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UCB 2023

In this backtest, we are looking at UCB (Union Chimique Belge), the multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The data was pulled on 17 October 2024. Some organisations will find little change in materiality from one year to the next, like UCB featured here. Rather than conducting lengthy and expensive stakeholder surveys every year, risking stakeholder fatigue, OSMA offers a quick and simple way to check for any changes that can be trusted to produce comprehensive and reliable results.

Alignment of Topic Materiality​

UCB 2023

Comparing the two assessments, there is significant agreement in which topics are material. Mettle would include E4 Biodiversity, where UCB chose not to. UCB includes E3 Water and S2 Pollution, which Mettle doesn’t determine material. Outside the ESRS taxonomy both Mettle and UCB include 4 material topics, with Mettle also finding Privacy material.

Topic Materiality over time​

2023

2024

There is little change year on year on what is material. The same 7 Topics are material in FY 2023 and to date in 2024. There is evolution within the subtopics, which will impact on IRO reporting.

Which sub-topics are showing shifts in materiality​

E5.2 Resource outflows products and services and G1.3 Animal welfare have both increased in materiality from a high base in 2023. A fuller comparison with peers / subsector would show whether UCB is an outlier or not on the most material subtopics.

Materiality of Non-ESRS subtopics​

Developed using SASB taxonomy and Mettle's own unique Trust, Reputation, Thematic models. The taxonomies intentionally have some overlap with each other and with the ESRS taxonomy. Key to this analysis is identifying new topics not specified in ESRS, but meeting the requirement to determine anything else that is material. In UCB case Data Security, Innovating, Responsible Marketing, Product Quality were highlighted in their annual report as a key sustainability topic, our analysis concurs. We would also suggest including Privacy as being material to full CSRD reporting.