SASB Advertising & Marketing
SASB
Standards guide responsible and ethical advertising practices.
The SASB Advertising & Marketing costs $0 USD. Renewal costs $0 USD.
Key Strengths
- Industry-specific metrics tailored to advertising and marketing sector risks
- Widely recognized by major institutional investors including BlackRock and State Street
- Developed through rigorous multi-stakeholder public comment process
- Integrated into IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards via ISSB merger
- Covers material ESG topics: data privacy, ad fraud, diversity, and environmental impact
- Free to access and implement — no licensing fee for the standards themselves
Ideal For
This standard is best suited for companies in the advertising, marketing, and media industries that want to align their ESG disclosures with investor-grade, industry-specific metrics. It is particularly valuable for publicly traded firms, large agencies, and brands seeking to communicate sustainability performance to institutional investors and analysts using a consistent, comparable framework.
Target Audiences
Relevant Roles
Industries
Alignment & Recognition
Accrediting Body
Recognized By
- SASB Standards
Scope
Overview
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) creates industry-specific standards to help businesses report on sustainability factors. For Advertising & Marketing, SASB focuses on issues like data privacy, diversity, and environmental impact. Established in 2011, SASB aims to drive better investment decisions by standardizing sustainability metrics. Over 1,000 companies and investors worldwide use SASB standards. Notable partners include BlackRock and State Street Global Advisors. Organizations can earn certifications for adhering to these standards, aiding in transparency and accountability. The goal is pragmatic: provide clear, comparable data to all stakeholders.
Requirements & Verification
Evidence Requirements
Organizations self-report against SASB's defined metrics for the Advertising & Marketing sector. Required disclosures include quantitative data on topics such as percentage of gender and racial/ethnic group representation, data privacy policies and breaches, digital ad fraud exposure, and greenhouse gas emissions. No third-party audit is mandated by SASB itself, though companies may choose to have disclosures independently assured. Documentation is typically published in annual reports, sustainability reports, or SEC filings.
Prerequisites
Assessment Process
There is no formal exam for SASB standards adoption. Organizations self-select the relevant industry standard, identify applicable disclosure topics and metrics, collect internal data, and publish disclosures in financial or sustainability reports. Optional third-party assurance can be obtained from external auditors to validate reported metrics, but this is not required by SASB.
Renewal & Compliance
SASB standards do not have a formal renewal or recertification cycle. Organizations are expected to report against the standards on an ongoing annual basis as part of their sustainability disclosure practices. SASB periodically updates its standards through a public comment process, and organizations should adopt updated versions as they are released. There is no renewal fee or mandatory re-registration.
Accountability Model
Impact & Outcomes
Employer Recognition
Consider Alternatives If...
If your organization is a small or mid-sized private company with limited ESG reporting resources, SASB may feel overly complex without dedicated sustainability staff. Companies seeking a certification with a visible public seal or consumer-facing badge should consider alternatives like B Corp, as SASB is primarily a reporting framework for investor audiences.
Alternative Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts
Certification
English
2011