Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

The first step to making a business more sustainable is to understand the risks and opportunities associated with its core activities. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) was established to identify industry-specific metrics to help companies around the world manage and report on the sustainability topics that matter most to their investors. These additional guidelines deal with material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, which can range from climate threats to board diversity to supply chain considerations. The SASB provides detailed, industry-specific standards for disclosing the ways ESG issues can materially affect a company’s valuation and performance.

At present, companies are not required to report carbon emissions, community development, or employee engagement in the same way they report financial data. SASB fills that gap through the standards developed to help prioritize which non-financial risks and opportunities are most important to different types of enterprises. SASB makes use of the feedback it receives as part of a transparent, publicly documented process. Bloomberg LP is a key supporter of SASB, having been involved with the group since its inception in 2011.

Learn more about the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board at sasb.org.