Materialitetsanalyse

Materialitetsanalyse, often translated as materiality analysis, is a process used by organizations to identify and prioritize sustainability-related topics that are material to their business and to their stakeholders. The goal is to determine which issues deserve attention, resource allocation, and disclosure in strategy and reporting.

In practice, a materialitetsanalyse informs strategy development, risk management, and external reporting. In the European Union, the concept is linked to double materiality, which considers both financial materiality for the company and environmental and social materiality for society. The approach is commonly aligned with international frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and, increasingly, with standards under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as well as other sectoral reporting initiatives.

The typical process includes defining scope and boundaries, gathering input from internal and external stakeholders (investors, employees, customers, regulators, communities), identifying potential topics across environmental, social, and governance dimensions, and prioritizing them based on their significance to the business and to stakeholders. A materiality matrix or similar tool is often used to visualize the results and guide discussions about strategy and targets. Validation by governance bodies is commonly part of the process to ensure credibility and accountability.

Outputs of a materialitetsanalyse usually include a ranked list or matrix of material topics, integration into corporate strategy and performance targets, defined governance and accountability mechanisms, and disclosures in sustainability or integrated reports. The process is inherently dynamic and should be revisited regularly to reflect evolving business conditions, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory developments.