PLAN

Getting your ESG strategy moving

PLAN

Once you have established your business ESG objectives and you have identified reporting opportunities, it is time to get it down into a plan. Applying a clear framework and roadmap ensures accountability, transparency and creates a compelling story for shareholders and stakeholders. This also defines measurements of success for the strategy and provides quality and consistency in reporting.

There is a selection of pre-requisite reporting frameworks that businesses can choose from for ESG. Though there is yet to be a reporting standard, these frameworks have been recognised by the International Sustainability Standards (ISSB) as being fit for purpose. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
The most widely used standards for sustainability reporting and offers a framework on how to measure and report on ESG metrics.Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
Provides a framework of industry-specific sustainability standards that businesses can report on - split into five areas: Environment, Social Capital, Human Capital, Business Model & Innovation, and Leadership & Governance.CDP
This is specifically for businesses to report on carbon emissions. The framework can be used to ‘rate’ your greenhouse gas emissions and water usage and provide insight for improvement.UN Global Compact (UNGC)
Provides a framework based around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - the United Nations 17-step guide for the role of organisations to be more sustainable. B Impact Assessment
Though not specific to ESG, the B Impact Assessment is a CSR-driven framework for organisations looking to achieve B Corporation status - scoring high enough in areas such as social and environmental impact.Global economic sustainability advisors, MovingWorlds, have put together a comparison table of these frameworks and whom they best suit.

	Primary Purpose	Audience of Reporting	Works Well With…	Primary Business User
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)	Help companies understand what ESG and CSR factors they can measure and manage, and guidance on how to do so	All stakeholders, including investors	SASB, CDP, UNGC	Chief Finance, Legal, HR, and Sustainability Officers
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)	Help companies understand what ESG factors are material to their business, and should be disclosed to investors	Primarily investors	GRI	Chief Executive, Finance and Legal Officers
CDP	Help companies understand how effective they are at managing water and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and helping investors rate and rank them	Primarily investors	GRI	Head of ESG, Chief Finance Officer
UN Global Compact (UMGC)	Help companies set ESG and CSR targets in service of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals	All stakeholders, including investors	GRI	Chief Executive, Finance and Legal Officers
B Impact Assessment	An overall assessment on all CSR factors that go into making a business more responsible	All stakeholders, primarily partners and consumers	GRI, UNGC	Chief Executive, Finance, Legal, HR, Sustainability, Product, Technology Officers and Head of CSR