We conduct materiality assessments in order to identify the topics that are most material to our stakeholders. Our last materiality assessment, conducted in 2016, involved consultation with around 850 stakeholders in 52 countries.
Alongside the survey, we conducted a detailed benchmark review of globally relevant and sector-specific sustainability issues and trends and conducted a weighted analysis of the results by stakeholder type. This process allowed us to identify our material topics.
We subsequently merged these with the outputs of our business risk assessment process. The result was a consolidated list of the most salient environmental, social and governance topics for SGS.
Next, we conducted an impact assessment, which involved over 80% of Operations Council members, to rank each topic according to its relative impact on the business and assess the controls in place to mitigate that impact. The outcome of this process was the development of our first Business Materiality Matrix.
During 2018, we carried out our annual high-level review of the material topics identified, adapting the Materiality Matrix to new trends. The review included the integration of updated information from sustainability ratings, financial analysts, media, investors and new business risks raised as a result of our risk identification process.
See the results of our Materiality Assessment