Businesses: The new cycle begins for those who invest in a sustainable future
The Corporate Responsibility Institute invites businesses and organizations in Greece to evaluate and highlight their responsible and sustainable (ESG) practices, through their participation in the CR Index 2024-2025 and the CRI Pass.
This year the CR Index is held in Greece for the 17th consecutive year, with the aim of supporting, guiding and rewarding the companies that seek to transform their business model by incorporating responsible corporate practices, as well as procedures to enhance sustainability and consolidate the circular economy. To date, more than 90 Greek companies from 12 different industries have trusted the CR Index for a number of years, with clear and measurable results and benefits.
The ESG criteria for businesses
The CR Index integrates the most important ESG and Net Zero criteria and standards, taking into account new European legislation and international trends, regarding the management and integration of Sustainable Development into the strategy and policies of companies. At the same time, the Index has also incorporated criteria from the new ESRS standard (European Standard for Sustainability Reporting) and the latest European Legislation (CSRD and CSDD), with the aim of helping companies achieve improved ESG Ratings.
The Index continues to scrutinize the ESG pillars related to environmental, social and corporate governance issues, which are increasingly integrated into the strategy of businesses and organizations. ESG criteria are now an important indicator of the performance of companies in these 3 pillars with notable benefits, as in this way companies demonstrate greater transparency, become more “attractive” to investors and more easily receive financing from banks and financial funds.
The CR Index is the most innovative comparative evaluation tool (benchmarking) that provides an analytical Feedback Report with qualitative and quantitative comparative data. Upon completion of the assessment, participating companies are able to integrate sustainability into their organizational culture across the entire scope of the company.
In the evaluation process of the CR Index, independent experts evaluate and ensure based on BITC and CRI international criteria the performance and contribution of companies in the four main pillars: society, environment, employees and market. There are four levels of distinction of an organization’s performance: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. At the same time, a prize per distinction level (Best Progress Award) is given to honor the company with the most progress compared to last year’s evaluation, as well as aSpecial Award per CR Index evaluation pillar, to the company with the best performance in the specific field.
CRI Pass Certification for Business
The CRI Pass Certification, which is specially designed for small and medium enterprises as well as multinational enterprises who wish to certify and ensure that they meet the minimum requirements of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development (ESG), enables an overall assessment of their performance. As it is an independent assessment, the Certification contributes to improving the credibility of businesses towards all interested parties, while supporting them in harmonizing with ESG criteria, international Standards such as the GRI, UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Legislation for the disclosure of non-financial data.
The submission of entries can be done until December 15, 2024.
This year’s evaluation cycle is expected to be completed in April 2025 with the announcement of the results and the Award Ceremony of the companies that will be distinguished.