EUPD Research ESG

Teamwork on the road to sustainability - Different roles & their challenges 🤝 Employee Representation / Unions In their function within the social and governance structure of a company, employee representation and unions are a crucial pillar of any well-rounded ESG strategy. They act as a bridge between employer and employee interests. 🔍 Their role Employee representation and unions are crucial in advocating for fair labor practices, promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring health and safety, supporting training and development, and enhancing corporate governance in the context of ESG and sustainability management. They represent employee interests in terms of working conditions, safety and health by taking part in their company's ESG discussions and decisions to advocate for them. 🔍 Their challenges Unions and employee representatives face a number of challenges in their work, such as ensuring a productive communication and working relationship between employers and employees when it comes to ESG topics. In this vein, they face hurdles including balancing diverse interests, navigating global and local disparities, dealing with economic pressures, engaging employees, coordinating collective actions, and adapting to changing workforce dynamics. 👉 Are you a member of your company's union and/or employee representation and looking for an objective assessment of your ESG strategy in relation to your specific role in its implementation? Then follow us here and contact our ESG experts Jens Mürke or Annika Rohde. If you send us your ESG report, we will be happy to conduct a GAP analysis in which you will receive our assessment of the current status of your objectives, overall strategy and its communication. #ESG #Unions #EmployeeRepresentation #CSR #Sustainability

APPLY NOW 🏆 ESG Transparency Award 2024 | Deadline - September 15, 2024 Applications are now open for the ESG Transparency Award! With this award, we honour the transparency of organizations' ESG reports as well as their basic sustainability goals and measures. The award ceremony will take place during the European Sustainability week hosted by EUPD Research at the ESG Summit on December 11, 2024 at the Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel & Spa. ✍️ To be considered, you can apply for free starting now by sending us your latest sustainability report – the award is open for companies of all sizes and across the different industries that operate in Europe or offer their goods/services here. You can benefit from our assessment regardless of the maturity level of your ESG Reporting. While the best organizations have the chance to receive the ESG TRANSPARENCY AWARD, companies at the beginning of their ESG reporting and/or sustainability transformation journey benefit from a first assessment of their own results. The high diversity of the 2023 award winners already showed the cross-industry and cross-size class recognition of the importance of corresponding commitments. Last year's award-winning organisations such as Bayer, Klüber Lubrication, AbbVie, Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE, ARD, HUGO BOSS, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and many more can be found on the official award website linked in the comments. #ESGTransparencyAward #ESG #CorporateSustainability #Transparency #ESGReporting #ESGTA

Starting the Week with Mark💡Sustainability as a Pillar of a Successful Business Our team welcomes you in this new week - let's start it creatively, with a rhyme by Mark Wilzinger, who is responsible for our customer relations. Mark emphasizes that including sustainability in an organization's strategy is a major contributor for benefits in all business areas. According to him, sustainability measures are building blocks for improving not only the environment but other aspects such as social and economical as well. In the long run, building a sustainable way of doing business into its foundation benefits everyone: 🎤 "Embedding sustainability in our plans is key, for growth, trust, and resilience, you'll see. Sustainable practices shape our way, benefiting environment, community, and economy every day." #SustainabilityManagement #ESG #CorproateSustainability #Sustainability

Teamwork on the road to sustainability - Different roles & their challenges 🤝 Financial Department Since finances are central to running a successful organization, financial departments play an important role in the implementation of any ESG strategy - in terms of investment as well as aligning financial practices with sustainability goals. In this function they have a variety of responsibilities and face challenges as well: 🔍 Their role  The financial department is responsible for providing financial information for ESG reporting as well as integrating ESG metrics into their financial reporting and analysis. Ensuring the transparency for all of these ESG reporting-related responsibilities is another vital aspect of their work within a successful ESG strategy. In all of this, taking stakeholder ESG expectations and feedback into account when planning financial strategies is important as well. Last but not least, managing cost and efficiency within their budget is another pillar. 🔍 Their challenges The financial department of an organization faces challenges when it comes to the mentioned responsibilities: For one, the identification and integration of relevant ESG metrics into existing financial reporting structures can pose such a challenge. This includes  the quantification of non-financial aspects such as environmental and social services as well. Financial departments are faced with balancing performance and sustainability, a lack of standardization that is only starting to be rectified - including connected regulatory complexity - and more. 👉 Are you a member of your company's financial department and looking for an objective assessment of your ESG strategy in relation to your specific role in its implementation? Then follow us here and contact our ESG experts Jens Mürke or Annika Rohde. If you send us your ESG report, we will be happy to conduct a GAP analysis in which you will receive our assessment of the current status of your objectives, overall strategy and its communication. #ESG #Finances #CorporateSustainability #ESGReporting

