ESG
ROADMAP SERVICES

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  • Reduce your environmental footprint
  • Reduce your ESG-related risks
  • Level your business by acquiring new contracts
  • Attract new talents

Reduce your environmental footprint

As a company, you’re responsible for the impact of your activities on the environment. By having an ESG Roadmap, you’re taking conscious steps to reduce that negative impact.

Be ready to meet the demands of major clients, banks, investors, and your customers

Major companies are asking their suppliers to become ESG compliant. Banks and Investors consider ESG factors when determining whether to invest in a company on not. End consumers tend to look at the companies’ environmental and social impact before purchasing. Take your business one step further by becoming ESG Compliant.

Attract new talents

In an economy where talent is scarce, it’s essential to be an attractive employer and to have strong employer branding. Today, candidates apply to companies that share their values, try to reduce their impact on the environment, and give back to communities. 

Reduce your ESG-related risks

With the right governance and a proper roadmap, your ESG disclosures will be more transparent, and you’ll be able to reduce any associated risk. 

Develop a competitive advantage and key competencies

Today, governmental bids and companies’ RFPs include ESG clauses. Having a roadmap and becoming compliant will give you a competitive advantage when bidding against other players. 

Level your business by acquiring new contracts

A proper ESG roadmap and becoming compliant opens many doors and business opportunities.

ESG refers to a set of criteria used to assess the impact of a company on the environment, society, and corporate governance.

The Environment criteria (E) focuses on the company’s environmental footprint and includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy efficiency, water management, waste management and recycling, climate risks, etc. The Social criteria (S) examines how the company treats its employees, customers, and stakeholders; and includes health and safety, working conditions, employee benefits, diversity and inclusion, human rights, impact on local communities, etc. The Governance criteria (G) focused on the company’s leadership, transparency, and accountability; it includes ethics, board diversity, audit, internal control, shareholder rights, etc.

ESG provides a holistic picture of a company’s overall sustainability and corporate responsibility. Today banks and investors use ESG to assess companies as they turn to more sustainable investments. On the other hand, candidates are also looking at ESG metrics as they’d like to work for companies that match their values, and consumers tend to support companies that positively impact the environment and society. 

Whether your investors or clients are pressuring you to be ESG compliant or you’re looking to play your part as a responsible corporate citizen, GPSI can help you create your ESG roadmap. GPSI aims to assist you in defining your mission and vision for sustainable development and to support you by establishing eco-responsible objectives and developing an ESG strategy.

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Services

The ESG roadmap starts with a clear definition of your sustainable development vision based on your values. We’ll also consider your stakeholders’ concerns to set sustainable development objectives and prioritize them in a detailed action plan. The environmental policy will define the framework of the strategy, directs the actions in line with the vision, and confirm the company’s position as a responsible citizen.

Step 1: ESG definition

Setting your ESG goals is the first step of your ESG roadmap. These will be corporate objectives to meet environmental, social, and governance requirements following the ESG framework standards. 

Your ESG objectives and sustainable development vision and mission will be determined to reflect your values. We will identify your internal and external stakeholders, highlight their priority sustainable development issues, and produce a relevant matrix to visualize them according to their importance.

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Step 2: Sustainable strategy & action plan

The second step will be to identify the short-, medium-, and long-term sustainable development objectives for each dimension: environmental, social, economic, and governance. 

These objectives include deploying eco-responsible initiatives within the company, process improvement, establishing key performance indicators, and creating policies or codes of conduct. A wide range of actions will then be defined, including the ability of the company to carry them out over a given period of time. This action plan will be an integral part of the corporate strategy and will be updated on a regular basis. This step is crucial as a complete action plan will derive from these objectives.

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Step 3: Environmental policy

Once the above items are completed, the last step of the ESG Roadmap is a written commitment in the form of an environmental policy. This policy defines the framework of the strategy, directs the actions in line with the vision, and confirms the company’s position as a responsible citizen.

An environmental policy is your company’s commitment to improving your environmental impact.

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OUR APPROACH

We advocate for a consulting approach that places people at the forefront of our priorities. This methodology underscores our reverence for knowledge—a vast realm that our consultants diligently acquire through unwavering commitment and passion.

