Special

Alphabet soup

Work in impact and you pick up a second alphabet. GRI, ESRS, SROI and ToC float through every report, every tender and every conversation with a funder.

We ladled every name we know out of the pot and set them out from A to Z. Now you can see how thick the soup is, where the letters clump together and where the broth stays clear.

One point for every name

182 names of frameworks, standards, methods, laws, labels and indices. I is the fullest letter, with 23 names. Nothing floats at J and Y.

Sort

As people say itSpelt out

An acronym sits at its first letter. XBRL is how people say it, so it sits at X.

A solid point is a name you mostly hear as an acronym. A faint point is one you hear in full. Choose a letter to see its names.

At I

IATI International Aid Transparency Initiativestandard · at the owner
Iceberg modelframework · explained with the frameworks
IFC PS IFC Performance Standardsstandard · at the owner
IMP Impact Management Platformframework · explained with the frameworks
Impact Gaps Canvasframework · explained with the frameworks
Impact value chainframework · explained with the frameworks
Integrated Reporting Frameworkframework · at the owner
IP&L Integrated Profit & Lossmethod · explained with the frameworks
IRIS+standard · explained with the frameworks
ISAE 3000 International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000standard · at the owner
ISO 9001standard · at the owner
ISO 14001standard · explained with the frameworks
ISO 14064standard · at the owner
ISO 14068standard · at the owner
ISO 20400standard · at the owner
ISO 26000framework · explained with the frameworks
ISO 30415standard · at the owner
ISO 37001standard · at the owner
ISO 45001standard · at the owner
ISO 50001standard · at the owner
ISSA 5000 International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000standard · at the owner
ISSB IFRS S1 and S2standard · explained with the frameworks
IWAF Impact Weighted Accounts Frameworkmethod · explained with the frameworks

Each name counts once, even when it comes in versions. A name that begins with a digit is left out. The list is not complete, and it never will be.

Source: our list of frameworks, topped up with names we come across in reports, tenders and audits. You can look up every name at its owner. As of 21 October 2026.

