ESG as a sustainable transition
The idea behind ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is that organisations achieve better returns in the short and long term and better manage their strategic risks. They succeed when they add value for all stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, society and the environment. BDO has broad expertise in the area of sustainability and international ESG standards. Our ESG professionals can support you in the transition to a more sustainable organisation and business operations. Successful management of this change and the associated ESG reporting and assurance requires a structured approach. We would be pleased to tell you more about how BDO can help you in the area of ESG transition.
Developing and implementing a sustainability strategy
Formulating a future-oriented mission and vision and transforming an organisation into one whose guiding principles are sustainability and chain responsibility is a major challenge for directors, board members and managers. Sustainability has to form a key part of the strategy and financial value creation has to be factored in. Time is short, the political agenda is fickle and your organisation may lack the capacity and knowledge to take a more integrated view of your business operations and accountability. How do you get everyone on the same page, so that everyone within your organisation strives for the same strategic objectives and values? Our consultants can assist you in making these strategic decisions, developing a sustainability strategy and translating it into your business operations.
Sustainable value creation
With the rise of corporate social responsibility and the need for sustainability, the realisation has come that more values can be created. A key part of that is to identify not only financial ratios, but also the impact on the world, people and the environment. We believe that over time, this will result in organisations complying with the stricter rules and laying the foundations for a financially and socially optimal result. Our consultants have knowledge of and experience with regulatory developments, developments within your sector and designing a company-specific and sector-specific value creation model. We are happy to advise you on making the correct strategic decisions, preventing risks and failure costs and increasing the impact of business operations.
Chain transparency and direction
An organisation is involved in activities, which may be performed internally, procured or outsourced. These processes lie largely outside of your own organisation, but are related to your core tasks and footprint. In order to guarantee the quality and impact of your products and services on the world, you also want to maintain control over partners' and suppliers' processes. Key concepts in this regard are chain transparency and chain management, where conscious decisions are made and the parties' performances are transparent. BDO helps organisations with identifying their value chain, making agreements with partners and gradually introducing sustainability into the purchasing process.
Financing the sustainability transition
Over the coming years, companies and organisations will be asked to switch to sustainable products and services. Implementing this (energy) transition and the associated investments will place a heavy burden on the financing, with regular investors and governments expected not to be able or willing to accept all requests. Banks are also attaching more and more sustainability requirements to requests. Responding to this new reality as an organisation requires professionalisation of innovation, business operations and treasury function. At BDO, we understand that combining your existing social challenges and pursuing an even more efficient footprint often creates tension. We know the financiers and their sustainable investment requirements. The complexity of the issues at stake within your organisation is an additional motivating factor for us to help you find suitable financing.
Risk management in times of transition
An organisation's ability to adapt quickly to change while maintaining business continuity and protecting people, assets and the organisation is a key success factor. Risk management involves recognising potential events and uncertainties that could threaten the organisation's strategy and taking measures to avoid and/or reduce those risks. Sustainable business operations have various financial and non-financial success factors (KPIs) in terms of people and the environment. As a result, risk management and the associated internal control will need to focus on all relevant aspects of the ESG standards.
As some uncertainties cannot be managed in advance in a rapidly changing and dynamic world, there also needs to be a focus on dealing with crisis situations and promoting resilience. Our consultants can help you identify your risks and draw up appropriate methods for managing them
Real estate sustainability
In addition to social and political pressures, there is also an increasing intrinsic motivation for our actions to have a positive impact on the environment. Gaining control over sustainability projects starts with awareness of the developments in the markets and identifying the situation within your organisation. Do you have a clear view of real estate sustainability? Are you aware of the innovation and legislation-related developments? And do you know which action you can take in the short term? Our consultants have the resources to assess your organisation's real estate sustainability and help you with the associated investment plans and financing.