ESG Metrics: Your Guide to Common ESG Metrics

Key takeaway: ESG metrics are vital for transparency, attracting capital, enhancing brand reputation, reducing regulatory risk, and ensuring progress towards ESG goals. Examples of ESG metrics include greenhouse gas emissions, diversity percentages, and tax payments, helping companies measure their sustainability progress.

The world is finally waking up to the challenges we collectively face. Solving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues is increasingly being recognized as an essential component of modern business — failure to do so creates a no-win situation for all. 

In this newly conscious landscape, businesses not only need to be committed to ESG but must demonstrate how they’re making good on their promises. This is done by implementing and tracking ESG metrics. Using ESG performance metrics to measure ESG success can help you communicate your values both internally and externally, positioning ESG as vital to your business.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the ESG metrics definition by discussing:

• What are ESG metrics
• Why ESG metrics are important
• ESG frameworks, metrics, and reporting
• Common ESG metrics and how to measure them
• Environment ESG metrics examples
• Social ESG metrics examples
• Governance ESG metrics examples

The ESG metrics meaning can be summarized by stating that ESG performance metrics quantify your company’s commitments to ESG. They help you measure the impact of your ESG initiatives in a more scientific way and provide insight to where you stack up against similar companies. 

It’s important to note that there are no universal ESG metrics, and definitions and regulations are constantly changing. With that said, organizations such as The World Economic Forum are working toward creating a universal standard, as documented in the Measuring Stakeholder Capitalism report. 

In this article, we will provide an overview of some of the most common ESG metrics examples including: 

• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Diversity and inclusion percentages
• Living wages
• Tax paid

ESG performance metrics quantify and enable the measurement of progress towards ESG goals. This is necessary for the following reasons: 

• Tangibility of commitments: Without ESG reporting metrics, your verbal commitments can’t be grounded in any data. This can often lead to big promises without any accountability.
• Optimizing what you measure: If you aren’t keeping track of the numbers, it can be difficult to know if you are making progress or not. You won’t be able to decide If you need to adjust if you have nothing to base the decision on.
• Transparency against progress: ESG involves many stakeholders including the public, investors, governments, and business partners. These stakeholders want to see accurate reports including details of ESG metrics so that they can evaluate your company's ESG initiatives.

When you have accurate and proven ESG metrics, as opposed to only verbal commitments, you will be more credible among ESG stakeholders which unlocks further benefits: 

• Access to capital: 89% of global investors said they would like the reporting of ESG performance to be measured against globally consistent standards. Investors are increasingly looking at ESG metrics as a more rigorous way to evaluate opportunities.
• Better brand storytelling: ESG performance metrics can add much needed credibility when presenting your business as sustainable and people conscious. This can help avoid accusations of “greenwashing” where companies claim to be sustainable but can’t back it up.
• Less regulatory risk: Having verifiable metrics available will allow you to better navigate legal challenges.

In this sense, ESG performance metrics act as an accountability mechanism for everyone involved and help ensure your company stays on track toward ESG commitments.

ESG frameworks are a set of guiding principles which companies can use to identify, assess, document, and measure their ESG commitments. These frameworks are created by governing bodies and NGO’s such as the World Economic Forum. 

To make ESG more of a scientific endeavor, these frameworks outline various ESG reporting metrics to track and monitor how you are performing against certain benchmarks. ESG frameworks, metrics, and other qualitative declarations allow you to create ESG reports. 

ESG reports are documents that provide detailed transparency into your company’s ESG execution. The purpose of ESG reporting is to help stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, investors, and the public gain insight into a company's ESG initiatives so there can be accountability toward ESG goals.  

Example ESG frameworks 

In this article, we’re going to focus on the core ESG reporting metrics you should know. To uncover these metrics, we studied and cross-examined some of the major ESG frameworks available today:  

• Future-Fit Business Benchmark
• World Economic Forum
• The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
• Global Reporting Initiative

Check out our ESG frameworks article for a more comprehensive overview 

As we cross-examined multiple ESG frameworks, some ESG reporting metrics may be present in one framework but not another. We'll frame the metrics by each part of ESG.

Which framework you use will ultimately determine the ESG performance metrics you need to consider, but if your goal is to maximize ESG for reasons other than reporting compliance, then it's helpful to have a broader view.  

The nature of these metrics will also differ. Some can be quantified in numbers and percentages, whereas others may be a yes/no checkbox. 

Some of these metrics may not directly relate to your business, but it’s worth knowing them because your suppliers and vendors have ESG commitments that need to be analyzed as part of your ESG ecosystem. For instance, your office provider and the manufacturer(s) of your employee’s equipment may have environmental risk factors that you need to be aware of. 

Environment refers to everything that encompasses our planet and the natural world. This includes ecosystems and wildlife, the landscape, and the climate. In the ESG framework, the environment is analyzed through the impact of human activities. 

Note: this isn’t a comprehensive list of ESG metrics examples. You may find additional, more specific ESG metrics depending on the framework and business activity.  