Our reliance on our know-how is paramount in steering decision-making tailored to the unique contexts of each business. We offer personalized support by attentively listening to your needs and guiding your efforts.

Our commitment to delivering quality services and meeting customer needs is realized through precise mandates. In practical terms, this involves:

  • Adapting our language,
  • Formulating clear and comprehensive questions,
  • Communicating potential consequences resulting from decisions,
  • Sharing relevant information within the organization,
  • Fostering a culture of education and mutual learning.

By adhering to these principles, we ensure not only the excellence of our services but also an implementation that aligns seamlessly with the requirements of our valued clients.

  • Step 1

    Understand your business’s goals

  • Assess the company’s current ESG efforts

    Step 2

  • Step 3

    Create a relevant matrix

  • Develop action plans

    Step 4

Why is an ESG Roadmap important?

Why is an ESG Roadmap important?

WHY GPSI

Sustainability Expertise

Tailor-made solutions

Real time visibility on your deliverables

Abides by the latest ESG norms & standards

EcoVadis Approved Training Partner

WHY GPSI

Sustainability Expertise

Tailor-made solutions

Real time visibility on your deliverables

Abides by the latest ESG norms & standards

EcoVadis Approved Training Partner

SERVICE FEATURES

  • Tailored environmental policy

  • Tailored made roadmap

  • Detailed action plan

  • Effective tools

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This testimonial features a conversation with Jean and Vincent Bouchard, led by Shantala Hickey, on their company’s journey towards social responsibility through an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiative. Jean Bouchard highlights curiosity as the primary catalyst for pursuing ESG, leading them to collaborate with Global Partner Solutions for an ESG strategy tailored to their small firm. This process involved a diagnostic of company processes and stakeholder engagement, resulting in an action plan for improved performance. Vincent Bouchard appreciates the clarity the initiative brought in understanding stakeholders’ expectations, which was somewhat surprising but overwhelmingly positive, with stakeholders committed to the company’s long-term sustainability.

The ESG initiative, especially impactful in their small business setting, engaged employees across all ages, fostering a sense of purpose and enhancing internal communication. As a follow-up, the company has established committees to continuously refine internal processes and incorporate client feedback, emphasizing ongoing improvement and adaptability in their sustainability efforts.

Jean Bouchard advises other companies considering ESG initiatives to genuinely involve all stakeholders, particularly employees, in the process, emphasizing that the benefits of such initiatives extend beyond the company to positively impact the entire business dynamic. The conversation concludes with an affirmation of the value of ESG initiatives for companies aiming to understand and harness the benefits of sustainable development.

Testimonial: Bouchard Girard – A Journey towards Social Responsibility

Shantala Hickey

We sincerely thank Jean and Vincent for graciously sharing their experience in undertaking a sustainable development approach within their organization. To begin, I’d like to inquire about the catalyst that led you to invest time in an ESG initiative.

Jean Bouchard

For me, I would say it was curiosity. We often hear about ESG without fully understanding all its implications. This prompted us to engage Global Partner Solutions to develop ESG for a small company, a small firm like ours.

Shantala Hickey

The mandate involved conducting a diagnostic of the company’s processes and procedures. We also engaged your stakeholders, and based on their responses, we were able to create an action plan aimed at improving your performance. What were your impressions of this process?

Vincent Bouchard

There were things we knew to some extent, but GPSI truly enabled us, with the matrix, to better pinpoint the expectations of our stakeholders. From there, we were able to establish a concrete action plan with others.

Shantala Hickey

Indeed, the matrix allowed for a clear identification of your stakeholders’ priorities. Were there any surprising elements that emerged from your stakeholders’ feedback?

Vincent Bouchard

All stakeholders are dedicated to the long-term sustainability of the company, whether it’s the employees or our clients. We truly feel an engagement from our employees in ensuring this sustainability.

Shantala Hickey

As a small business with fewer than twenty employees, what were the most significant effects of the ESG initiative you undertook?

Jean Bouchard

Within the firm, I believe each employee felt engaged by the initiative and responded positively. The younger ones were ready to change things and improve processes, while the older ones were a bit more passive. This initiative energized everyone and increased interaction within our company. In my opinion, that was the most notable outcome of the initiative.

