Materiality Matrices in the Environmental, Social and Governance Context

Abstract

Sustainability reports seek to communicate the performance of organizations in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) dimensions in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Since there is no homogeneity of criteria among the various companies, even in the same sector, the several methodologies seeks to establish specific disclosure standards on ESG factors that facilitate communication between companies and investors about relevant and useful information for decisions through the identification of material and immaterial factors for each of the sectors. Information is material if its omission or misstatement influences people's decisions – likewise, information is immaterial if its omission or misstatement makes little or no difference to the decision-making process. In an ESG context, something is defined as material if it is reasonably likely to affect a company's financial condition or operating performance in terms of the impact it has on its value chain. There are two objectives of this study, first, to identify the main ESG factors that impact companies and that are at the heart of a resource-efficient sustainability strategy through the application of the materiality matrix, second, to envision that after this identification, the company it can optimize its strategic orientation and direct internal management in responding to material issues. This is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach, using bibliographical, normative and documental sources. The study made it possible to analyze and conclude on the importance of the correct diagnosis of material and immaterial factors in the elaboration of the materiality matrix in a banking institution with an impact on the value chain and on the real contribution to the objectives of sustainable development.