Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to sustainability strategies businesses employ to ensure that the company is carried out ethically. In contrast, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) are criteria used to measure a company’s overall sustainability. Think of it this way, CSR is a sustainability framework employed by organizations, while ESG measures the organization’s level of sustainability – increasingly demanded by investors and other stakeholders. A decade ago, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was the buzzword for sustainable business practices. Today, everyone seems to be talking about Environmental, Social, and Governance, also known as ESG. Many understand ESG as CSR raised into a measurable strategy – bringing transparency and accountability to a company’s environmental and social impacts. While that is a good start for grasping the differences, there is still much more to it. Keep reading to dive deeper into what CSR and ESG are, where they differ and where they substitute each other. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a management concept in which companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their business strategy, to positively impact society while improving brand reputation. CSR objectives could, for instance, be to reduce carbon footprint, improve labor policies, build green office spaces, or initiatives such as creating new products from plastic waste – as Adidas has. The term started to gain attention in the 1970s, and by the early 2000s, it had become an essential strategy for many companies, large and small. A lot has changed since then. While CSR is an excellent strategy for driving awareness of an organization’s initiatives – today’s stakeholders demand transparency and clear evidence showing that you walk the talk. Companies that do not have the relevant data to support their CSR commitments or solely focus on the wrong things risk being accused of greenwashing. That is where CSR can go wrong. A recent study found that even the companies with a high overall CSR score are involved in some form of greenwashing practice. Today, transparency is the backbone of a company’s sustainability claims – and that is where ESG comes in. ESG is a sustainability assessment using Environmental, Social, and Governance metrics to evaluate how sustainable and resilient a company is to make it accountable for its sustainability claims. In recent years, investors and other corporate stakeholders’ interest in ESG has skyrocketed, and it has even been described as the decade’s trend. On the one hand, it is seen as a way to better capture a company’s risks and opportunities. On the other, the growing number of ESG regulations being introduced, such as the EU Taxonomy and the SFDR, is currently reshaping the entire corporate world and investors have no other option but to adjust. In fact, responding to evolving regulations and legal requirements was the number one driver for considering ESG factors in investment decisions and implementation, according to a survey by Barnett Waddingham.What is the difference between CSR and ESG?
What is CSR?
What is ESG?
source: Barnett Waddingham
ESG regulations vary on country and industry, but as we are witnessing nation after nation adopting stricter regulations, companies must stay informed of – and compliant– across the regional differences. This is especially important for those doing business internationally. The repercussions of non-compliance can be severe, such as facing huge fines that can negatively affect both publicity and revenue.
So what is the difference between CSR and ESG? In short, the metrics!
To conclude, CSR is a self-regulated strategy employed by organizations to have a positive impact on society.
CSR helps a company to:
- Communicate its sustainability commitments
- Build a responsible business reputation
- Increase brand credibility
- Increase customer loyalty
- Attract and retain better talent
ESG, on the other hand, takes it one step further by measuring these efforts at a more precise assessment, often demanded by investors. It helps companies set measurable goals to show their process and where they are on their sustainability journeys. Stakeholders today do not want impressive sounding targets. What they really want is to understand the company. So do not shy away from reporting the goals that have not yet been met. Instead, be transparent with where you have excelled but also where you have opportunities to improve. Remember, it progresses over perfection!
ESG helps a company with:
- Meet existing and upcoming regulations and demands
- Respond to climate change and other societal risks
- Gaining true insights into the company’s risks and opportunities
- Become more attractive to investors
- Unlock competitive value
- Build trust among stakeholders such as investors and customers
- Eliminate greenwashing
Start and accelerate your ESG journey
It is not if, but rather when your organization will be affected by the growing ESG requirements. So start your ESG journey today to future-proof your organization. Use Worldfavor to collect ESG data from suppliers and business partners and streamline your sustainability performance. Easily standardized your ESG reporting with leading frameworks such as SFDR, GHG, GRI, SDGs, WEF, and more – just as your stakeholders want it. Sound interesting? Contact us today and we will tell you more!
Related blog posts you might like:
- 4 reasons why standardizing ESG information is key for true impact
- How to achieve a transparent ESG portfolio in 5 steps
- Common pitfalls in ESG and how to avoid them
As an expert in sustainability and corporate responsibility, my knowledge extends beyond the information presented in the article. I have a comprehensive understanding of the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and I can provide additional insights to enhance your understanding.
Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
- Definition: CSR is a management concept where companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their business strategy to positively impact society while improving brand reputation.
- Objectives: CSR objectives may include reducing carbon footprint, improving labor policies, building green office spaces, and implementing initiatives like creating new products from plastic waste.
- Evolution: CSR gained attention in the 1970s and became an essential strategy for companies by the early 2000s.
- Challenges: Companies relying solely on CSR without transparent and data-backed evidence may face accusations of greenwashing, where their sustainability commitments lack substantiation.
2. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG):
- Definition: ESG is a sustainability assessment that uses metrics related to Environmental, Social, and Governance factors to evaluate a company's overall sustainability and resilience.
- Growing Importance: In recent years, ESG has gained significant attention from investors and stakeholders, becoming a dominant trend in corporate strategies.
- Regulations: The article mentions the introduction of ESG regulations like the EU Taxonomy and the SFDR, reshaping the corporate landscape and necessitating compliance.
- Risk and Opportunity: ESG is viewed as a way to capture a company's risks and opportunities, helping investors make informed decisions.
3. Differences Between CSR and ESG:
- Metrics: The primary difference lies in the metrics used. CSR is a self-regulated strategy employed by organizations, focusing on positive societal impact, while ESG involves a more precise assessment, often demanded by investors.
- Transparency: ESG emphasizes the need for transparency, with stakeholders wanting measurable goals and a clear understanding of a company's sustainability journey.
- Compliance: ESG not only helps companies meet existing and upcoming regulations but also responds to climate change and societal risks.
4. Benefits of ESG:
- Compliance: Companies adhering to ESG standards can meet evolving regulations and legal requirements.
- Insights: ESG provides true insights into a company's risks and opportunities, helping it become more attractive to investors.
- Trust Building: ESG can contribute to building trust among stakeholders such as investors and customers.
- Eliminating Greenwashing: By focusing on measurable goals, ESG helps eliminate the risk of greenwashing, ensuring credibility in sustainability efforts.
In conclusion, while CSR and ESG share the overarching goal of promoting sustainable business practices, ESG goes beyond CSR by providing a more detailed and measurable assessment, aligning with the increasing demand for transparency and accountability in today's corporate landscape.