Shantala Hickey

Have you considered the next steps? Are there ongoing projects following this sustainability analysis and diagnosis?

Vincent Bouchard

Essentially, that’s it. We have already established committees, a social committee, and an administrative committee. They meet quarterly. The goal is to improve, to change our internal processes, and also to gather feedback from our clients to enhance our approach.

Shantala Hickey

So, you’ve already implemented certain elements that you’ll continue to pursue for progression, adjusting along the way this year?

Jean Bouchard

Yes, exactly. Essentially, the goal is continuous improvement. It will also compel us to evolve in the ESG process. We can’t implement everything at the outset. There will be a lot of trial and error, but nonetheless, it allows the organization to progress overall and continuously improve.

Shantala Hickey

What would you recommend to a company hesitant to embark on an ESG initiative? Do you have any advice or recommendations for such a company?

Jean Bouchard

The first piece of advice, I would say for leaders who want to embark on this journey, is to genuinely involve all stakeholders in the process, naturally including all employees. I believe that’s the most important element. In other words, the positive effects will ultimately return to the leaders, as the organization, the stakeholders, everything, the whole dynamic will change. Everything will improve. Do it for others first, and then you will see the benefits for yourself as a business leader.

Shantala Hickey

Thank you for sharing your insights on the sustainable development approach you’ve undertaken. It’s very enlightening for companies seeking to understand the positive effects of embarking on this journey.

FAQs

Many companies use the terms “CSR” and “ESG” interchangeably. However, they have different meanings, concepts, and objectives. CSR stands for corporate social responsibility and focuses on a company’s strategy to meet corporate goals.

On the other hand, ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance, reflecting a business’s impact on the environment, society, and administration. CSR improves various aspects of a company and society, promoting a positive brand image and ensuring ethical, financial, and philanthropic responsibilities.

ESG allows companies to identify and manage environmental and societal risks. It ensures trust and transparency with stakeholders and investors. CSR and ESG are critical in streamlining a company’s operations and improving its bottom line.

Implementing eco-performance technology in your business can lead to better financial performance and help your company save hundreds of thousands of dollars. For example, you can use energy-efficient lighting systems, HVAC equipment, and appliance to reduce electricity consumption.

Thus, this can lower monthly electricity bills and maintain efficiency. In addition, automated lighting and temperature control systems using solar or wind power can optimize energy and reduce waste.

Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable sources that produce electricity can help you generate your own electricity. So this reduces your company’s reliance on fossil fuels and lowers the carbon footprint, allowing you to achieve your ESG goals.

We recommend a cutting-edge electricity management system to track consumption in real-time and gain insights into your company’s electricity use patterns. An advanced system tailored to your company’s needs can help you identify problematic areas and modify your strategy to reduce electricity waste.

According to Forbes, brand image is essential for companies in different industries, allowing them to develop substantial brand equity and successfully compete in the market. You contribute to your brand image by knowing and communicating your brand value and creating a satisfactory customer experience.

Research shows that developing and implementing an ESG strategy offers many benefits, such as compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, providing customers with valuable products or services, retaining existing clients, and attracting new ones, leading to brand reputation and value.

In addition, you can reduce various risks, such as carbon footprint, waste products, modern slavery, regulatory issues, violation of human rights at the workplace, child labor, etc. Incorporating ESG-related strategies can:

  • Increase customer loyalty
  • Improve stakeholder trust
  • Reduce reputational risks
  • Streamline media coverage
  • Increase employee engagement
  • Attract talented employees
  • Mitigate negative publicity

ESG laws focus on environmental, social, and governance-related problems and complications experienced by companies in various industries. According to Law Insider, it includes codes, regulations, standards, protocols, and by-laws based on the United Nations (UN) Principles of Responsible Investing.

For instance, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has developed laws or requirements for companies, requiring them to disclose information/data that may impact their financial performance.

Although the SEC has not mandated any specific reporting framework, it has documented guidelines for companies to help them provide real-time and valuable ESG data to investors and other stakeholders.

According to Comply Direct, companies in the UK must report on their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions under 2019’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations.

Besides, the UK government has established the “Task Force on Climate-Financial Disclosures (TCFD),” allowing businesses to disclose their climate-related opportunities and risks.

