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ESG stands for the operational standards environmental, social and corporate governance. Nowadays, stakeholders, potential customers and the public pay close attention to the aspects of transparency and sustainability. This makes ESG considerations an important factor for boosting competitiveness, resilience and growth opportunities.
Companies are expected to assume responsibility by identifying the ecological and social repercussions of their business model and adapting it to requirements for sustainable development. Sustainability reporting is to become standard in the EU – in part through the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Orientation and opportunities for sustainable growth
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as defined by the United Nations help organisations give substance to sustainability. When a company focuses on specific SDGs, it can make the greatest impact and contribute to solving global issues in the areas of health, inequality, climate change, poverty, peace and justice. Linking SDGs with the business strategy is an approach to reduce risks, lower costs, increase trust in the company and potentially achieve more growth.
Climate change has a major impact on economic and social development. The fact that the EU is supposed to be climate neutral by 2050 means a massive transformation for the entire economy and society: companies, the public sector, and politicians must achieve the energy transition and find their way to climate neutrality.
Both traditional and innovative sources of financing increasingly give priority to organisations and projects that are oriented towards climate and socio-political goals. Finance companies are an important factor in the transformation towards a sustainable economy. Business and government have many opportunities to make use of these sources of funding for a sustainable future while also complying with the EU taxonomy.
Investors increasingly recognise that companies which operate sustainably prove more resilient to adverse market conditions and perform better. Many investors are working to integrate environmental, social, tax and corporate governance (ESG) insights into the traditional investment approach.
Legislators, regulators, customers, and investors are putting increasing pressure on companies to make their value chains sustainable. By addressing issues related to the use of raw materials, waste and social impacts, companies create more sustainable value chains.
This includes integrating environmental and social aspects into procurement, as well as developing sustainable products, and transitioning to a circular economy.
A sustainable and committed company is also a good employer. Managers make the goal of sustainability their own and invest in aspects such as the well-being of employees, diversity, inclusion, and equality. Inspired employees are the key to a successful implementation of sustainable strategies. This makes it all the more important to integrate sustainability into incentives, to communicate these goals in a clear and open way, and to know and value each employee's contribution.
How can we assist you?
ESG reporting obligations starting 2024
The EU standards for CSRD and ESRS (European Sustainabilty Reporting Standards) will be published in June and will be mandatory for approximately 2,000 companies in Austria starting in 2024. Under these rules, transparency in the areas of environment, social responsibility and corporate governance should become the norm. Capital market oriented companies must regularly prepare a sustainability report.
We will help you with timely preparation.
Human rights, environmental protection and supply chains
In future, companies’ responsibility will no longer end at their own door, but will include the entire supply chain. With the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD), the EU is holding large companies accountable. However, the directive also affects small and medium-sized companies.
The Austrian economy needs to catch up: Many companies have not yet sufficiently looked into the specifications.
Biodiversity as a new success factor
Climate change has been at the very top of the agenda for many years. However, the alarming present state of nature has seldom been the topic of discussions or measures. This needs to change, because the unprecedentedly rapid decline of biodiversity presents an even greater threat to humanity than global warming does.
Companies are called upon to prepare for fundamental changes. We call these aspects “the three dimensions of the ESG revolution”: Strategic ESG management, comprehensive sustainability reporting and large-scale company transformation.
Measuring emissions with Net Zero Cloud
In order to make credible progress towards more sustainability and to create trust both internally and externally, a strategy needs one thing above all: data. Net Zero Cloud supports you on your path towards climate neutrality and achievement of your goals.
Your goal: The sustainable company
From the ESG strategy to the goal
For most companies, a credible sustainability performance will become their “licence to operate”. We will guide you on your way to sustainable and transparent business, from strategy to implementation to reporting.
With an ESG Maturity Assessment, we measure the maturity of your company quickly and pragmatically. Different companies are in different phases on their way to a sustainable business model. Together we will create a sustainability strategy – tailored to your company and your industry – and define each step of your ESG journey.
Sustainability and PwC: the standards we set ourselves
At PwC, we want to build trust in society and solve important problems. We achieve this goal primarily by developing services that meet the needs of a broad group of stakeholders. This is in line with the sustainable development goals that we have integrated into our strategy. We are delivering on our commitment to the environment and society through various partnerships and measures.
Our net zero commitment
We are determined to do our part to reduce the impacts of the climate crisis. That’s why we are committed to a global science-based target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
What we stand for
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Contact us
Agatha Kalandra
Partner, Head of Management Consulting and ESG, PwC Austria
Tel: +43 664 1830873
