Double Materiality
The double materiality service of ZEa Social Consulting is designed to help organizations identify, prioritize, and manage key sustainability issues from a comprehensive perspective aligned with international best practices.
This approach is fundamental for companies seeking to comply with regulations, strengthen their transparency, and position themselves as leaders in sustainability and social responsibility.
What is double materiality?
Double materiality is an advanced concept in sustainability that analyzes relevant issues for an organization from two complementary perspectives:
Financial Materiality
It evaluates how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors —such as climate change, environmental regulations, or social trends— can financially affect the company. In other words, how the environment impacts the organization's ability to create value, influence its financial performance, and affect the decision-making of investors and shareholders.
Impact Materiality
It examines how a company’s activities affect the environment, society, and other stakeholders. It includes both negative effects (for example, emissions, pollution, or social impacts) and positive ones (job creation, community development, social innovation).
This bidirectional analysis allows companies to understand not only how the world affects them but also how they affect the world, promoting more informed, responsible management aligned with the expectations of all stakeholders.
Why is double materiality relevant?
Regulatory compliance
Double materiality is required by international regulatory frameworks such as the EU's CSRD Directive and the new ESG reporting standards, which mandate companies to disclose both financial risks and the social and environmental impacts of their operations.
Proactive management of risks and opportunities
It allows anticipation of threats and capitalization on opportunities derived from sustainability, improving the resilience and competitiveness of the company.
Transparency and trust
It reinforces credibility with investors, customers, communities, and authorities, demonstrating a genuine commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.
Alignment with the SDGs and international frameworks:
It facilitates the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global standards into business strategy.
What is the double materiality service of ZEa Social Consulting?
1. Diagnosis and mapping of key issues
We identify the most relevant environmental, social, and governance issues for the company and its stakeholders, considering both external impact and internal risks and opportunities.
2. Stakeholder participation
We engage shareholders, employees, communities, customers, suppliers, and other key players through interviews, workshops, and surveys, ensuring a comprehensive and participative vision.
3. Bidirectional assessment
We analyze both financial materiality (how ESG factors affect the company) and impact materiality (how the company affects the environment), following international guidelines.
4. Construction of the double materiality matrix
We visualize the results in a clear and comprehensible matrix, which facilitates the prioritization of issues and strategic decision-making.
5. Action plans and reporting
We develop recommendations and action plans to manage risks and maximize identified opportunities, as well as reports aligned with major sustainability standards and regulatory requirements.
6. Monitoring and continuous improvement
We support the organization in tracking, updating, and transparent communication of progress, ensuring adaptability to new challenges and expectations.
Benefits of implementing double materiality with ZEa Social Consultancy
Better strategic decision-making based on comprehensive and relevant information.
Greater resilience and competitiveness in the face of environmental, social, and regulatory risks.
Compliance with legal and market requirements regarding sustainability and ESG reporting.
Strengthening reputation and trust with all stakeholders.
Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international frameworks.
