Data Explorer User Guide

Introduction

The WBA Data Explorer is the central hub for accessing detailed performance data on the world's most influential companies. It provides comprehensive benchmarking data on 2,000 companies (the SDG2000) and their progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Data Explorer allows users to:

• Browse and filter company data across multiple dimensions
• Access detailed benchmark scores and methodology information
• Download data in structured formats for further analysis
• Integrate WBA data directly into your own systems via our REST API

Beta Release

The WBA Data Explorer is currently in Beta. This means:

• The platform is fully functional but may undergo changes based on user feedback
• Some features may be refined or expanded over time
• We welcome your feedback to help us improve the experience

Data Sources

All data available in the WBA Data Explorer is publicly sourced. The information we provide is obtained from documents and reports published by the companies themselves, including annual reports, sustainability reports, company websites, and other public disclosures. Each data point is traceable to its source document.

Relationship to the WBA Website

Some of the data available in the Data Explorer can also be found on the main WBA website. However, the Data Explorer provides access to a more comprehensive dataset, including detailed methodology information, granular assessment data, and evidence sources that are not available on the website.

Who is this for?

The Data Explorer serves a diverse range of stakeholders:

• Researchers and academics seeking comprehensive corporate sustainability data for analysis
• Investors and financial analysts evaluating company performance on ESG criteria
• Policy makers tracking corporate progress on sustainable development
• Companies (both assessed and non-assessed) benchmarking performance against peers
• Civil society organizations monitoring corporate accountability
• Journalists investigating corporate sustainability claims

What data is available?

The Data Explorer provides access to three main categories of data:

Company Data — Core information about the SDG2000 companies, including identifiers, industry classifications, geographic attributes, emissions data, climate profiles, and climate-related targets.

Methodology Data — The assessment framework structure, including measurement areas, indicators, elements, and attributes that define how companies are evaluated.

Benchmark Data — Actual assessment results, including scores at multiple levels of granularity from overall benchmark scores down to individual attribute values.

About WBA Benchmarks

The World Benchmarking Alliance produces benchmarks across multiple thematic areas:

Social Transformation

• Social Benchmark
• Gender Benchmark
• Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

Climate and Energy

• ACT Core Benchmark
• Just Transition Benchmark

Nature and Food Systems

• Food and Agriculture Benchmark
• Nature Benchmark
• Ocean Benchmark

Digital Systems

• Digital Inclusion Benchmark
• Ranking Digital Rights Index

Urban Systems

• Urban Benchmark

Each benchmark assesses companies using a structured methodology organized into measurement areas, indicators, elements, and attributes.

Getting Started

Accessing the Data Explorer

The WBA Data Explorer is available at: data.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org

Creating an Account

Registration is required to access the Data Explorer. To create an account:

1. Click Sign In on the portal homepage
2. Click Don't have an account yet? Register
3. Complete the registration form:
   • Name — Your full name
   • Organisation — The name of your organisation
   • Organisation Type — Select from the dropdown list
   • Email — Your email address
   • Password — Create a secure password
4. Click Sign Up to submit (this confirms your acceptance of the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy)
5. You will be redirected to a verification screen
6. Check your email for a 6-digit verification code
   • If you do not receive it within a few minutes, check your spam folder
   • You can request a new code if needed
7. Enter the verification code to complete registration

Once registered, you can sign in at any time using your email and password.

Signing In

If you already have an account:

1. Click Sign In in the top navigation bar
2. Enter your email and password
3. Click Sign In to access the portal

Portal Overview

Once signed in, you will see:

1. Navigation bar — Links to Home, Data, and Documentation
2. Welcome section — Introduction to the portal with API access request option
3. Data sections — Three main areas: Company Data, Methodology Data, and Benchmark Data
4. Data tiles — Quick access cards to specific datasets within each section

First Steps

1. Explore the homepage — Review the available data categories and datasets
2. Click on a data tile — Navigate to any dataset that interests you
3. Browse the data — Use the data section to explore records
4. Apply filters — Narrow down results using the filtering options
5. Download — Export the datasets you need

Navigating the Explorer

Understanding the Data Structure

The Data Explorer organizes information into three main tabs, each containing multiple datasets.

Company Data

Company Data provides foundational information about the companies in our benchmarks. It contains six datasets:

Companies — Core company information including identifiers (ISIN, LEI), industry classification, geographic location.

Footprint Attributes — Company characteristics such as size, sector-specific metrics, and operational footprint data.

Climate Profiles — Climate-related company information including science-based targets status and net-zero commitments.

Emissions — Greenhouse gas emissions data including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions where available.

Targets — Climate-related targets set by companies including emissions reduction goals and timelines.

Sources — References to the documents and reports used as evidence.

Methodology Data

Methodology Data explains the structure of our assessment frameworks. It contains four datasets:

Measurement Areas — The highest level of the methodology hierarchy, representing broad thematic areas of assessment.

Indicators — Specific aspects being measured within each measurement area.

Elements — Detailed components that make up each indicator.

Attributes — The most granular level — individual data points or metrics that inform the element assessments.

Benchmark Data

Benchmark Data contains the actual assessment results. It contains five datasets:

Benchmarks — Overall benchmark scores for each company by benchmark and year.

Measurement Areas — Company scores at the measurement area level.

Indicators — Company scores at the indicator level.

Elements — Company scores at the element level.

Attributes — Individual attribute values with supporting the element assessments.

