While regulatory requirements and enforcements vary around the world, it is universally expected that mandatory disclosures will become increasingly prevalent. That’s why it’s important to start benchmarking performance now – ideally against a globally recognized framework like the World Economic Forum’s Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics. This will protect your company’s market position while local regulations continue to evolve – and will also give you a robust model for mitigating compliance risks.

Starting your reporting journey today is one of the best ways to show your commitment and dedication to ESG transparency standards, and there's no need to wait for perfection before beginning - metrics can always be improved over time. Plus, there is likely a great deal of relevant work your company is already doing. ESG is about making these activities visible to the market. Socialsuite helps you find those quick wins, then we talk about how you can progress and improve your ESG credentials over time.

The days of investors focusing solely on financial statements are long gone. If you want to attract retail investors, institutional investors or fund managers, you’ll need to meet ESG criteria. Society, investors, consumers and employees are expecting companies to grow in a financially sustainable, yet environmentally viable way. ESG isn’t just used by socially conscious investors to screen companies prior to investing, it’s also looked at by customers, consumers and employees when they’re making decisions about what companies to get behind. ESG is a global priority, so if ESG is not a priority for your business, ask yourself why.

Action on ESG is essential for companies seeking investor dollars, regulatory approvals, and the social license to operate. As companies, large and small, face increasing demands from their stakeholders, ESG disclosure is officially no longer a ‘nice to have’. Under growing pressure from government regulators, investors, customers and employees; companies must look to understand the economic realities of ESG – and its impact on people, planet and prosperity.