Sustainability Reporting & Assurance for Businesses

At Quality Austria Central Asia, we offer solutions to help organizations embrace sustainability and turn climate challenges into growth opportunities. By aligning with global standards and leveraging advanced tools, we guide businesses toward a sustainable and resilient future.

ESG reporting includes a framework for organizations to display their environmental, social, and governance practices along with their impacts and influence. The reporting aims to levy transparency on how an organization manages various ESG risks as well as opportunities, to allow stakeholders like employees, customers, and investors to understand the company's commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

ESG frameworks thus give a structured blueprint ensuring consistency and coherence in the sustainability landscape. ESG reporting functions as a conduit for companies to communicate their progress to potential investors and ensure that their initiatives can yield credible and actionable results.

Why is ESG reporting important for organizations?

• Regulatory Compliance
• Enhanced Transparency and Trust
• Attracting Investors
• Goal Setting and Tracking
• Consumer Loyalty
• Risk Mitigation

Key Elements of ESG Reporting Requirements
Environmental: Information regarding greenhouse gas emissions, electricity usage and waste management, the consumption of water, and impacts on biodiversity.
Social: Information about labor practices, human rights community participation, diversity and Inclusion, and the safety and security of our communities.
Governance: Details regarding the composition of the board as well as executive compensations, anti-corruption policies, as well as rights of shareholders.

Here is How You Can Initiate, Your ESG Reporting Today

• Evaluation of Sustainability Practices
  Review current sustainability initiatives to identify strengths and areas needing improvement, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the present state.
• The selection of a suitable framework
  Select the ESG report framework that is aligned with the goals of your business as well as industry standards like GRI, SASB, or TCFD to ensure that the framework is consistent and relevant.
• Defining Clear Goals
  Create precise, quantifiable, realistic, relevant, and deadline-bound (SMART) targets for ESG reporting. This will aid the process and monitor the effectiveness of progress.
• Data Collection
  Collect accurate and pertinent data from the social, environmental, and governance sectors. Ensure the data integrity is maintained by installing a robust system for managing data.
• Participation of Stakeholders
  Include important stakeholders, customers, employees, investors, and members of the community to participate in the ESG reporting process to ensure comprehensive and meaningful disclosures.
• Regular Publication and Accessibility
  Publish ESG reports regularly and make them easily accessible to all stakeholders. This transparency builds trust and demonstrates ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The Role of ESG Reporting in Decarbonization
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting plays a pivotal role in decarbonization by:

• Monitoring emissions : ESG reports provide detailed reports of an organization's carbon footprint. They allow the tracking and measurement of emissions from greenhouse gases (GHG) carbon emissions.
• Setting Targets: Businesses utilize ESG reporting to define and communicate their targets for decarbonization, for example, achieving net-zero emissions in a particular year.
• Transparency: ESG reports ensures transparency, allowing stakeholders to understand the company's impact on the environment and its commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
• Accountability: Using periodic ESG reports, businesses can be accountable for their carbon reduction efforts and progress.

Our Climate Strategy Services

1. Carbon Footprint Assessment
Measuring your carbon footprint provides the baseline needed to implement an effective sustainability and carbon reduction strategy to drive urgently needed climate action.
We help business to understand how to both calculate and communicate your organisational and product carbon footprints effectively, as well as how to use your carbon footprint as a starting point for setting science-based and Net Zero targets. ISO 14064 is an international standard that helps organizations measure, manage, and reduce their carbon footprint.
This three-part standard details how to quantify and report on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, provides requirements for planning a GHG project, and outlines how to verify GHG measurements and assertions of carbon neutrality.
It’s appropriate for government departments – both national and regional – businesses, and organizations of all types seeking to plan, implement and measure GHG-focused projects.
ISO 14064 enables you to build trust with internal and external stakeholders and establish a strong foundation for future emission reductions.

• Why it matters: Carbon emissions are at the heart of global climate action.
• What we do:
  Perform a complete evaluation of Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (indirect), and Scope 3 (value chain) emissions.
  Pinpoint emission hotspots and recommend actionable reduction strategies.
  Align strategies with science-based targets to help achieve carbon neutrality.

2. Water Footprint Assessment
A water footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the volume of fresh water needed to produce the goods and services demanded by society. It enables us to determine the magnitude of the impact generated by human activity and obtain objective data. More sustainable decisions can then be made to reduce the consumption of water and increase water efficiency.

ISO 14046 provides requirements and guidance for calculating and reporting a water footprint as a standalone assessment – or as part of a wider environmental assessment.
A water footprint is a way of assessing not only water use but potential environmental impacts related to water.  ISO 14046 can be conducted and reported as a stand-alone assessment (where only potential environmental impacts related to water are assessed) or as part of a life cycle assessment (where consideration is given to all relevant potential environmental impacts, and not only those related to water).

