Case Karo Healthcare: Science-backed approach for a resource-efficient CSRD double materiality assessment

Starting Point: Leveraging external expertise in double materiality to fulfill CSRD requirements

Karo Healthcare’s latest materiality assessment was conducted internally in 2022. With CSRD reporting requirements on the horizon for 2025, they began searching for a collaborator to support with a formal double materiality assessment.

“We wanted to own the double materiality assessment process ourselves but needed support. We felt confident in our understanding of our impacts but wanted to ensure we met all formal CSRD and ESRS requirements”, explains Alice Devine, Head of Sustainability at Karo Healthcare.

After considering several alternatives, Karo Healthcare ultimately chose to go with Upright’s science-based approach to double materiality.

“I was intrigued by Upright’s science-based and data-driven approach to double materiality,” Devine shares. “It was appealing to have an objective view that wasn’t reliant on human interpretation. This is the future, and we were excited to explore this new way of working.”

Solution: A data-driven double materiality assessment with a streamlined process for customer input

The assessment began with Karo Healthcare providing Upright with company-specific data inputs. Upright’s data engine then combined these inputs with scientific articles and data from external databases to generate the double materiality assessment results. The whole assessment, completed within an eight-week timeline, included a mid-review, giving Karo’s team a chance to review findings and ask questions.

“The process was lean and straightforward. Providing our company-specific data was straightforward, and after a few meetings and small result adjustments, we got the results we needed in a resource-efficient way,” Devine shares.

Comparing the experience to their earlier approach, Devine found the objectivity of the assessment to be a great advantage. The extensive datasets would have been difficult to compile manually by the team alone, not to mention how much longer it would have taken.

“We felt like we had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Devine says. “Upright’s way of looking at companies’ impact data is really intriguing.”

Benefits: Confirmed insights with a science-backed foundation

The double materiality assessment results with Upright largely validated Karo Healthcare’s internal understanding of their material impacts. Working with Upright’s team, Karo was able to understand the complete depth of the findings.

“Whenever we had questions about the results, Upright’s customer success team was very responsive, providing the underlying scientific data and an audit trail linking the results to the science-based evidence. The level of assistance was world-class,” Devine explains.

Additionally, the science-backed data reduced reliance on human interpretation.

“I recognise the value of involving stakeholders in the double materiality assessment process; however, relying solely on surveys can be problematic – people may interpret the questions differently or misunderstand them. This science-based approach provided us with confidence in our double materiality assessment results,” Devine concludes.