ESG: A comprehensive guide to the main principles

ESG: A comprehensive guide designed to get you started as part of your corporate governance education. 

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors remain crucial for assessing a company’s commitment to sustainability and ethical behaviour. These non-financial metrics are used by investors, consumers, and regulators to evaluate a company’s performance and long-term potential, making ESG a key driver for continuous improvement and innovation.

ESG is built on three core elements:

• Environmental: This looks at a company’s impact on the planet, focusing on areas like carbon emissions, resource use, waste management, and pollution. It encourages sustainable resource use, lower emissions, and better efficiency.
• Social: This examines a company’s relationships with its staff, customers, suppliers, and communities. It includes labour standards, human rights, diversity, and community engagement. Social sustainability means managing people and suppliers ethically, ensuring fair employment, equal opportunities, work-life balance, and respect for human rights.
• Governance: This assesses a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. It covers board structure, employee pay, customer satisfaction, supply chain resilience, business ethics, and transparency.

The growing importance of ESG is driven by more awareness among consumers and investors, who now demand greater corporate responsibility for social and environmental impacts. 

Institutional investors are putting ESG factors into their investment decisions, seeing good ESG performance as a sign of long-term success. Governments are also introducing regulations, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires detailed climate-related reporting. 

In short, for many, ESG is no longer optional.

The environmental aspect of ESG is about a company’s impact on the planet. Key environmental factors include:

• Climate change: Companies are expected to measure and cut greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy, and adapt to climate risks.
• Resource depletion: Using resources efficiently, cutting waste, and using circular economy models are vital for mitigating resource depletion.
• Pollution: Minimising air, water, and land pollution with cleaner technologies is key.

Companies can improve their environmental impact by:

• Setting emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement.
• Investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
• Improving energy efficiency to reduce consumption.
• Promoting sustainable supply chains by working with environmentally responsible suppliers.
• Reducing waste and encouraging circularity.

The social side of ESG focuses on a company’s relationships with its stakeholders. Key social aspects include:

• Labour standards: Upholding fair labour practices, including safe working conditions, fair pay, and progression opportunities.
• Human rights: Respecting human rights throughout operations and supply chains, avoiding child labour, forced labour, and discrimination.
• Diversity and inclusion: Promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce where all staff are valued.
• Community engagement: Supporting local projects and contributing to community well-being.

Companies can boost their social responsibility by:

• Implementing fair labour practices providing training and development opportunities.
• Carrying out human rights due diligence to spot and address potential risks.
• Implementing policies that promote diversity and inclusion.
• Getting involved in philanthropy, volunteering, and partnerships to support local communities.