💡 Introducing the ESG Transparency Committee We are proud to introduce you to our newly appointed ESG Transparency Committee! This esteemed collaborative group of professionals makes it their mission to advance the implementation and success of ESG - and we created a space for them to work on that vision together. All members left a positive lasting impression as winners of the #ESGTransparencyAward 2023. They were subsequently offered a spot on our ESG Transparency Committee based on their proven expertise in exemplary integration and transparency of their company's environmental, social and economical sustainability. Teamwork and collaboration are key aspects for advancing the transformation toward a sustainable and resilient economy - so we want to support experts and pioneers in the ESG field. Additionally, we are aware that including a variety of perspectives is vital for well-rounded research and evaluation, which is why the committee contributes to the continuous and interdisciplinary development of our ESG Reporting Evaluation Standard. 🙏 Let's get to work! Find out more about the ESG Transparency Committee on our website (see link in the commentary below). A warm welcome to the committee members that joined us so far, among others: Nils Detje Lara Schulte Astrid Deufel Diana Pauly Markus Kihm Dirk Friebel Charlotte Kaspari Markus M.J. Hermann Sebastian J. Leins Felix Schwörer Baris Kilic Christian Michels Lukas Manke Svetlana Thaller-Honold Andre Thiesen Henning Osmers-Rentzsch Volker Stein (Univ.-Prof. Dr.) Samuel Frey Dr. Irene Schönreiter Anja Nacken Jan Spreter Dr. Sophie Winter Nathalie M. Astrid Bayer Melanie Borsos Aline Mittag Leonora Beyhl Gudrun Schumann Gregor Steiger Stefan Mueller Silvia Wittl Michaela Thiel Florian Schmiedler József Bőhm Matthias Meinecke Dr. Marlene Fischer Katharina Höfner Stefan Koczula Andreas Hasslinger #ESGTransparencyCommittee #Teamwork #Collaboration #ESGReporting #ESG #Sustainability

Starting the Week with Annika 💡On the Importance of Highlighting ESG Excellence Let's start the week together with insights from our ESG Team! Our Head of ESG Operations, Annika Rohde starts us off with her thoughts on why it is important to highlight and honor successful ESG measures. It sends a signal to the industry that creating and implementing a comprehensive, transparent ESG and sustainability strategy for your company is possible and comes with a set of advantages. 🍃 Environmental sustainability is not only an issue that should concern everyone on this planet, but the areas of social and governance are also becoming increasingly important - especially in terms of compliance with new regulations and meeting the expectations of public stakeholders such as new employees or customers. Creating a transparent framework leads to trust in these strategies. According to Annika, rewarding excellence in this area serves as an encouragement to others: 🎤 "It's important to highlight corporate sustainability management because it inspires other companies to increase transparency in their ESG activities and extend the reach of sustainability initiatives. Let's create a sustainable future together!" #SustainabilityManagement #ESG #CorproateSustainability #Sustainability #Transparency

Teamwork on the road to sustainability - Different roles & their challenges 🤝 IT Department Once an ESG strategy is in its development stages, IT departments take on a vital role and can contribute greatly to its success. Technology can be leveraged for creating helpful tools and frameworks, which comes with its own set of tasks and challenges: 🔍 Their role One of the main jobs for IT departments is the provision and upkeep of ESG data collection and analysis. A comprehensive framework for ESG reporting is central for data security and integrity. It ensures that the data is readily available for the transparency of ESG measures. This includes developing and implementing software solution to automate the mentioned ESG data collection processes. 🔍 Their challenges  The creation of a framework like this leads to a range of challenges for IT departments. Ensuring that the collected ESG data is secure and and its storage adheres to regulations is one of those. Another one is integrating the new ESG software into the existing IT infrastructure and processes of an organization. Additionally, new IT structures and the data centers needed for a digitalized ESG reporting consume more energy, which is challenging when one of the goals of ESG is a sustainable way of doing business. This means smartly managing resources and avoiding unnecessary E-waste. 👉 Are you a member of your company's IT department and looking for an objective assessment of your ESG strategy in relation to your specific role in its implementation? Then follow us here and contact our ESG experts Jens Mürke or Annika Rohde. If you send us your ESG report, we will be happy to conduct a GAP analysis in which you will receive our assessment of the current status of your objectives, overall strategy and its communication. #ESG #Organization #CSR #Sustainability #IT

