Why Materiality Analyses are so Important for Companies

The field of sustainability is vast and can be confusing. One of the biggest challenges is the question of where to start. Running off without a goal is rarely efficient and often even wastes valuable time. That is why it is so important to understand which sustainability dimensions are truly relevant for you and your stakeholders to then take targeted initiative. For this, the materiality analysis offers the solution. We cover what a materiality analysis is and why it serves as such an indispensable tool.

March 15, 2022

What is a materiality analysis?

A materiality analysis is a method to identify and evaluate business-relevant topics and corresponding expectations of internal and external parties (stakeholders). Although the method has been relatively unknown until now, it provides a great tool for obtaining material insights in a relatively simple and structured way. Aside from financial statements and annual reports, materiality analyses are also particularly useful in evaluating environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. These include metrics and activities ranging from environmental protection, emissions and fresh water use, to labor relations, corruption prevention and data security.

The exact approach to a materiality analysis is not formally defined but certain steps should be followed. For example, it is crucial that the right parties are involved without losing sight of potentially arising conflicts of interest. Regardless, the result is straightforward: a materiality analysis provides a clear overview of opportunities and risks, expectations and material (sustainable) topics - both from an internal perspective and from the perspective of external stakeholders. Taken together, it provides a holistic picture of your company's materiality and can be presented in a materiality matrix (covered below).

When should I do a materiality analysis? Does it work for my company?

In general, the identification and evaluation of relevant business dimensions - financial or non-financial - are suitable and useful for companies of all sizes, origins and industries. Using a materiality analysis is indispensable for a better understanding of your company's relevant activities and risks. Moreover, it is also a powerful tool to convey a message - and thus an intention - in a straightforward and crisp way. International organization such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) have also adopted the methodology and offer industry-specific tools to identify material issues.

In terms of timing, there are different situations in which it makes sense to conduct a materiality analysis. In the context of sustainability, appropriate moments may include the implementation of a new sustainability strategy, the preparation of a sustainability report, or the processes to deal with new legislation. Now in particular, new guidelines (see ourarticle on new requirements in 2022) on sustainability reporting, legislation such as the German Supply Chain Act, and established impact reporting frameworks such as the GRI will increase the need for robust materiality analyses.

So far, however, a thorough materiality analysis has only been mandatory for large enterprises and capital market-oriented companies. So why should smaller companies care? Companies of all sizes should expect that the frequency of individual audits on business-relevant sustainability dimensions will only increase in the coming months and years. And to add one more reason on top: it is all but certain that a company's materiality will play an increasingly important role in the context of ISO standards and certificates.

How exactly do I conduct a materiality analysis?

Put simply, the materiality analysis should answer the questions "How big is the impact of a specific dimension on my company?" and "How relevant is the same dimension for my stakeholders?" As previously mentioned, there is no formally established definition of how a materiality analysis must be done. Still, certain guidelines and best practice have manifested over the last few years which we utilized to arrive at the following: 

  1. Define the people to be included in the materiality analysis
  2. Collect all topics which have sustainable relevance both internally and externally
  3. Create a short-list of dimensions to be assessed during the materiality analysis; we recommend to start with 8-15 items
  4. Determine the stakeholders to be included in the materiality analysis
  5. Set up a scoring/evaluation logic (e.g. scores of 1 - 5)
  6. Score each dimension individually
  7. Optional: involve external people (relevant stakeholders) in the scoring
  8. Collect and display the result in a materiality matrix

If at all and how deeply different stakeholders should be included depends on their direct influence on your business activities and, vice versa, the impact of your activities on them. The result can vary depending on the industry, the size of the company, the product or service, and the taken perspective. It is therefore all the more important to define and document the process well. Lastly, It is also recommended to classify topics according to the ESG categories (environmental, social, governance). Here are possible examples of such categories:

  • Environment: emissions, water consumption, biodiversity, waste disposal, energy consumption
  • Social: working conditions, wage gap, occupational safety, forced labor, training opportunities
  • Corporate governance: supply chains, corruption, regulation, raw material procurement, competitive behavior

It is helpful to divide the topics into internal and external dimensions. For example, internal personnel can be asked specifically about topics such as production, working conditions and further training measures, while external parties may have a particular interest in the areas of climate protection, raw material consumption, corruption and data security.

Example of Materiality Matrix
Example of an extensive materiality matrix

Visual results using a materiality matrix

The creation of a materiality matrix is actually quite simple. On a two-dimensional coordinate system, the different sustainability topics are placed according to their evaluation. The X-axis shows the respective impact of a dimension: the further a point, for example energy consumption, is to the right, the higher the effect or in other words the "impact" on the organization. The Y-axis represents an evaluation of the respective relevance for stakeholders: the higher a point is placed, the more relevant it is for (external) interest groups. This way, any defined sustainability topic can be positioned based on the chosen rating scheme. The result is a visual representation in which items are ranked based on relevance - items in the upper, right quadrant are most relevant. So what does this mean? It means that factors and business-related activities affecting dimensions in the top right should be looked at first.

In short, the materiality matrix aims to quickly show which topics are most relevant, incorporating both an internal and external view. This also allows for the resolution of potential conflicts of interest before they may arise. Taking it one step further, a materiality matrix can also be a powerful tool over time: due to new legislation, pressure from the market or new demands from employees, dimensions will move and gain or lose relevance. A visual representation of these shifts is possible thanks to the matrix form and illustrates how your company and its surroundings evolve.

Summary: a materiality analysis is a must for all companies

Whether it is for the next step in your sustainability strategy, ISO certification or ESG reporting, the materiality analysis is irreplaceable when considering relevant topics and their impact on internal and external parties. While it is still a challenge to initiate sustainable actions in a targeted and efficient manner, the materiality analysis serves as a valuable tool for creating a common basis for discussion, making decisions and ultimately communicating results to your stakeholders. One more advantage: the joint exchange strengthens relationships with external parties and makes impactful ecological, social and economic decisions a win-win for everyone involved.

You want to learn more about how a materiality analysis can help your organization?

We are happy to support you in conducting a materiality analysis. Aside from individual workshops, we offer data-driven support for the intuitive evaluation of material topics with the help of our Codio Impact platform, combining both internal and external assessment criteria. If you would like to learn more, please contact us here.