Data Hierarchy

The data follows a hierarchical structure that flows from general to specific:

Company
  └── Benchmark Score
        └── Measurement Area Scores
              └── Indicator Scores
                    └── Element Scores
                          └── Attribute Values

Navigating Between Datasets

From the main Data view, you can switch between the three main tabs using the tab bar:

• Company Data
• Methodology Data
• Benchmark Data

Within each tab, you can navigate between datasets using the sub-tabs below the filters.

Filtering and Downloading Data

Filtering Data

The Data Explorer provides multiple ways to filter and refine your data view.

Tab-level Filters

Located at the top of each tab, tab-level filters allow you to narrow down data across all datasets within that section.

Company Data filters: Industry, Company

Methodology Data filters: Benchmark

Benchmark Data filters: Benchmark, Industry, Company

To apply a filter:

1. Click on the filter dropdown
2. Select one or more values
3. The data table will automatically update

To clear filters:

• Click the "×" next to a selected filter value, or
• Clear all filters using the reset option

Advanced Filtering

For more precise control, click Advanced Filtering to access additional options:

Rows per page — Control how many records display per page (1, 10, 25, 50, or 100)

Order by — Sort data by any selected column in ascending or descending order

Filter by — Apply column-specific filters using operators (equals, contains, greater than, etc.)

To add an advanced filter:

1. Click Advanced Filtering
2. Select a column from the "Filter by" dropdown
3. Choose an operator (e.g., "== Equals", "Contains")
4. Enter a value
5. Click + Add Filter

Multiple filters can be combined. Active filters appear under "Current filters" and can be removed individually.

Selecting Columns

Not all columns are displayed by default. To customize which columns appear in the table view:

1. Click Column Selection
2. Check or uncheck columns to show or hide them
3. Click outside the panel to apply changes

This is particularly useful when working with datasets that have many fields, allowing you to focus on the data most relevant to your needs.

Downloading Data

To download data from the Data Explorer:

1. Navigate to the dataset you want to download
2. Click the Download button
3. Select the tables you want to include (multiple tables are available within each tab)
4. Click Download

Downloaded files are provided as compressed archives (.zip) containing CSV files.

Note: Downloads include the complete dataset. The current version does not support downloading a filtered subset or custom column selection. Filters and column selections apply only to the on-screen view.

Download Options

When downloading Company Data, as an example, you can select which tables to include:

• Companies
• Company Footprints
• Climate Profiles
• Emissions
• Targets
• Sources

This allows you to download only the level of detail you need.

Pagination

All dataset tables are paginated. At the bottom of each data table, you will see:

• Total number of rows matching your current filters
• Page navigation controls (first, previous, next, last)
• Current page number and total pages

Documentation

The Documentation section provides comprehensive resources to help you make the most of the Data Explorer. You can access it from the navigation bar at the top of the portal.

What you will find

User Guide — You are here. Step-by-step instructions for navigating the portal, filtering data, and downloading datasets.

API Documentation — Technical reference for developers who want to access WBA data programmatically. Includes authentication, endpoints, query parameters, and example requests.

Data Dictionary — Detailed definitions for all fields available in the Data Explorer. Essential for understanding what each data point represents and how to interpret the data correctly.

WBA Glossary — Definitions of key terms and concepts used across WBA benchmarks and assessments, such as "SDG2000", "Measurement Area", "Indicator", and more.

Data Updates

Update Frequency

WBA benchmark data follows an annual assessment cycle. Each benchmark:

1. Assessment period — Companies are assessed during a defined period each year
2. Publication — Final scores are published with the benchmark launch
3. Data availability — Published data becomes available in the Data Explorer

Once published, benchmark data is not modified unless exceptional circumstances.

Contact and Support

If you have any questions, encounter any issues, or need assistance with the Data Explorer or API, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We welcome your feedback and suggestions to help us improve the platform.

FAQs

Q: Do I need an account to use the Data Explorer?

A: Yes, registration is required to access the Data Explorer. Creating an account is free and only requires your email address, password, and basic information about yourself and your organisation.

Q: How often is the data updated?

A: Benchmark data is published annually with each benchmark cycle. Once published, data is not modified.

Q: Is this the same data as on the WBA website?

A: The Data Explorer provides access to more comprehensive data than what is available on the main WBA website, including detailed methodology information, granular assessment data, and evidence sources.

Q: What is the SDG2000?

A: The SDG2000 is a list of approximately 2,000 companies identified as most influential in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, based on their revenue, assets, and sectoral impact.

Q: Where does the data come from?

A: All data in the Data Explorer is publicly sourced from documents and reports published by the companies themselves, including annual reports, sustainability reports, company websites, and other public disclosures.

Q: Why is some data missing for certain companies?

A: Not all companies are assessed in every benchmark. Additionally, some metrics may not be applicable or disclosed for certain companies.

Q: What does the benchmark score represent?

A: Benchmark scores typically range from 0 to 100 and represent a company's overall performance against the benchmark methodology. Higher scores indicate stronger performance on the assessed criteria.

Q: What is the difference between Methodology Data and Benchmark Data?

A: Methodology Data describes the assessment framework (what is measured and how). Benchmark Data contains the actual results (company scores and evidence).

Q: What format is the downloaded data in?

A: Data is downloaded as CSV files within a compressed (.zip) archive.

Q: Can I download a filtered view of the data?

A: Currently, downloads include the complete dataset. Filters and column selections apply only to the on-screen view. This functionality may be added in a future release.

Q: How do I report an error in the data explorer?

A: Please contact the WBA team at [email protected] with details about the data issue you have identified.