All 182 names in a table

All 182 names in a table
Letter	Name	Acronym	Kind	Look it up
A	AA1000 AccountAbility Principles	AA1000	standard	at the owner
A	Assessing low-Carbon Transition	ACT	method	at the owner
A	AMEC Integrated Evaluation Framework	AMEC	method	explained with the frameworks
A	Appreciative inquiry		method	description
B	B Corp certification		label	at the owner
B	Beter Leven label		label	at the owner
B	Better Cotton		label	at the owner
B	B Impact Assessment	BIA	standard	explained with the frameworks
B	BREEAM and LEED		standard	explained with the frameworks
B	Broad wellbeing		framework	explained with the frameworks
B	Balanced scorecard	BSC	framework	explained with the frameworks
B	amfori BSCI	BSCI	standard	at the owner
B	Balanced Value Impact model	BVI	standard	explained with the frameworks
C	Cradle to Cradle Certified	C2C	label	at the owner
C	Capitals Coalition protocols		method	explained with the frameworks
C	Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism	CBAM	law or rule	at the owner
C	CBF accreditation	CBF	label	at the owner
C	Core Carbon Principles	CCP	standard	at the owner
C	CDP		standard	at the owner
C	Corporate Human Rights Benchmark	CHRB	index	at the owner
C	Core Humanitarian Standard	CHS	standard	at the owner
C	Contribution analysis		method	explained with the frameworks
C	Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive	CSDDD	law or rule	explained with the frameworks
C	CSR Performance Ladder		standard	explained with the frameworks
C	Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive	CSRD	law or rule	explained with the frameworks
C	Circular Transition Indicators	CTI	method	at the owner
D	DCED Standard for Results Measurement	DCED	standard	at the owner
D	Developmental evaluation		method	explained with the frameworks
D	Double materiality assessment		law or rule	explained with the frameworks
D	Doughnut Economics		framework	explained with the frameworks
E	Economy for the Common Good	ECG	framework	at the owner
E	EcoVadis		label	at the owner
E	Effect ladder		method	at the owner
E	EFQM Model	EFQM	framework	at the owner
E	Eco-Management and Audit Scheme	EMAS	law or rule	at the owner
E	Empowerment evaluation		method	description
E	ENCORE		method	at the owner
E	Equator Principles	EP	framework	at the owner
E	Environmental Product Declaration	EPD	standard	description
E	European Single Electronic Format	ESEF	law or rule	at the owner
E	European Sustainability Reporting Standards	ESRS	law or rule	explained with the frameworks
E	ETI Base Code	ETI	standard	at the owner
E	EU Ecolabel		label	at the owner
E	EU Emissions Trading System	EU ETS	law or rule	at the owner
E	EU Taxonomy		law or rule	explained with the frameworks
E	EU Deforestation Regulation	EUDR	law or rule	at the owner
E	European Green Bond Standard	EuGBS	law or rule	at the owner
F	Fair Wear		label	at the owner
F	Fairtrade		label	at the owner
F	Five dimensions of impact		framework	explained with the frameworks
F	Forest Stewardship Council	FSC	label	at the owner
F	FTSE4Good		index	at the owner
F	Future-Fit Business Benchmark		framework	at the owner
G	Green Bond Principles	GBP	framework	at the owner
G	Greenhouse Gas Protocol	GHG	standard	explained with the frameworks
G	Goal-free evaluation		method	description
G	Gold Standard		label	at the owner
G	Global Organic Textile Standard	GOTS	label	at the owner
G	Green Key		standard	explained with the frameworks
G	GRESB		standard	at the owner
G	GRI Standards	GRI	standard	explained with the frameworks
H	Human Development Index	HDI	index	at the owner
I	International Aid Transparency Initiative	IATI	standard	at the owner
I	Iceberg model		framework	explained with the frameworks
I	IFC Performance Standards	IFC PS	standard	at the owner
I	Impact Management Platform	IMP	framework	explained with the frameworks
I	Impact Gaps Canvas		framework	explained with the frameworks
I	Impact value chain		framework	explained with the frameworks
I	Integrated Reporting Framework		framework	at the owner
I	Integrated Profit & Loss	IP&L	method	explained with the frameworks
I	IRIS+	IRIS+	standard	explained with the frameworks
I	International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000	ISAE 3000	standard	at the owner
I	ISO 9001		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 14001		standard	explained with the frameworks
I	ISO 14064		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 14068		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 20400		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 26000		framework	explained with the frameworks
I	ISO 30415		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 37001		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 45001		standard	at the owner
I	ISO 50001		standard	at the owner
I	International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000	ISSA 5000	standard	at the owner
I	IFRS S1 and S2	ISSB	standard	explained with the frameworks
I	Impact Weighted Accounts Framework	IWAF	method	explained with the frameworks
K	Kirkpatrick model		method	explained with the frameworks
K	KnowTheChain		index	at the owner
L	Life cycle assessment	LCA	standard	explained with the frameworks
L	Lean Data		method	explained with the frameworks
L	Logic model		framework	explained with the frameworks
L	Logical framework		framework	explained with the frameworks
M	MAEX		standard	explained with the frameworks
M	Material Circularity Indicator	MCI	method	at the owner
M	Millennium Development Goals	MDGs	framework	at the owner
M	Social cost-benefit analysis	MKBA	method	explained with the frameworks
M	Monitor of Well-being		index	at the owner
M	Multidimensional Poverty Index	MPI	index	at the owner
M	Most significant change	MSC	method	explained with the frameworks
M	Marine Stewardship Council	MSC	label	at the owner
N	Nesta Standards of Evidence		standard	at the owner
N	Non-Financial Reporting Directive	NFRD	law or rule	at the owner
O	Open Contracting Data Standard	OCDS	standard	at the owner
O	OECD Better Life Index		index	at the owner
O	OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises		framework	at the owner
O	OECD-DAC criteria	OECD-DAC	method	explained with the frameworks
O	Objectives and key results	OKR	framework	explained with the frameworks
O	Operating Principles for Impact Management		framework	explained with the frameworks
O	Outcome harvesting		method	explained with the frameworks
O	Outcome mapping		method	explained with the frameworks
O	Outcomes Star		standard	explained with the frameworks
P	Paris Agreement Capital Transition Assessment	PACTA	method	at the owner
P	Participatory evaluation and action research		method	explained with the frameworks
P	Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials	PBAF	standard	at the owner
P	Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials	PCAF	standard	explained with the frameworks
P	Product Environmental Footprint	PEF	method	at the owner
P	Photovoice		method	description
P	Planetary boundaries		framework	at the owner
P	Policy Compass		method	at the owner
P	Positive Health		framework	at the owner
P	Principles for Responsible Banking	PRB	framework	at the owner
P	Principles for Responsible Investment	PRI	framework	at the owner
P	Principles of Social Value		method	explained with the frameworks
P	Process tracing		method	explained with the frameworks
P	Principles for Sustainable Insurance	PSI	framework	at the owner
P	Public Services (Social Value) Act		law or rule	at the owner
Q	Qualitative Comparative Analysis	QCA	method	description
Q	Qualitative Impact Protocol	QuIP	method	at the owner
R	R-ladder		framework	at the owner
R	Rainforest Alliance		label	at the owner
R	Results-Based Accountability	RBA	method	explained with the frameworks
R	RCTs and quasi-experiments	RCT	method	explained with the frameworks
R	Realist evaluation		method	explained with the frameworks
R	Ripple effects mapping		method	explained with the frameworks
R	ROI Methodology		method	at the owner
R	Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil	RSPO	label	at the owner
S	SA8000		standard	at the owner
S	SASB Standards	SASB	standard	at the owner
S	Social Bond Principles	SBP	framework	at the owner
S	Science Based Targets initiative	SBTi	standard	explained with the frameworks
S	Science Based Targets Network	SBTN	standard	at the owner
S	SDG Compass		framework	at the owner
S	SDG Impact Standards		framework	explained with the frameworks
S	Sustainable Development Goals	SDGs	framework	explained with the frameworks
S	Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation	SFDR	law or rule	explained with the frameworks
S	Outcomes-based finance and social impact bonds	SIB	method	explained with the frameworks
S	Six Capitals		framework	explained with the frameworks
S	Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit	SMETA	standard	at the owner
S	Social Impact Navigator		framework	explained with the frameworks
S	Social Value Bank		method	at the owner
S	Sphere Standards		standard	at the owner
S	Social Progress Index	SPI	index	at the owner
S	Social Return on Investment	SROI	method	explained with the frameworks
S	Standard 3810N		standard	at the owner
S	Systems map		framework	explained with the frameworks
T	Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures	TCFD	framework	at the owner
T	The Green Book		method	at the owner
T	The Magenta Book		method	at the owner
T	The Natural Step		framework	at the owner
T	Three Horizons		framework	explained with the frameworks
T	Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures	TISFD	framework	at the owner
T	Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures	TNFD	standard	explained with the frameworks
T	Theory of change	ToC	framework	explained with the frameworks
T	Themes, Outcomes and Measures	TOMs	framework	at the owner
T	Transition Plan Taskforce	TPT	framework	at the owner
T	Technology Readiness Levels	TRL	standard	explained with the frameworks
T	True Price		method	explained with the frameworks
U	UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation	UNEG	standard	at the owner
U	UN Global Compact	UNGC	framework	at the owner
U	UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights	UNGP	framework	explained with the frameworks
U	UNGP Reporting Framework		framework	at the owner
U	Utilization-focused evaluation		method	explained with the frameworks
V	Value Balancing Alliance	VBA	method	explained with the frameworks
V	VCMI Claims Code of Practice	VCMI	standard	at the owner
V	Verified Carbon Standard	VCS	label	at the owner
V	Voluntary sustainability reporting standard for SMEs	VSME	standard	explained with the frameworks
W	World Benchmarking Alliance benchmarks	WBA	index	at the owner
W	WELL Building Standard		label	at the owner
W	Well-being of Future Generations Act		law or rule	at the owner
W	Wellbeing-adjusted life year	WELLBY	method	at the owner
W	Women’s Empowerment Principles	WEPs	framework	at the owner
X	eXtensible Business Reporting Language	XBRL	standard	at the owner
Z	Self-Sufficiency Matrix	ZRM	method	at the owner

