Embarking on Your ESG Journey - A Five-Step Engagement Process

Investors are largely united in pressing their portfolio companies to provide material, quantitative, decision-useful information on their environmental, social & governance (ESG) risks and opportunities.  And an increasing number of US companies are responding (including through information at their web-sites, fact sheets, and comprehensive reports).  Yet many other companies have been reticent to begin on this ESG disclosure journey. 

In this article, DFIN discusses how we have been helping hundreds of companies to a) initiate, and b) advance, their ESG reporting journey. Our five step reporting process helps companies determine what is material for them and of interest to their investors:

• Select Material Indicators
• Conduct a Peer Review
• Identify Thematic Messaging
• Create Content
• Develop Infographics

We also help companies determine what information is best disclosed through various communications channels including:

• Proxy statement highlights
• Annual Report/10-K
• The web-site
• ESG, sustainability or corporate responsibility reports