With Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) guidelines becoming paramount when it comes to businesses as well as investors and clients, the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) by SEBI becomes a critical entity. Not just a reporting format, BRSR has now become more of an effective tool for the top 1,000 listed companies. It is a way for them to align their business goals, keeping sustainability and a Net-Zero future in mind.
Even if you are not listed directly, you might be part of a supply chain that is listed. Therefore, being BRSR-ready is non-negotiable when it comes functioning today. Not only does it mark your efforts towards sustainability, but it also adds accountability and transparency to your company, making you ready for what comes next. At Fitsol, a leading decarbonization partner, we help businesses not just comply—but lead with confidence. Here’s how you can get started.
Step 1: Understand the BRSR Framework
The BRSR is a reporting framework that has been introduced by SEBI for the top 1,000 listed companies in India. The framework mandates these companies to disclose their performance data based on ESG parameters in a standardized format. There are three main sections in this framework:
General Disclosures
Management and Process Disclosures
Principle-wise Performance Disclosure across 9 National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBCs).
Whether you are listed directly or are indirectly part of a supply chain, it is imperative that you understand what each section entails. This would help you to plan your data collection and reporting approach in an effective and informed manner. The report covers everything from energy consumption and emissions data to board-level oversight on sustainability.
Step 2: Conduct a Materiality Assessment
In order to make your BRSR reporting more focused, impactful, and authentic, you need to discern what matters the most. While ESG guidelines are crucial, not every metric carries equal weight for your business. There is a materiality assessment that can help you identify the most relevant issues pertaining to your industry as well as stakeholders. Here, at Fitsol, we help businesses chalk out what truly matters in their domain and come up with a customised strategic Net-Zero plan.
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Step 3: Set Up a Robust Data Collection System
Be it the availability of data as well as its accuracy, these are some of the biggest challenges with BRSR reporting. When it comes to your scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, access to reliable and accurate systems is essential. Businesses need to have the accessibility to efficient systems that can help them track the following items:
Energy usage
Waste generation
Carbon emissions
Water consumption
Social metrics (diversity, inclusion, community programs)
This is where we come in. Being a number one decarbonization partner, we have customized AI-powered tools that can help you simplify this process. We have the bandwidth to not only centralize and standardize your ESG data, but also make it easier to track progress and ensure accuracy.
Step 4: Align Sustainability Goals with Business Strategy
Not just tracking your scope 1, 2 and 3, but also aligning your business goals with a Net-Zero future is the way forward. This step is crucial to take your business beyond just compliance. With sustainability goals tightly integrated with your business strategy, you can be future-ready. Here are a few ways of doing this:
Link carbon reduction targets with operational efficiencies
Align ESG risks with enterprise risk management
Assign KPIs and ownership to senior leadership
Fitsol’s support can be an integral push in your Net-Zero journey. As their decarbonization partners, we support businesses in building climate-smart strategies that go beyond reporting—and drive measurable outcomes.
Step 5: Build Internal Capacity and Awareness
Sustainability is not just a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activity anymore. Therefore, getting your business BRSR-aligned is not just something that a sustainability team in a business needs to do. The effort and work needs to be cross-functional, and in collaboration with procurement, HR, operations and finance teams.
As a business embracing a sustainable future, it becomes imperative for you to train your teams, and establish ownership. It is important to build awareness around why BRSR matters, and how to align yourself with these goals.
Step 6: Validate and Benchmark Your Data
Before submission, it is important to validate your disclosures. This can be done via internal audits or a third-party verification process. This will boost your credibility. Benchmarking your metrics against industry peers can also give you a strategic edge. Fitsol’s dashboard provides real-time benchmarking, helping you understand where you stand and what to improve.
Step 7: Publish and Communicate Transparently
Once your BRSR is complete, publish it alongside your annual report and proactively share it with your key stakeholders—investors, customers, and partners. Such transparent communication can help you not only build trust but will also reinforce your sustainability message and demonstrate accountability.
How Can Fitsol Help You?
At Fitsol, we support businesses to streamline BRSR compliance and take smart climate action. With solutions ranging from carbon accounting to ESG data automation, we provide end-to-end support that helps you stay compliant today and also prepares you for what lies ahead.
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