Materiality matrix
A materiality matrix is an optional visual summary that plots sustainability matters against two selected dimensions derived from a materiality assessment. Its axes, scales, and thresholds depend on the framework and purpose. GRI and EFRAG do not require a matrix, and the graphic does not replace the evidence, judgments, documentation, or disclosures behind the assessment.
In simple terms
Organizations often use a two-axis chart to communicate the relative position of sustainability matters. The axes might represent impact significance and financial materiality, or other stated dimensions, but labels such as importance to stakeholders and importance to business can oversimplify framework requirements. Under GRI, material topics are determined from the significance of impacts. Under ESRS, double materiality considers impact materiality and financial materiality, including matters material under either perspective. A matrix can display conclusions, yet stakeholder survey scores alone, averaged into a neat chart, do not constitute a complete materiality assessment.
Why it matters
A clear graphic can help readers navigate priorities, but it can also create false precision, hide uncertainty, merge unlike criteria, or imply that matters below a drawn line were rigorously assessed when they were not. Publishing axis definitions, methods, thresholds, evidence, and omitted matters makes the visualization more interpretable and less vulnerable to cosmetic prioritization.
Example
A company completes an ESRS double-materiality assessment, documents impacts, risks, opportunities, affected stakeholders, evidence, and thresholds, then plots the resulting matters with impact materiality on one axis and financial materiality on the other. It explains that either perspective can make a matter material and provides the underlying method instead of treating the chart as the assessment itself.
How it differs
Materiality assessment
Materiality assessment is the evidence-based process of identifying and evaluating sustainability matters; a materiality matrix is an optional visualization of selected assessment results and cannot replace that process.
References
Current status
- As of
- Issuer
- Global Reporting Initiative and European Financial Reporting Advisory Group
- Jurisdiction
- Framework-specific; EFRAG guidance relates to ESRS
- Instrument or version
- GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 and EFRAG IG 1 (May 2024)
- Status
- The cited GRI and EFRAG materials define materiality-assessment requirements and guidance; neither makes a materiality matrix a mandatory output.
Applicability: Organizations must follow their applicable framework’s materiality process and disclosures. A matrix may summarize results but cannot substitute for evidence, thresholds, both required materiality perspectives, documentation, or framework-specific reporting.