European Union developed the “Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)” in 2023. The law will go functional in the 2024 fiscal year. According to Brightest, the law requires businesses to monitor, analyze, and report their environmental, social, and governance activities based on the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) guidelines and metrics.

89% of investors prefer reporting or measurement of ESG performance. ESG metrics are crucial because they encourage companies to streamline their performance and progress toward ESG goals. Greenhouse gas emissions, living wages, taxes, diversity, and inclusion percentages are common ESG metrics to measure.

You must develop a systematic approach to measuring ESG metrics. We suggest identifying your business’s relevant ESG indicators and collecting accurate and reliable data for each indicator. Remember, you must analyze the data to identify areas of improvement and streamline the process.

Moreover, you must report your ESG performance to stakeholders through recognized standards and frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative. Reviewing ESG performance is essential for companies to check whether everything goes smoothly.

If there are any problems, you can make necessary changes in your strategy, analyze the data, and adjust your reporting methods accordingly. Keep in mind that continuous improvement is essential to accurate, reliable, and result-driven ESG metrics measurement.

You can use different methods to evaluate your company’s ESG performance. Research shows that materiality assessments allow businesses to determine the most relevant ESG issues to investors and stakeholders.

So this enables you to prioritize your ESG initiatives, analyze real-time data, gain valuable insights, and allocate resources efficiently and reliably. According to SASB, ESG disclosures through appropriate frameworks can help businesses measure their ESG performance and identify areas for improvement.

For example, SASB highlights different frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which can help companies to disclose their ESG performance to investors and stakeholders.

MCSI highlights the significance of ESG ratings and rankings given by third-party evaluations to provide a company with transparent, reliable, and accurate ESG performance reports.

So, you can hire a third-party company to streamline the process because they have a team of qualified, experienced, and skilled professionals with access to data sources and frameworks, which help them assess your business’s ESG performance. Thus, you can use the received rating to identify problematic areas and develop strategies to improve your ESG performance.

Integrating ESG into your company operations or strategies requires focusing on and implementing environmental, social, and governance factors. The purpose is to promote sustainability and streamline decision-making, particularly regarding the investment process.

It also promotes ESG ethics and values to stakeholders and shareholders. Deloitte recommends five ways to integrate ESG into a company’s strategy. These include:

  1. Defining ESG priorities with specific objectives that align with your company’s vision and mission
  2. Streamlining data collection, analysis, and reporting
  3. Evaluating relationships with companion companies and third-party agencies and determining how they impact your ESG strategy
  4. Communicating your ESG strategy to the public, including your customers, to ensure transparency and reliability (Note: this requires you to implement a standard reporting framework)
  5. Adopting and implementing new technologies, such as renewable energy, to reduce the carbon footprint and promote a healthier ecosystem

Investors focus on a company’s performance and financial metrics to make informed decisions. ESG information provides investors valuable insights regarding a company’s long-term risks and opportunities. According to OECD, these two factors are directly proportional to financial performance.

In addition, investors use real-time data to evaluate and analyze a company’s ESG performance. For example, an investor can use quantitative data on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, or water usage. Likewise, the investor can use social data, such as employee satisfaction or turnover, labor practices, and diversity metrics.

Bear in mind that analyzing governance data, including shareholder rights, can help investors make informed decisions. The question is: How do investors access this data? They retrieve data from ESG rating agencies, third-party databases, and the company’s own disclosures.

However, investors experience many challenges when collecting data from companies. Oracle has highlighted these challenges and complications that prevent investors from streamlining the process. These problems include:

  • No mandatory reporting standards on ESG data
  • Difficulty assessing material factors relevant to a company’s performance
  • Variations in rankings and ratings from different rating agencies because each third-party firm uses different algorithmic techniques or tools

According to Walters Kluwer, companies experience various challenges when implementing ESG practices, particularly reporting-related strategies. These include multiple ESG frameworks, changing laws and regulations, ineffective data management tools, inability to quantify ESG risks, and evaluating ESG performance to modify or improve plans.

ACUITY Knowledge Partners highlights various problems that prevent businesses from streamlining their ESG strategies. These challenges are the inability to understand key performance indicators (KPIs), not identifying relevant stakeholder groups, lack of tools to track ESG data, and difficulty analyzing material topics.

