New validation milestone now available: materiality assessment

17/06/2025

The Science Based Targets Network is launching a new validation milestone. Starting now, companies can have their materiality assessments independently validated by the Accountability Accelerator – turning insights from the first step in the target-setting process into a credible, public milestone on their nature journey.

What is a materiality assessment and why is it important?

The first step toward setting science-based targets for nature is SBTN’s Step 1: Assess, where companies complete a materiality and value chain assessment. This step shows companies where they are putting pressure on nature – and where that pressure is most likely to result in significant impacts. It provides a map of a company’s environmental footprint, unlocking insights on what’s happening and where.

“This integrated assessment of nature impacts alongside climate has led us to identify a raw material that, despite minimal GHG emissions, exerts significant impacts on nature.” ~ 2024 pilot company

By completing SBTN’s Step 1: Assess, companies can uncover hidden risks in their supply chain – such as water scarcity – reducing exposure to operational, regulatory or reputational disruption.

Benefits of independently validating your materiality assessment

Independent validation is a critical component of the SBTN target-setting approach. It enables companies to demonstrate that their target-setting work is robust, credible, and aligned with the best available science.

Previously, companies were required to validate both Step 1: Assess and Step 2: Prioritize together – but this new milestone allows them to publicly demonstrate progress earlier, by validating Step 1 as a standalone milestone.

By validating their assessment, companies can:

Make public claims that demonstrate early, science-based progress on nature
Signal leadership and reinforce accountability to stakeholders, investors, and partners
Build confidence that you’re on the right track toward credible target setting
Strengthen sustainability reporting, including for CSRD, since similar data is required.
Participate in upcoming SBTN communications highlighting corporate action on nature, launching later in 2025.

How companies can take action

Complete Step 1: Assess
Companies ready to gain critical insights about their environmental footprint, and start the journey toward setting science-based targets for nature, can find out how to begin with Step 1: Assess today.
Validate Step 1: Assess
Companies that have already completed Step 1 using V1.1 technical guidance are now eligible for validation via the Accountability Accelerator. Find more information about the validation process here and register to start the official process.
Continue the target-setting process
After completing Step 1: Assess, companies can move forward with Step 2: Prioritize, which builds on this foundation, incorporating internal business considerations to deliver a full double materiality assessment that informs target-setting. Step 2 prioritization work can be validated alongside Step 1 assessments or separately.