How can we avoid comparing apples with pears? By trying to unite the market around a single certification standard. This is what the International Group for Sustainable Finance (IGSF) intends to do with an ESG certification standard, called ESG1000, whose launch was announced on Wednesday 29 January 2025.
“In a rapidly changing regulatory environment, marked by profound structural and cyclical transformations, economic players have directed and initiated the transition of their business models. The inherent environmental challenges have accelerated the general awareness of the responsibilities incumbent on companies and organisations of all types. Given this situation, ESG 1000® is based on the principle of positioning the entity within a global vision, taking into account its objectives in terms of non-financial governance. The challenge is to fully involve the company in an integrated approach, thereby guaranteeing a real and effective commitment, rather than simply including it in diffuse or limited policies,” says the Luxembourg NGO in a press release.
“In the context of a particularly heterogeneous international ecosystem in terms of regulations, the ESG1000 standard defines and brings together a perimeter and specific evaluation criteria, using a standardised and universal approach that incorporates the most widely recognised standards in the field of extra-financial governance, including the GRI standards, the ESRS standards (European CSRD directive), ISO 26000, ISO 14000, the principles of the Global Compact and the guiding principles of the United Nations. The aim is to enable companies and organisations to take extra-financial precautions against the foreseeable risks of their activities, to align themselves with regulatory constraints and to demonstrate to all their stakeholders the reliability of their extra-financial management system.”
“The ESG1000 standard embodies a deep commitment to responsible and sustainable management. In a context where stakeholder expectations are evolving significantly, ESG1000 provides a solid framework for aligning economic performance with ethical and environmental practices. It is a decisive step towards more transparent governance and shared value creation, essential for building a resilient and equitable future,” explains IGSF president Véronique de La Bachelerie, who was previously CEO of Société Générale Bank & Trust, a member of the board of directors of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and involved in the creation of the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (Lhoft).
The standard is being developed and implemented by an internal committee dedicated to corporate extra-financial governance, chaired by Christian Levesque and assisted by Alexandre Rambaud, and made up of international experts in extra-financial governance (social, ethical and environmental practices). It will enable companies and organisations to be assessed according to 12 key themes, ranging from governance to overall performance, including the environment, human capital and risk management. It is a long-term initiative, with two annual follow-up assessments and a maintenance assessment in the third year.
This article was originally published in .