Table 2. Summary of prominent global... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2.

Summary of prominent global non-financial reporting frameworks

Reporting framework	Key details
ISSB Sustainability Disclosure standards (ISSB, 2025)	The ISSB is affiliated with the IFRS Foundation and backed by the G7, G20 and the International Organization of Securities Commissions
	The project is ongoing, with only two standards current issued: General sustainability related disclosures and disclosures related to climate risks and opportunities
	The key objectives include providing sustainability disclosures to meet investor needs and providing sustainability information to global capital markets
	Adopts a single financial materiality focus aimed at providing information that affects entity value
GRI Standards (GRI, 2023)	Includes guidance on reporting social and environmental impacts
	Guidance is quite broad, allowing application in a number of settings, including the non-profit sector. Industry-specific guidance is available
	Focus is on non-financial reporting and sustainability with little to no discussion of the links between financial and non-financial disclosures
<IR> Framework (IIRC, 2025)	The Integrated Reporting <IR> Framework was developed by the Integrated, Reporting Council (IIRC), a coalition of regulators, investors, standard setters, the accounting profession, academia and NGOs
	Integrated thinking forms the basis of integrated reporting. The integrated report considers value creation over the short, medium and long term by considering inputs, outputs and outcomes on the six capitals used in organisations (natural, intellectual, human, financial, manufactured and financial capital)
	Follows a principles-based approach to balance the information needs of the shareholders and other stakeholders of the reporting entity
	Developed with the needs of profit-generating companies in mind
King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa (IODSA, 2016)	Present core principles that organisations should apply to ensure sound corporate governance that reflects “inclusive capitalism” over short-term profiteering
	Has a nonprofit sector supplement to guide nonprofit leadership
INPAS Section A3-Narrative Reporting (INPRF, 2025b)	Limited non-financial reporting guidance is included in Section A3 of INPAS. This section details the minimum qualitative information to be provided by the NPO. Narrative reporting is required in the following categories: An overview of the NPO detailing why the NPO exists and what the NPO does Performance reporting, including the objectives of the NPO and their progress towards meeting these objectives during the reporting period. Both qualitative and quantitative information should be provided in this respect. The financial objectives and strategy of the NPO Analysis of the NPO financial statements identifying key changes and trends in financial position and performance and; The principal risks and uncertainties related to the NPO’s operations The guidance provided is quite brief, with significant levels of judgement required in the application by the reporting NPO

Reporting framework	Key details
ISSB Sustainability Disclosure standards (ISSB, 2025)	The ISSB is affiliated with the IFRS Foundation and backed by the G7, G20 and the International Organization of Securities Commissions
	The project is ongoing, with only two standards current issued: General sustainability related disclosures and disclosures related to climate risks and opportunities
	The key objectives include providing sustainability disclosures to meet investor needs and providing sustainability information to global capital markets
	Adopts a single financial materiality focus aimed at providing information that affects entity value
GRI Standards (GRI, 2023)	Includes guidance on reporting social and environmental impacts
	Guidance is quite broad, allowing application in a number of settings, including the non-profit sector. Industry-specific guidance is available
	Focus is on non-financial reporting and sustainability with little to no discussion of the links between financial and non-financial disclosures
<IR> Framework (IIRC, 2025)	The Integrated Reporting <IR> Framework was developed by the Integrated, Reporting Council (IIRC), a coalition of regulators, investors, standard setters, the accounting profession, academia and NGOs
	Integrated thinking forms the basis of integrated reporting. The integrated report considers value creation over the short, medium and long term by considering inputs, outputs and outcomes on the six capitals used in organisations (natural, intellectual, human, financial, manufactured and financial capital)
	Follows a principles-based approach to balance the information needs of the shareholders and other stakeholders of the reporting entity
	Developed with the needs of profit-generating companies in mind
King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa (IODSA, 2016)	Present core principles that organisations should apply to ensure sound corporate governance that reflects “inclusive capitalism” over short-term profiteering
	Has a nonprofit sector supplement to guide nonprofit leadership
INPAS Section A3-Narrative Reporting (INPRF, 2025b)	Limited non-financial reporting guidance is included in Section A3 of INPAS. This section details the minimum qualitative information to be provided by the NPO. Narrative reporting is required in the following categories: An overview of the NPO detailing why the NPO exists and what the NPO does Performance reporting, including the objectives of the NPO and their progress towards meeting these objectives during the reporting period. Both qualitative and quantitative information should be provided in this respect. The financial objectives and strategy of the NPO Analysis of the NPO financial statements identifying key changes and trends in financial position and performance and; The principal risks and uncertainties related to the NPO’s operations The guidance provided is quite brief, with significant levels of judgement required in the application by the reporting NPO