CHECKLIST
ESG Program Checklist
There is an increasing pressure from customers, employees, and investors to report on ESG data (carbon footprint, DEI metrics,
etc.). Organizations are taking quick action by standing up ESG functions to support ESG and sustainability programs, strategies,
reporting and metrics. The practitioners and SMEs implementing these solutions come from many backgrounds, and often this
may be their first time in a full-time ESG role.
In tandem with starting an ESG program from the ground up and adjusting to evolving industry standards, your ESG-focused
employees will need guidance on what makes a successful ESG and sustainability Reporting program. OneTrust has created
methodologies like the ESG Enterprise Cycle and startup checklists that are built directly into our platform to help companies
and practitioners of any experience and in any industry, to get started. Dive into our ESG program checklist below.
1. Set up Your Program:
Creating your org chart
Establish a governance structure
2. Assess Material Topics:
Define materiality by key stakeholders (employees, customers, partners)
3. Understand key ESG impact Areas:
Environmental Impact Areas Social Impact Areas Governance Impact Areas
• Tax avoidance
• Executive pay
• Climate change mitigation
• Labor relations
• Corruption
• Climate change adaptation
• Diversity and inclusion issues
• Director nomination
• The sustainable use and protection of
• Health and safety conditions
water and marine resources • Cybersecurity
• Employee Human rights and labor
• The transition to a circular economy • Company leadership
standards
• Pollution prevention and control • Executive pay
• Third-party suppliers labor standards
• The protection and restoration of • Audits
• Customers labor standards
biodiversity and ecosystems
• Internal controls
• Shareholder rights
4. Select Initiatives and Standards:
Which frameworks should I choose?
What standards align best with my organization’s goals?
Research key impact areas and determine which are most relevant for your company to prioritize.
5. Gather Metrics:
Surveys
Integrations
Data uploads
6. Assess Risks and Opportunities:
Evaluate ESG risks to stakeholders or program
Identify opportunities for change
7. Take Internal and External Action:
Create targets and goals
Strategize and Implement action plans
Identify key metric targets
Track progress overtime
Create a strategic document outlining individual tasks, DRIs and risk ownership across the organization.
8. Report and Visualize Results:
Demonstrate that you value transparency by publishing your finding on the web through PDFs and dashboards.
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