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IFRS-S1: IFRS S1 - General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information · 2024
Paragraphs 44–b

Processes for sustainability-related opportunities

Practical guidance for preparing this disclosure. Use this card to identify datapoints, verify claims and organise supporting evidence. For exact requirements, always refer to the official IFRS source.

Dr Ross Kurinko, Sustainability Reporting Trainer
Reviewed by Dr Ross Kurinko · Sustainability Reporting Trainer LRA educational guidance · Not issued or endorsed by IFRS
To prepare this disclosure
Disclosure focus

This disclosure asks an organisation to explain the processes it uses to identify, assess and manage sustainability-related opportunities. In practice, that means describing how opportunity-related information is gathered, who is involved, how decisions are made, and how those processes are embedded in the organisation’s wider management approach.

The practical focus is on whether those processes cover the organisation as a whole, rather than only a few well-known sites, business units or projects. A useful explanation would show the scope of coverage, how consistently the process is applied across operations, and whether it is used to spot opportunities that could affect strategy, performance or future plans.

This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official IFRS source.

Before you start

A quick mental checklist before you prepare this disclosure — tick each as you settle it.

Preparation

Key datapoints to prepare

Datapoint What to capture Evidence hint Owner
Prioritisation criteria The factors and rules used to judge which matters are more important and should be dealt with first, including how those factors are applied in practice. Documented assessment method, scoring or ranking notes, and the latest prioritisation output. Sustainability / risk management
Core information sources The main internal and external inputs relied on to build the disclosure, with enough detail to show where each key figure or statement came from. Source register, system extracts, working papers, and links to the underlying reports or datasets. Finance / data owners
Tracking method How performance or progress is followed over time, including the checks, cadence, and process used to review the information and spot changes. Monitoring plan, review schedule, control logs, and sample management reports or dashboards. Sustainability reporting / internal control
Opportunity spotting process How the organisation identifies possible upside areas, including who looks for them, what inputs are reviewed, and how ideas are screened or selected. Process note, workshop records, pipeline or register of opportunities, and decision records. Strategy / sustainability
Value chain boundary Whether the reported scope includes the organisation alone or extends to parts of its wider upstream and downstream chain, as defined for this disclosure. Boundary memo, scope decision paper, and the reporting map showing which parts of the chain are included. Sustainability reporting / legal / procurement
+ Show s1-44-b sub-elements (LRA working checklist)

How to prepare it

1Set the boundary first: decide which parts of the business and which upstream or downstream activities you are covering, and record that scope clearly.
2Define the practical rules you used to sort and rank matters, so someone else can see how you judged what mattered most.
3List the main information inputs behind the disclosure, including the records, systems, reports, and other sources you relied on.
4Describe how you keep track of the relevant matters over time, including the method used to watch for changes and updates.
5Explain how you spot possible upside as well as downside, and show the process you used to identify opportunities.
6Before finalising, check the wording and scope against the official source, and note any exclusions, assumptions, or changes in approach so the basis is transparent.
Request the data

Request the process evidence for opportunity spotting and tracking

Translate the disclosure into an internal business question — then adapt it to your organisation's own language.

How does the business identify, assess, prioritise and monitor sustainability-linked opportunities, and what sources and scope does it use?

Use your organisation’s own terms first, then map them to the disclosure. For example, if your teams talk about growth themes, pipeline, watchlists, horizon scanning or value-chain coverage, use those labels in the request and only translate them afterwards for reporting. This is a training template; adapt it to your organisation and check the source text before sign-off.

Weak request

Please provide the sustainability opportunity process information for the disclosure.

Why it fails: It uses framework language, does not say which internal process details are needed, and gives no clues on the team’s own terminology, scope, sources or evidence format. That makes it hard for the owner to respond with usable material.

Better request

Please send your team’s current process note or tracker showing how you identify, rank and monitor growth or resilience opportunities, including the criteria used, the main files or systems you rely on, how often it is reviewed, and whether it covers only our own sites or also suppliers and customers. Use your normal internal labels, and I’ll map them for reporting.

Formal email template
Subject: Request for opportunity-process evidence for [reporting period]

Hi [name/team],

I’m pulling together the sustainability reporting pack and need your help with the process evidence for how we spot, assess, rank and track sustainability-linked opportunities.

Please send, for [reporting period]:
- a short description of the process in your own team language
- the criteria used to rank or filter opportunities
- the main data sources or trackers relied on
- how the process is monitored or reviewed
- the part of the business and value chain covered
- any supporting files, links or screenshots that show the process in use

If you use different internal terms, please keep those terms in your response and I’ll map them for reporting.

Please include the owner, date, version and any review/approval details for the evidence.

Thanks,
[preparer name]
Short Teams / Slack version
Hi [name] — could you share the evidence for how your team spots, ranks and tracks sustainability-related opportunities for [reporting period]? Please include the criteria, main data sources, monitoring cadence, scope covered and any supporting files. Use your team’s own terms if that’s easier — I’ll map them for the report. Thanks, [preparer name]
Industry examples
Manufacturing

Context. The business tracks efficiency gains, product redesign ideas and supplier-led resilience opportunities through an operations improvement log.

