Overview

Finding value in ESG

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is a way to measure the sustainability and societal impact of an organization or business. ESG reporting is mandatory for certain types of companies, but many organizations are choosing to adopt ESG programs as a sign of good governance to strengthen their competitiveness and value proposition.

Measure sustainability
Prove good governance
Remain competitive

SINGLE-IMAGE_office-workers-in-meeting-no-squares_mar24

Effective ESG reporting

ESG doesn’t fit neatly into one part of a business – it involves a complex range of data and advice from all departments. Having the right GRC systems in place makes it easier to gather, track and report on this data.

Meet regulatory obligations
Set relevant goals and realistic policies
Produce accurate and effective reports

SINGLE-IMAGE_black-woman-smiling-with-tablet_aug24

Meeting ESG requirements

ESG requirements	Ideagen audit and risk solution
Establish a framework of relevant and consistent metrics to measure performance.	Ideagen solutions enable businesses to make a checklist that is bespoke to their requirements. This ensures that no detail will be missed in the reporting stage.
Track and monitor your performance data against key ESG metrics.	Monitor performance, spot patterns and trends and use data to advise on policies and procedures.
Implement the right controls to effectively manage risks relating to ESG.	Ideagen gives risk management teams a way to continuously monitor risks and establish effective controls, and internal audit teams a way to test, report, and advise on those controls.
Deliver consistent year-end reporting to demonstrate accountability for ESG activities.	Ideagen solutions can automate the process of creating and checking disclosures to improve accuracy.

ESG FAQs

Who has to comply with mandatory ESG reporting?

Certain types of companies are subject to mandatory ESG reporting. This is largely determined by their jurisdiction, size, public status, or societal and environment impact.

The requirement is particularly prevalent in countries where the regulatory authorities have imposed ESG reporting obligations, such as the EU member states and certain regions in Asia.

Why are consumers and investors interested in ESG?

There is a growing recognition of the impacts that businesses have on the environment and society. Many consumers want to support companies that are responsible in their operations.

Investors are becoming more aware that ESG factors can significantly affect a company's financial performance and risk profile. They are increasingly demanding transparency on these issues to make informed decisions.

What is an ESG framework?

An ESG framework represents a structured methodology to measure, report and manage an organization's ESG performance. By adopting an ESG framework, organizations can enhance their accountability, foster transparency, mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities related to ESG performance.

Ultimately, this strengthens their competitiveness and value proposition.

How do internal audit teams contribute to ESG compliance?

Internal audit teams conduct independent assessments of an organization's policies, procedures, and controls related to ESG factors, ensuring that they align with regulatory requirements and industry standards. Internal auditors also examine the accuracy and reliability of ESG data reported by the organization, contributing to the credibility of ESG disclosures.

How do risk management teams contribute to ESG compliance?

Risk management teams contribute significantly to ESG compliance. They identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential ESG related risks to the organization. They do this by developing a comprehensive ESG risk management framework which outlines the procedures for assessing the likelihood and impact of various ESG risks.

This framework often includes scenarios related to environmental damage, social unrest, and governance malpractice.

Why does ESG involve the entire business?

By engaging the entire business, ESG initiatives can address considerations across different functions and departments. This might include labor practices and diversity and inclusion on the ‘social’ side, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the ‘environmental’ side, and executive pay and shareholder rights from the ‘governance’ side.

How does software aid ESG compliance?

Software helps to produce efficient, accurate, and reliable reporting. It simplifies the process so that organizations can focus on implementing responsible and sustainable business practices. Software also makes it easier to gather and analyze large amounts of data from across the business.