ESG channel factors
First of all, what is ESG?
The acronym ESG refers to environmental, social, and governance criteria ( Environment, Social, and Governance ):
these are the 3 main areas that represent the pillars of sustainable investment.
As explained in the previous section, investors evaluate companies using ESG criteria to rate the quality of
the investment and determine the associated risks. In greater detail:
Environmental factors refer to the company's behavior in environmental aspects such as resource depletion, climate change, waste, and pollution.
Social factors are related to the company's treatment of people, workers, and local communities, including health and safety issues.
Governance factors refer to corporate and governance policies, including fiscal strategy, corruption, structure, and remuneration.
Why ESG is so important to your business
In 2018, more than 170 new global regulatory measures were proposed (160% more than in 2017), 80% of which were
directed at institutional investors.
In March 2019, the European Commission also affirmed once again the importance of sustainable investments by
publishing new rules on disclosure requirements related to sustainable investments and sustainability risks.
It is clear that social responsibility is a hot topic in the investment community and regardless of legal
requirements, it is something that you must address within your organization. Since many investors are
incorporating ESG factors into the investment process, integrating sustainability elements into your strategy
can definitely have an impact on your income.
This requires a change in mindset: ESG should be seen as an investment, rather than a cost. As Larry Fink of
BlackRock's states in his 2019 letter to CEOs, “earnings are not inconsistent with purpose; in fact, profit and purpose are inextricably linked. "
What's more, companies that have incorporated ESG into their strategy have seen several benefits, including increased market confidence and shareholder value.
However, planting some forests here and there will not really make a difference. If ESG initiatives are not a representative of the business and environmental impact of the company, these efforts can be lost on investors. Companies need to develop a sustainability intelligence strategy with a full understanding of the
risks and opportunities available, leveraging this information to drive initiatives and track the KPIs that matter.(sustainability Channel)
