, business partners, trade unions, civil society organizations, governments, analysts, and academics.
A value chain refers to all the activities, resources, and relationships involved in a business's operations and external environment. This includes everything from production to distribution and the various actors involved, such as suppliers and customers.
Workers in the value chain of a company, including those impacted by the company's operations, products, and business relationships. This does not include employees or self-employed individuals, but encompasses all other workers in the value chain.
Base wage, not including additional earnings like overtime and bonuses, and not including allowances unless they are assured.
Waste refers to any material that is thrown away or planned to be thrown away, including both solid and liquid substances.
The priority order for waste prevention and management is: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery (such as energy recovery), and disposal.
Waste management refers to the overall process of collecting, transporting, recovering, and disposing of waste, as well as overseeing these operations and ensuring the proper care of disposal sites. It also includes activities as a dealer or broker.
Wastewater refers to water that is no longer useful for its intended purpose due to quality, quantity, or timing. It can be reused by another user, but cooling water is not classified as wastewater.
Water and wastewater that is reused or recycled within a facility or shared with other undertakings to reduce water demand and minimize discharge. Can be used in the same process or different processes within the same facility or other facilities of the undertaking.
Water intake refers to the amount of water taken in by a facility or project that is not released back into the environment or given to another party during a specific reporting period.
The total amount of water and waste that an organization releases to surface water, groundwater, or third parties during a specific time period.
Water intensity is a measure of the amount of water used per unit of activity, such as production or sales. It quantifies the relationship between water volume and business operations.
Water scarcity refers to the lack of freshwater resources relative to human water consumption. It is a physical reality that can be measured consistently across regions and over time, regardless of water quality.
Total water intake for any purpose within a specific time frame, including all sources, within the project's boundaries.
Work-life balance refers to the satisfactory balance between work and personal life, including family and care responsibilities, as well as time allocation between work and personal life beyond family responsibilities.
Work-related hazards include physical, ergonomic, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and work-organization factors that can negatively impact workers' health and safety, such as radiation, temperature extremes, exposure to harmful substances, and workplace violence.
An incident is a work-related occurrence that can cause injury or illness, such as electrical problems, explosions, fires, or workplace violence. If an injury or illness occurs, it is called an accident, while a close call refers to a potential incident without actual harm.
Workers' representatives are trade union representatives or elected representatives who are freely elected by workers and not controlled by the employer. They must not undermine trade unions and their functions should not overlap with those of trade unions.
