ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors outline the conceptual background for their study. They describe the global reporting initiative (GRI) guidelines by indicating their main objectives, proposed addressees, and core principles. The authors analyze the consistency of the GRI standards and how consequently the GRI guidelines incorporate the idea of mutual gains. They provide guidance as to how to further improve the GRI guidelines. The GRI was created to align methods of sustainability reporting with those of financial reporting and to institutionalize non-financial reporting as a routine practice. The GRI developed its guidelines against the backdrop of a society moving towards sustainability. The GRI guidelines state that "a wide range of stakeholders" are interested in sustainability reports, and that the reports should address their reasonable expectations. However, the GRI guidelines call for the managers of the reporting entity to define the report's addressees in a stakeholder discourse.