While a company can use different strategies and methods to communicate its ESG efforts and performance to its stakeholders, experts recommend ESG reporting and disclosure methods to streamline the process and provide accurate information to customers, regulators, employees, and shareholders.

Embracing end-to-end transparency is another sophisticated method to communicate ESG performance to your stakeholders. For example, you must disclose information like origin or products, material inputs, manufacturing methods, storage, and transportation practices to investors and customers.

Otherwise, you may not build brand influence and earn customer loyalty. Other methods to streamline the process include generating sustainability reports based on real-time data, CSR reports, AGMs, investor presentations, websites or blogs, social media pages, marketing campaigns, and sustainability certifications.

Most businesses find it challenging to align their ESG efforts with the company values and goals. The reason is that they lack an understanding of laws, regulations, KPIs, tools, and techniques. You can optimize the process by conducting a materiality assessment to identify ESG-related problems relevant to your company and stakeholders.

We recommend developing a sustainable strategy, integrating ESG factors in decision-making, such as supply chain management, training employees, establishing relevant metrics or KPIs, and reviewing policies to align ESG efforts with your company’s values and goals.

Small businesses can implement ESG practices to ensure sustainability, reduce costs, and improve their brand reputation. The purpose is to clearly communicate your small business’s ESG efforts and attract customers, particularly those who prefer and prioritize sustainability.

Similarly, you can source fresh and organic ingredients from local and sustainable suppliers to lower transportation costs. Remember, sourcing ingredients from local suppliers will support the local economy. Thus, this is an excellent way to fulfill your social responsibilities.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is an integral part of the supply chain companies, allowing them to streamline their management practices and achieve sustainability goals.

Integrating ESG practices into supply chain management can reduce risks, improve sustainability, and enhance brand reputation. A sophisticated ESG strategy can help suppliers:

  • Lower carbon emissions
  • Optimize energy use in logistics and transportation
  • Ensure human and labor rights
  • Reduce waste
  • Implement principles related to a circular economy
  • Manage climate change, societal issues, and other ESG risks

You can use different methods and strategies to communicate and engage stakeholders on ESG-related risks and complications. For example, you can use sustainability reports and surveys to understand stakeholders’ perspectives on environmental, social, and governance issues.

In addition, we recommend establishing employee and customer committees or advisory groups that communicate with and engage these stakeholders. You can also host webinars to educate them on ESG-related risks.

Similarly, use digital channels, such as dedicated portals and social media, to communicate on ESG initiatives, efforts, and performance. Moreover, we recommend educating and training on ESG concepts to customers and employees.

A solid ESG strategy can help you identify and evaluate ESG risks and their effects on business operations, such as resource scarcity, climate change, and social unrest. When you analyze historical and real-time data, you can address ESG risks and their impact on your company’s operations and financial performance.

Research shows that ESG risk scores or ratings are an excellent way for companies to measure exposure to environmental, social, and governance risks. So, you can mitigate climate-related risks, ensure workplace safety, promote human rights, implement anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices, and remain compliant with laws and regulations.

A lack of transparency and accuracy in ESG reporting can do more harm to your company. Therefore, you must focus on these two factors to achieve your goals. We recommend using standardized ESG reporting frameworks like GRI and SASB to streamline the process.

In addition, communicate with third-party agencies and let them evaluate your ESg performance and provide you with accurate ratings and rankings. Independent ESG audits are another way to identify problematic areas and modify your strategy based on valuable insights from data analytics.

A solid ESG strategy is essential to attracting and retaining skilled employees. The reason is that most people are passionate about the environment and society and prefer companies that employ a sophisticated ESG strategy.

For instance, when your company offers a healthier, safer, and more flexible work environment, you can attract top talent and streamline your business operations. Not only do ESG strategies support employee wellbeing and work-life balance, but it also demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility.

How ESG Benefits a Company’s Reputation And Brand Image?

The Importance of Implementing an ESG Roadmap For Your Company

What to Expect from Working with ESG Consultants

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CASE STUDIES

The sustainability supply chain service is essential to any manufacturer with an established ESG vision & mission.

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    With our support, you will showcase your commitment to sustainable development to all your stakeholders. You will receive quality services tailored to your needs from a dynamic and passionate team.

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