São Paulo, Aug 28: GRI, the world’s leading provider of sustainability reporting standards, is scaling up its presence and activities in Brazil – in recognition of the country’s growing strategic and economic importance for impact disclosure.
GRI has appointed Danielly A. Mello Freire as Country Lead for Brazil, to oversee a new program to be developedalongside Brazilian companies, institutions and stakeholders.
Brazil is among the world’s most advanced markets for impact reporting, with 71% of large listed Brazilian companies using the GRI Standards. Extensive global analysis published in June placed Brazil as fifth highest among 132 jurisdictions for GRI adoption – and third by market capitalization.
Danielly’s appointment reinforces GRI’s established presence in the Latin America region. Based in São Paulo, she will focus not only on helping Brazilian organizations to disclose their impacts but also on integrating sustainability into their decision-making and business strategies.
GRI priorities for Brazil include increasing access to sustainability reporting learning and technical expertise, strengthening engagement with the private sector, and developing practical interventions that respond to the needs of companies at different stages of the reporting journey. GRI will also prioritize engagement with regulators and policymakers.
Robin Hodess, CEO of GRI, said:
“Brazil has shownreal leadership incorporate transparency, as reflected by widespread use of the GRI Standards. The opportunity is to build on that good practice, helping organizations turn disclosure into decision-useful insights to inform actions that strengthen accountability, competitiveness, and long-term resilience.
“Expanding our presence reflects the strategic importance we place on Brazil, and Latin America more broadly. I’mdelighted to welcome Danielly to GRI. She will help us respond to the needs ofBrazilian reporters and partners, and ensureBrazilian voicescontinue to be heard in the global debate on the future of sustainability reporting.”
Danielly A. Mello Freire added:
“Brasil is not only one of the world’s most advanced markets for sustainability reporting,it is also a country where businesses are increasingly recognizing that sustainability is a competitive advantage. Brasil has an extraordinary opportunity to lead the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economy.
I am honored to join GRI at this pivotal moment and to help Brazilian companies translate reporting into real business transformation – creating value for the planet, society and shareholders.”
The full set of GRI Standards is already provided in Portuguese. Online learningdelivered through the GRI Academyis also being translated into Portuguese –Climate Reporting with GRI and IFRS Standards is now available, whilethe courseEnhancing Sustainability Reporting for SMEs will launch in Portuguese later this year.
GRI’s reporting capacity building program in Brazil, including Academycourse translation, is being supported by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Hanspeter Mock, Swiss Ambassador to Brazil, said:
“Brazil is Switzerland’s first trading partner in Latin America. GRI’s work will directly support responsible business practices among Brazilian SMEs. Strengthening local sustainability reporting capabilities is aligned with the promotion of strong environmental and social standards, as formalized in the recently signed free trade agreement between EFTA and Mercosul.”