Sustainability & ESG defined

“…sustainability isn’t what you do, it’s the way in which you do it.”

You will notice that we use both terms ‘sustainability’ and ‘ESG’ across our website and communications. While these terms are related, they are not the same so to remove the risk of confusion, we have outlined below what is meant by each one.

 
 

Summary

Sustainability…

..is the concept of meeting present needs without compromising future generations. Sustainable businesses consider the long-term viability of people, the planet, and profit, or, in other words, they use responsible business practices that maintain or improve the environment, society, and economic value over the long term. 

Meanwhile, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)…

..refers to a set of criteria (generally non-financial) used to evaluate a company's or investors' ethical impact, sustainability practices, and performance. 

 
 

A little more on: Sustainability

We often use the phrase ‘sustainability, in the truest sense of the word’ - what do we mean by this?

We align to the definition in the Cambridge Dictionary (similar to most dictionaries) which is ‘the quality of being able to continue over a period of time’. This applies broadly to all aspects, including but not limited to those relating to the environment.

  • Addresses the long-term viability of the organisation

  • The long-term approach to business by assessing and addressing the risks and opportunities posed by future scenarios

  • Combines non-financial and financial indicators to assess overall resilience, strength and performance

  • Sustainability often includes,  but is not limited to ESG criteria and factors

 
 

A little more on: ESG 

  • ESG is used as a framework that helps to assess and manage the non-financial aspects of a business. 

  • It focuses on specific, measurable targets, actions and outcomes in the areas of Environmental, Social, and Governance performance, while sustainability ensures the overall longevity and positive impact of the organisation.

  • Ultimately, ESG is about managing the non-financial risks and opportunities that are becoming more important in today’s business landscape.