Communication of ESG activities in the company, or how to have an effective ESG program

More and more companies are beginning to pay attention to environmental aspects in their operations. Companies that incorporate sustainability into their operating strategy are seen as socially responsible and concerned about the environment. Companies that care about the image of being “environmentally friendly” also enjoy greater recognition from customers and investors, which motivates them all the more to continue their ESG efforts. In this article, we will take a closer look at the issue of communicating ESG information in Polish companies.

What is ESG and what impact does it have on a company?

ESG stands for: Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance. In Polish, we can translate this as: environment, social responsibility and corporate governance. These three important elements are a kind of foundation of business decisions on which every modern company should base its activities, consistently striving for ethical and effective management, not necessarily with a conditioning only on generating financial profits.

Good practices in the ESG area allow, among other things. for the continuous development of the company, and thus increase its competitiveness and market advantage. Conducting business in a sustainable manner, i.e. respecting the environment, society and corporate governance, allows for efficient management of resources, making the right decisions and adapting to changing market conditions. The ESG concept is becoming a pillar of business strategy today, being a necessary aspect of long-term success.

How to transparently and honestly communicate ESG strategy?

While the implementation of ESG principles is simply well-regarded now, it may soon become a necessity due to changing regulations. In addition to developing and implementing a sustainability strategy, it is crucial to properly communicate these principles to employees and business partners. The success of a brand depends on a thoughtful, long-term ESG communication concept that is consistent with the actions taken by the company. Therefore, it is important to include a communication plan during the preparation of the strategy, which will include both internal and external information exchange. In this process, two-way communication is important to understand the needs of the audience. It is important to recognize the problems faced by each group.

ESG communications must also be consistent with the company’s business goals. They should be analyzed very carefully and include a detailed review of the supply chain, eliminating the negative effects of the business, such as checking whether our suppliers practice ethical behavior toward employees and whether raw materials come from trustworthy sources.

An important aspect of building an ESG strategy is to establish a central theme to guide our communications. This should be an area in which the company is credible and considered an expert. When we start communicating, we need to make sure that it is regular and addresses subsequent projects, changes and their impact on consumers, the environment and the organization. It is also important for us to actively listen to the opinions of our employees and experts and be ready to receive constructive criticism, responding to it with substance or adapting our strategy to the changing demands of the environment. Rapid adaptation to a changing world further confirms the strength of our organization.

There is another aspect to pay attention to in the context of communicating ESG activities: integrity. Only actions that we are 100% sure will be taken should be communicated. Customers and contractors forgive brands for not being perfect. What they don’t forgive is making empty promises. Transparent, honest and clear communication is the most important element in building trust and credibility of our company in the eyes of customers, business partners and the community.