ESG, sustainability & impact foundations · Core
Impact
Also called: business impact, social or environmental impact
ELI5
A positive or negative change in people, economy or environment linked to an activity.
Used in conversation
“The sustainability report needs the method, exclusions and assurance status for impact.”
Pitch context
You will see “Impact” in sustainability reports, impact decks, climate plans and assurance materials when the discussion reaches esg, sustainability & impact foundations.
Why it matters: In esg, sustainability & impact foundations, the reporting boundary, method, period and evidence can materially change the claim.
Caution
State the reporting boundary, method, period and evidence; standards, regulation and assurance requirements vary.
Connected terms
- ImpactThe same visible label “Impact” names different concepts.
Sources & evidence · 9
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- IFRS Foundation / International Sustainability Standards Board — IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 Sustainability Disclosure StandardsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- International Organization for Standardization — ISO Net Zero Guidelines and related workDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- GHG Protocol — Standards and GuidanceSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16