ESG in Europe 🇪🇺 Awareness, Compliance and Regulations Amidst rising awareness and subsequently shifting public pressure, as well as regulatory changes, the European ESG landscape is evolving at a rapid pace.   📈One of the driving factors is investor demand. According to a 2023 survey by FTSE Russell, An LSEG Business, 80% of international asset owners are currently evaluating the implementation of ESG/Sustainability considerations in investment strategies. Comparatively, 73% of European investors stated to view climate/carbon as a sustainability issue that takes priority, while only 53% of investors in the USA did the same. 🔎From the regulatory side, the EU is leading the way in introducing ESG guidelines and regulations. Important frameworks and legislature include the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which focuses on transparency as a tool towards broad ESG implementation. It includes the extensive disclosure of data on ESG factors - carbon emissions, waste managements, DEI, governance and more. 👥This trend toward transparent, overreaching ESG integration into business practices also stems from the fact that public perception and pressure is increasing. This makes ESG a publicity issue as well. Stakeholders like consumers and employees are looking for more sustainable and socially aware practices, including more accountability and transparency: According to a 2023 EU study, a majority of young people consider defined social (75%) or environmental (73%) goals to be important when looking for potential employers. All in all, the European ESG landscape is varied and influenced by a variety of factors. Taking this into account, the ESG-Summit, happening in the context of the European Sustainability Week in December, is expanding its scope to include organizations and companies from across Europe this year! Stay tuned for information in the coming weeks and visit our website: https://lnkd.in/g6DyE6FR Get the full "7th Annual Sustainable Investment Asset Owner survey 2023" by LSEG: https://lnkd.in/gy2TDx-B More on the EU survey "Social entrepreneurship and youth": https://lnkd.in/gb2bRuUK #ESG #Europe #InvestmentTrends #Environment #Social #Governance #CSR #EU

ESG & DEI 🌈 The importance of promoting inclusivity and diversity The social aspect is a central building block of any ESG strategy. Employees are crucial for every company; measures to ensure a diverse and inclusive working environment should be a priority for everyone. DEI - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - is the umbrella term for the support and promotion of women, minorities and other underrepresented groups at all levels of a company, including management positions. 🌎 Promoting a diverse, well-treated and equal workforce has proven to be one of the responsibilities of companies in the ESG and CSR context. In addition, providing support structures, inclusion measures and accessibility for people from all walks of life in terms of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability and more leads to a more diverse pool of ideas and perspectives. This emphasises once again that sustainable, fair and equal business practices are interlinked and that all ESG areas go hand in hand! 🤝 📋 Wondering how well your company is positioned in terms of DEI and your overall ESG strategy? Then contact Jens Mürke or Annika Rohde for an objective assessment through a GAP analysis! #DEI #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #ESG #CorporateResponsibility

Teamwork on the road to sustainability - Different roles & their challenges 🤝 HR As the entity that is tasked with the management of a company's workforce, HR departments play a pivotal role in its ESG strategy. By taking care of their various responsibilities and overcoming challenges, they have the potential to significantly contribute to the success of ESG and sustainability measures. 🔍 Their role HR departments are responsible for fostering and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within a company - this includes hiring practices, policies and creating an appropriate workplace environment. Further, they are tasked with managing, developing and implementing ESG-related training and development programs for employees - in addition to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of their employees. 🔍 Their challenges When it comes to their role in a company's ESG strategy, HR departments are faced with several challenges. For example, they need to successfully promote a culture of sustainability and diversity among employees - sometimes in opposition to existing mindsets within an organization. Taken DEI measures need to be monitored and reported as well, which poses a challenges from a resource perspective. In general, HR departments might be faced with resource constraints - both for sustainability initiatives and limited time for balancing ESG and other HR responsibilities. From the other side, they might face hurdles connected to recruiting and binding talent that shares ESG values. Prospective employees that place importance on a company's ESG measures should informed and shown how ESG is integrated into the company culture. 👉 Are you a member of your company's HR department and looking for an objective assessment of your ESG strategy in relation to your specific role in its implementation? Then follow us here and contact our ESG experts Jens Mürke or Annika Rohde. If you send us your ESG report, we will be happy to conduct a GAP analysis in which you will receive our assessment of the current status of your objectives, overall strategy and its communication. #ESG #HR #Organization #CSR #Sustainability