Logo and Icon Use Policy

Important note

GRI’s logos and icons are subject to the terms and conditions below. By copying and/or downloading material from the GRI website you agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this 'Logo and Icon Use Policy' and any terms and conditions that may be outlined elsewhere on this website.

The GRI logo, OS logo, and Application Level icons are registered trademarks of Stichting Global Reporting Initiative and are copyrighted property of GRI. All rights are reserved.

General conditions for the use of GRI logos and trademarks 

·         The GRI logo and Application Level icons cannot be used by third parties

     without prior written permission from GRI.

·         The OS logo can only be used by organizations that are an OS.

Requests for permission and inquiries as to proper usage of the GRI logos and icons should be directed to info@globalreporting.org.

If permission is granted, it is subject to the following conditions:

• GRI is not an auditor, assessor, certifier, or verifier of sustainability reports.  The GRI name, logos and icons should therefore not be used in a manner that indicates an alignment or "stamp of approval" for a company’s services or expertise in relation to GRI sustainability reporting products.

• GRI does not endorse any particular company that offers consulting, training, software, assurance or similar services. The GRI logo should not be used in a manner that indicates an alignment or "stamp of approval" for a company’s services or expertise in relation to GRI sustainability reporting products.

• GRI reserves the right to take appropriate action when its name, logo or icons are used without its permission or if they have been adapted, modified or otherwise used inappropriately. Appropriate action by GRI may include, but is not limited to, the revocation of the right to use the name, logo or icons and/or any links bearing the name, logo or icons, in which event the name, logo or icons and/or the links bearing them have to be removed within 2 business days of notice of revocation.

• The logos or icons must be used as provided by GRI - changes are not permitted. This includes but is not limited to, changes in the color, proportion, or design of the logo, or removal of any words, artwork, or trademark symbols. Also, GRI logos or icons may not be animated, morphed, or otherwise distorted in perspective or appearance.

• It is prohibited to transfer, assign, sell, reproduce, distribute or otherwise exploit the GRI name, logo or icons or your link to GRI.

Please note: violation of copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights may subject civil and/or criminal penalties.

Any use of GRI logos or icons outside of these guidelines is strictly prohibited.

Use of GRI logo and trademarks

GRI encourages the use of the following statement when using the GRI logo or term “GRI”:

 “A collaborating centre of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the steward of the most widely used reporting framework for performance on human rights, labor, environmental, anti-corruption, and other corporate citizenship issues. The GRI framework is the most widely used standardized sustainability reporting framework in the world.”

Use of the GRI logo in sustainability reports

The GRI logo cannot be used inside a printed or online sustainability (or similar) report. This is because GRI does not in any way endorse, certify, assure, or approve reports. Reporting organizations can choose to display the Organizational Stakeholder logo when appropriate (see below) and/or the Application Level icon(s) (see below) in their reports, and subject to the policies for those images.

Linking to the GRI website and using the logo online

Subject to prior written permission from GRI, the GRI logo can be used online and/or linked to the GRI webpage. Use of the logo online must contain all of the following elements:

• A logo (a .jpg will be provided by GRI once permission has been granted)
• A comment putting the link in context
• A hyperlink itself leading viewers to GRI’s website (www.globalreporting.org) or sub-sites as defined in the permission agreement

Note that the logo may not be used without a corresponding link to GRI’s website, but that links may be used without an accompanying logo.

Use of the Organizational Stakeholder (OS) logo

GRI Organizational Stakeholders (OS) are encouraged to use the OS logo for promotional purposes in print, electronic and web media, provided that it is in line with the conditions under general usage.  The OS logo or the term “OS” cannot be used by organizations that are not an OS. The OS logo is updated every year and is downloadable by OS via the OS private pages. 

GRI encourages the use of the following statement when using the OS logo or term “OS”:

“We are a registered Organizational Stakeholder of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and support the mission of the GRI to develop globally accepted sustainability reporting guidelines through a global, multi-stakeholder process.”

Use of Application Level icons

GRI provides three categories of icons (self declared, third party checked, and GRI checked) that reporting organizations are allowed to use in their printed or online reports, and in other materials, to depict the level to which they applied the GRI Reporting Framework in their reporting activities.

The "self-declared" and "third party checked" icons are available as a free download. The "GRI checked" icon is provided by GRI upon rendering its opinion about the achieved level of reporting. Please be aware that the GRI Application Level Checks is a charged service provided by GRI and the icon is only provided upon completion of the service.

For further information please click here.

Miscellaneous

GRI reserves the right to make any change to the information and/or license provided herein at any time for any reason. You acknowledge and agree that you are responsible for keeping up with any such changes.

Publication date: 1 April 2009