Adapted request. Please share the current improvement log and process note showing how the team spots, ranks and reviews opportunities such as energy savings, waste reduction, process redesign and supply continuity. Include the ranking criteria, the main trackers used, review cadence and whether the log covers plants only or also suppliers.

Example response. Attached: Operations improvement log v4; monthly review deck; criteria sheet. Scope: 12 plants plus tier-1 suppliers for critical materials. Ranking uses cost, implementation effort, operational risk reduction and delivery timing.

Financial services

Context. The firm monitors product, client and market opportunities through a commercial pipeline and a risk-and-opportunity register.

Adapted request. Please provide the pipeline note and register extract showing how the team identifies, filters and monitors opportunities linked to client demand, product development and market positioning. Include the criteria used, the main data feeds, review cadence and whether the scope includes clients, counterparties and outsourced service providers.

Example response. Attached: Commercial opportunity register; quarterly committee paper; data feed list. Scope: retail and corporate products, plus key outsourced service providers. Ranking uses revenue potential, customer demand, regulatory fit and delivery capacity.

Draft your disclosure

Notes that turn data into a disclosure

LRA training templates — adapt them to your organisation, and check the official source before sign-off.

Method note

Set out the practical basis for the assessment by explaining the scope chosen, the data inputs relied on, the way issues or opportunities were ranked, and how the review was monitored.

Context note

Explain what the figures mean in business terms, including which parts of the value chain were covered, what sources informed the assessment, and how the process was used to identify and prioritise opportunities.

Fluctuation statement

If the numbers changed from one period to the next, point to any shift in scope, data availability, review method, or prioritisation approach that would reasonably account for the movement.

Content index entry
s1-44-b Processes for sustainability-related opportunities — [location / page] / [notes]
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Assurance readiness

For each claim, check the evidence

ClaimRiskEvidence to check
We used a documented set of screening and ranking rules to decide which opportunities were included and which were left out.The assurer will check whether the selection rules were applied consistently, or whether items were cherry-picked to support a preferred story.Approved methodology note; scoring or ranking template; working papers showing how candidate items were assessed; version history of the criteria; sign-off on the final selection.
We based the figure on named source systems and records, and we can show which parts of the wider value chain were in and out of scope.The assurer will probe whether the source set was complete, whether the scope boundary was clear, and whether exclusions were justified and consistently applied.Data source register; system extracts; boundary memo; list of included and excluded entities, sites, activities or suppliers; reconciliation between source records and the reported figure.
We have a repeatable process for tracking the disclosed opportunities over time, so changes can be picked up and explained.The assurer will test whether monitoring is actually operating, whether it is frequent enough for the reporting period, and whether changes are captured before publication.Monitoring calendar; periodic review reports; exception logs; change-control records; evidence of follow-up on new, removed or reclassified items.
We identified the opportunities through a structured review rather than ad hoc judgement, using the same approach across the reporting population.The assurer will look for bias, inconsistent application across business units, and gaps where relevant opportunities may have been missed.Process description; workshop notes or interview records; screening outputs; population lists used in the review; evidence that the same method was applied across units or segments.
We limited the analysis to the parts of the value chain that were relevant to the figure, and we can explain why those boundaries were chosen.The assurer will examine whether the boundary was set to avoid difficult areas, whether upstream or downstream parts were omitted without reason, and whether the stated scope matches the evidence base.Boundary rationale; value-chain map; inclusion/exclusion list; contracts or supplier/customer data where relevant; cross-check between the stated scope and the underlying datasets.

Evidence pack to prepare

Common reporting gaps

The information is presented without a date or as-at point.The scope or boundary of the statement is left undefined.Key terms are used inconsistently across the report.Material changes since the previous period are not disclosed.Assertions are made without supporting detail or a source record.Boilerplate is used that does not actually answer what is asked.
Common gaps

Mistakes to avoid when collecting the data

Wrong owner, wrong language
The request goes to a team that does not run the process, and it is framed in framework terms instead of the organisation’s own operational language.
Scope left undefined
People collect a description without first agreeing which business units, activities, or parts of the value chain are in scope.
Boundary not pinned down
The team mixes together in-house operations and external parts of the chain without stating where the process starts and stops.
+ Show 6 more

Where judgement is often needed

Acquisitions and disposals during the year
Set out whether newly bought or sold businesses were included in the review period, and explain any cut-off date used so readers can see how the process changed across the year.
Different local labels for the same issue
Where country teams use different names or definitions for the same opportunity theme, explain the mapping you used and disclose the basis for grouping them into one internal process.
Borderline activities near the chosen scope
State how you treated activities, sites, suppliers or customers that sit just inside or just outside the chosen value-chain boundary, and explain the rule used to include or exclude them.
+ Show 7 more
Examples

Illustrative examples

Synthetic, written by LRA — not from a company report, not text from any standard.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — utilities

We rank climate-related matters by combining the size of the possible financial effect, how quickly the issue could affect operations, and how much control we have over the response. Our review draws on incident logs, asset-condition data, weather records, supplier reports, and management estimates, and we refresh it each quarter with a monthly watchlist for the highest-priority items. - We look across our own operations plus upstream fuel and equipment suppliers, with downstream use of our services included where it could change demand or resilience. - Opportunity ideas come from capital-planning workshops, efficiency reviews, and customer-service trends; in the latest cycle we screened 18 ideas, shortlisted 7, and advanced 3 into business cases. - The same process is used to spot risks and upside, then the board’s risk committee receives a summary of the scoring, the data inputs, and any changes in scope.

