How to Link EHS to ESG and Influence the Business Strategy

At the 2022 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress & Expo this September, Blackline Safety brought together two global brands at the forefront of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance – L'Oreal and Repsol —to discuss the link between EHS and ESG and how it can influence the business strategy. Laynnea Myles, Assistant VP, EH&S, L’Oréal and Jenny Ward, S&E Systems Lead Supervisor, Repsol joined Blackline Safety’s Chief Growth Officer Sean Stinson to share why ESG matters—inside and outside their organizations –and how they are effectively managing their ESG programs.

WHY IS ESG IMPORTANT?

Key takeaway:

• Consider a wide range of stakeholders — not just customers and investors. ESG is rooted in the understanding that everything a business does impacts its employees, the community, and the world around it. Things like how you source materials, product packaging, how consumers/communities are impacted by your products/operations, the safety of your operations and your people, and your investment in the community, etc.

LINK BETWEEN EHS & ESG:

Key takeaways:

• EHS is essentially a subset of ESG with “E” focused on carbon emissions, green-house gases, water & waste management, air emissions. “S” focused on human rights, diversity, health & safety, community impacts, and “G” focused on compliance, reporting standards and policies.
• Look at your organization’s ESG/Sustainability reports in your business—you'll uncover what matters the most to your leadership team to help guide your safety program.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE THE IMPACT OF YOUR ESG EFFORTS:

Key takeaways:

• Disclose metrics that align with the values and purpose of your organization, what your stakeholders want to see and what industry peers are reporting.
• The right data is foundational to the right reporting.
• When gathering data, automate where possible and ensure metrics being captured across different regions are consistent. This is especially important with global organizations.
• Invest in tools/partnerships to help extract the key ESG data your business needs.
• Consider publishing an environmental, safety, or sustainability newsletter/reports that share key information and show performance.
• Work with your finance team early when establishing ESG goals to get budget for your projects.

HOW TO TALK ABOUT ESG IN YOUR COMPANY:

Key takeaways:

• ESG has emerged as a key factor in engaging today’s workforce. Without the essential elements of employee buy-in, a company’s ESG strategy can underperform or end up unsustainable.
• Use the right message/language to make it relatable to your employees.
• Make it personal by providing opportunities for employees to get involved.
• Share best practices, key learnings, and ideas throughout the organization.

FUTURE OF EHS & ESG TOGETHER

The intersection between EHS & ESG will continue to be even more intertwined with EHS professionals playing a greater role in supporting ESG strategic initiatives. Having the right data, tools and technology will be key to supporting your ESG program effectively.

Want to learn more about how Blackline’s connected safety solutions can support your ESG efforts?