• Why it matters: Water scarcity and resource management are critical for sustainability.
• What we do:
  Analyze water usage across the value chain, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for optimization.
  Ensure compliance with global water stewardship standards for sustainable management.

3. Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
SBTi operating in the private sector motivates organizations to utilize science-based targets setting a 5-stage process. The targets need to be appropriate scientifically as per certain criteria for meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Organizations of all industries and sizes can join as pathways specific to sectors remain developed

• Why it matters: Aligning with the Paris Agreement targets ensures long-term viability.
• What we do:
  Guide organizations in setting ambitious, science-based climate targets.
  Support validation and execution of plans to limit warming to 1.5°C.

4. CDP Reporting
CDP is a not-for-profit organization studying the relationship between climate and environmental impacts, and the fiduciary responsibility for publicly-traded, large companies. Founded in 2000, CDP assists companies in disclosing carbon emissions data using questionnaires on water security, forests, and climate change.

• Why it matters: Transparency in environmental reporting is key to investor and stakeholder trust.
• What we do:
  Provide expert assistance in CDP reporting, enhancing performance metrics and compliance.
  Help improve CDP scores to meet investor expectations.

5. GRI Sustainability Reporting
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an international, independent not-for-profit organization that provides widely-adopted sustainability reporting standards. Over 10,000 companies participate in GRI reporting across more than 100 countries.
GRI reporting is voluntary but enables diverse companies to be more transparent about their economic, environmental, and social impacts. Reporting under the GRI Standards helps organizations understand and communicate their impact on a wide range of sustainability issues, like climate change, resource use, human rights, occupational safety, data privacy, community development, and more.
GRI sustainability reporting helps companies become self-aware and better communicate their sustainability performance. As sustainability reporting transitions from “nice to have” to “must-have,” companies using GRI standards have the opportunity to review and consider sustainability in their annual risk assessments and transparency for investors, customers, and B2B partners.

Steps in GRI reporting
Whether it’s the GRI or another reporting tool, all sustainability reporting is the culmination of many months—and sometimes years—of work. Sustainability reporting requires deep reflection into organizational strategy and operating practices, so it’s important to allow enough time for information gathering and engagement across your organization and with core external stakeholders. Before beginning a GRI reporting assessment, companies should consider and review all GRI reporting criteria and requirements, including the overall GRI reporting system.

The GRI Standards consist of three series of standards: Universal, Sector, and Topic Standards. The Universal Standards contain a set of general disclosures that are mandatory for all reporters. Sector Standards contain additional disclosures for certain sectors. GRI has prioritized Sector specific standards for the highest-impact industries first: oil and gas, coal, as well as agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries.

• Why it matters: Transparent reporting builds trust and drives sustainability performance.
• What we do:
  Facilitate sustainability reporting aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
  Offer guidance on materiality analysis and stakeholder communication.

6. TCFD Compliance
Following the establishment in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board, TCFD forms recommendations for disclosing financial risks related to the climate. It is integrated with the IFRS Sustainability Reporting Standards as per ISSB or International Sustainability Standards Board.

• Why it matters: Addressing climate-related risks enhances organizational resilience.
• What we do:
  Implement frameworks aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
  Improve decision-making and attract climate-conscious investors.

7. BRSR Reporting
What is BRSR?
BRSR is a comprehensive disclosure framework that helps companies disclose their environmental (E), social(S), and governance(G) and it’s a single source for disclosing ESG-related information in India. Companies that disclose BRSR have experienced long-term advantages in market positioning, gained investor trust, enhanced brand reputation, and achieved operational resilience. This framework lays the foundation of Indian sustainability reporting.
BRSR came into effect on 10th May 2021. SEBI was mandated to report under this framework for the top 1000 listed entities either by NSE or BSE. It is based on the nine principles of “National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct or NGRBCs” issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCAs).

• BRSR Principle 1: Businesses should conduct and govern themselves with integrity, and in a manner that is ethical, transparent, and accountable.
• BRSR Principle 2: Businesses should provide goods and services in a manner that is sustainable and safe.
• BRSR Principle 3: Businesses should respect and promote the well-being of all employees, including those in their value chains.
• BRSR Principle 4: Businesses should respect the interests of and be responsive to all their stakeholders.
• BRSR Principle 5: Businesses should respect and promote human rights.
• BRSR Principle 6: Businesses should respect and make efforts to protect and restore the environment.
• BRSR Principle 7: Businesses, when engaging in influencing public and regulatory policy, should do so in a manner that is responsible and transparent.
• BRSR Principle 8: Businesses should promote inclusive growth and equitable development.
• BRSR Principle 9: Businesses should engage with and provide value to their consumers in a responsible manner.

BRSR is aligned with global standards and frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• Why it matters: Indian regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly ESG-focused.
• What we do:
  Guide compliance with the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework by SEBI.
  Enhance organizational sustainability and ESG rankings.

For any queries or further information related to our services, please feel free to contact us at info@qacamail.com or call us at +919599619392. We are here to assist you!