Synthetic illustration for practitioner review only; shows one way to describe how we decide what matters most, where the information comes from, how often we track it, how we surface upside, and which parts of the value chain are included.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — consumer goods

We decide what to focus on by scoring each topic against expected cash impact, likelihood of disruption, and how material the issue is to customers and brands. Our evidence base combines sales data, supplier questionnaires, audit findings, complaint trends, and scenario outputs, and we update the register every six months with targeted checks in between. - Our coverage extends to our factories, key raw-material suppliers, logistics partners, and the main customer-use stage where product performance could affect returns or reputation. - We generate upside ideas through product-design reviews, procurement savings sessions, and market scans; in the last round we assessed 24 ideas, kept 9 under review, and moved 4 into delivery plans. - Monitoring is led by the sustainability team with finance and operations input, and the results are reported to senior management together with the reasons each topic moved up or down the list.

Synthetic illustration for practitioner review only; shows a second, different way to explain prioritisation, evidence used, ongoing tracking, opportunity spotting, and the parts of the chain included in the assessment.

Company reportsReal published reports
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How companies report s1-44-b

Real reports where this topic is disclosed. These are report practice, not exact disclosure templates to copy.

SITC International Holdings Company Limited
Water Transportation · Hong Kong · 2025
Open report →
SITC International Holdings Company Limited’s 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance Report covers the assessment and prioritisation criteria for sustainability-related risks and opportunities, describing how these processes are integrated into the overall risk management system (p.190). The report also details the opportunity identification process and its integration into risk management (p.179). However, it does not provide clear information on key data sources or the value chain scope used, and the monitoring approach is mentioned only in a related context without clear disclosure (p.195).
MTR Corporation
Ground Transportation — Railroads · Hong Kong · 2025
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MTR Corporation’s Sustainability Report 2025 covers its assessment and prioritisation criteria, describing an annual process to identify, evaluate, and prioritise sustainability-related issues reflecting significant economic, environmental, and social impacts (p.13). The report also details an opportunity identification process involving SWOT analysis across operations and the value chain (p.7). However, the report provides unclear disclosures regarding key data sources (p.3), monitoring approach (p.7), and the specific value chain scope used (p.6).
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Scenarios to work through

A finance team has a short list of possible upside areas, but the notes only mention broad themes such as efficiency and customer demand. The sustainability lead has a workshop pack that shows how each idea was screened, which sources were used, and why some ideas were ranked ahead of others.

QShould the disclosure explain the screening and ranking approach in enough detail for a reader to see how the team moved from ideas to priorities?
Reveal model answer →

A group preparing the report has used internal strategy papers, customer feedback, supplier discussions and market analysis to spot upside areas. One draft mentions only internal management papers because the team thinks external material is too detailed to summarise.

QShould the disclosure identify the main information sources that fed the opportunity work, even if some came from outside the organisation?
Reveal model answer →

The sustainability team reviews its opportunity register every quarter, but only when a major event happens does it update the scoring. In practice, the team also checks whether the assumptions behind the scores still hold, using a mix of dashboard data and management review.

QShould the disclosure describe how the organisation keeps the opportunity process under review, including what triggers updates and what information is checked?
Reveal model answer →

A manufacturer has identified upside from lower-emission products, but the team only looked at its own factories and sales data. The supply chain team says the biggest upside may sit with raw materials and customer use, yet those stages were left out of the analysis.

QShould the disclosure make clear whether the opportunity process covered only the organisation’s own operations or also parts of the wider value chain?
Reveal model answer →
Framework references

Related framework references

How this disclosure maps across the major reporting frameworks.

IFRS / ISSB
s1-44-b
within IFRS-S1: IFRS S1 - General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
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FAQ

Questions this page answers

How do I use the s1-44-b page to prepare a draft disclosure from scratch?+
What information do I need to collect for s1-44-b before I can draft the disclosure?+
How should I decide the scope and methodology for s1-44-b on this page?+
Who should own the s1-44-b inputs in my organisation?+
What evidence should I keep ready for assurance on s1-44-b?+
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How do I use the Prep & Assurance workbook for s1-44-b?+
What is the printable Library Card PDF for s1-44-b used for?+
Can I use the synthetic example disclosure on s1-44-b as a template for my own draft?+
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