Where the letters clump together

I is the fullest letter, mostly thanks to ISO. Every ISO standard has its own number, and so its own name in the soup. IRIS+, ISSB and IATI float here too.

S holds the words you find in almost every title: sustainable, social and standard. E is where most of the European rules gather, from ESRS to EMAS.

J and Y stay empty. They are the quiet rim of the bowl, where nobody has set down a framework yet.

Why the soup is so thick

Every new question got an answer of its own. A funder wanted to compare, a regulator wanted assurance, a community wanted to be heard. Each time another framework joined the pot, with its own owner and its own acronym.

How the soup grew so thick is a story for a special of its own. Here we look at what is in the pot today.

Read the special on the history of impact management

One acronym, two meanings

In an evaluation, MSC is the most significant change method. On a tin of fish, MSC is the Marine Stewardship Council. Use only the letters and your reader has to guess which soup you are serving.

Names shift within one family as well. Many papers call IFRS S1 and S2 the ISSB Standards, after the board that wrote them.

Acronyms in the soup that stand for more than one thing

MSC Most significant change · Marine Stewardship Council

Spell it out

In a report, give a name in full the first time. Then a resident, a councillor or a participant can follow what you mean as well. The acronym is for readers who already know it.

You do not need the whole soup. Pick one or two frameworks that fit your question and say why you chose them. The rest can stay in the pot.

Soup only tastes good when you know what went into it. That is why every name here tells you where to look it up.

Which frameworks exist and when to use them

How we counted

A name sits at the first letter of what people say. If it has a common acronym, that counts. Otherwise the English name counts. That is why the Dutch soup looks slightly different.

Accents are ignored, and versions of one standard count as one name. Names that begin with a digit, such as the 2X Criteria, fall outside the alphabet and so outside this count.