Greenhouse gases (GHGs)  

Compound gases trap heat and radiation in the atmosphere, which makes the Earth’s surface warmer. This creates climate and environment-related challenges such as the melting of the polar ice caps, which in turn leads to more natural disasters, the submergence of coastlines, and the extinction of species. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon monoxide (CO) 

Air pollution  

Inclusive of greenhouse gases, other forms of air pollution include particle matter such as dust, soot, dirt, and smoke. This comes from industry, building work, petrol engines, and wildfires. Sulfur dioxide pollutants also affect air quality which comes from burning fuels such as coal and oil. Air pollution causes many problems, including lung cancer, unpleasant smell, and unbreathable air. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Particle matter per aerodynamic diameter, gas monitors

Energy consumption  

Energy in the form of electricity can come from a variety of sources that may not be sustainable, which means its use must be moderated. For instance, the burning of coal creates other problems, such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource loss. Energy is consumed in a variety of ways, more so if you are in the manufacturing business. Commercial offices may also expend energy through heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting, computing, and refrigeration. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Kilowatts per hour (kWh) 

Water consumption 

Fresh water supplies count as a limited resource and must be moderated and preserved. Currently, the technology to desalinate ocean water is too expensive, so we’re reliant on fresh water supplies to keep the world running. Water is used in many economic activities such as agriculture and manufacturing, including through daily use such as at home and work. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Liters or cubic meters consumed

Waste output  

Waste can come in different forms, including:

• Solid waste, such as plastics, metals, and other leftover materials
• Hazardous waste, such as poisonous substances
• Wastewater like sewage or water polluted through industrial activity
• Radioactive waste through nuclear activity
• Other waste in the form of excess or inefficiently used energy and water

Waste causes problems because we have no efficient way to deal with it. Often, waste gets dumped into the natural environment, including rivers and lakes, which contributes to the destruction of ecosystems and species. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Kilograms, tons, cubic meters

Nature usage  

The natural world is limited in terms of space, diversity of ecosystems, and resources. Economic activities, including deforestation, mining, and offshore drilling, impact the balance of the environment and can also destroy ecosystems and species. Indigenous people are also at risk of having their ancestral lands taken over by commercial entities. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Land use, nature loss, and resource depletion 

Environmental policies  

The actions and policies you take regarding ESG count toward ESG reporting metrics. This can include setting up a climate oversight board or having successfully implemented TCFD guidelines. Having clear policies is the first step to ensuring action is taken toward meeting sustainability goals.  

Examples of ESG metrics: Yes/no to having certain policies and implementations  

Social refers to the factors that revolve around society, communities, and individuals — the human aspect of ESG. Let's take a look at some ESG metrics examples for the social component of ESG.

Comparative living wages 

Wealth inequality, in addition to other economic factors such as inflation, means that many people aren’t receiving a salary that can afford them life essentials. This can lead to civil unrest and other social ills. This can be true for employees based domestically and abroad. A living wage pays people enough so they can do more than just survive and is measured in comparison to the local cost of living. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Average wage in relation to local cost of living 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion percentage 

As our world becomes more globalized, countries are increasingly becoming more culturally diverse. In addition, there is now greater recognition of non-traditional sexualities, genders, and other identifiers. A lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion means we’re not tapping into the collective potential of our species. At the business level, DE&I leads to better representation and insight into customer groups and more creative power through different perspectives. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Workforce diversity percentage by group in relation to societal demographics

Gender pay gap 

Averaged out, women earn less than men. Combined with greater social expectations for unpaid house and care work, women are collectively on the shorter end of the economic stick. Other factors, such as workplace discrimination and work environments that favor men, also contribute to pay differences at the individual level. Equal pay between genders is essential to create a fair society and incentivize the potential of all people. 

Examples of ESG metrics: The ratio of what men earn compared to women for the same work

Employee engagement 

Engagement at work encompasses happiness, willingness to expend discretionary effort, and whether employees find their work meaningful. As work occupies a significant portion of our lives, productivity is no longer the sole metric that employees should be measured by — particularly if it comes with negative side effects such as stress. Engagement is an essential component of maximizing the productivity and creativity of your workforce.  

Examples of ESG metrics: Employee surveys, employee net promoter score, self-reported happiness, and engagement  

Reskilling/training 

Automation and globalization are two forces that are displacing jobs. A job for life at one company is no longer a guarantee. Even specialization and mastery of skills are no longer enough for economic stability as these skills may become redundant. Workers need the means and sponsorship to acquire new skills and the knowledge to adapt to changing labor needs.  

Examples of ESG metrics: Amount invested in training, severance payments 

Health and safety 

Work environments should be designed in a way where there is minimal risk of injury or death for workers. This can be measured in terms of having an industry-benchmarked health and safety policy and the number of incidents recorded. People work for a living to provide for themselves and their families. If they aren’t making it home at the end of the day, then the purpose of work is defeated. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Incidents recorded, health and safety policies 

Human rights 

The things that we commonly agree that all humans are entitled to, such as freedom of expression, the right to work, and the right to a fair trial, come under human rights. This matters because we need a collectively agreed-upon way of functioning as a civilization. Without human rights, our world descends into chaos. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Human rights violations, adoptions of human rights policies

Charity 

Where there aren’t strong business incentives to solve a problem, charity can step in to fill the gap. For instance, solving complex causes like cancer research relies on charitable giving. Without charity, many of the things we know are important will never be addressed. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Funding for scientific research, raising money for causes, and community volunteering

Wealth generation 

Aside from products, businesses can add value by creating wealth in the societies they operate in. This can include the jobs created by the company, infrastructure built, such as roads, and other forms of community investment. Reinvesting in communities as opposed to profit taking enables greater economic stimulation and less wealth inequality due to more money in circulation.  

Examples of ESG metrics: Investment in infrastructure, investment in small businesses, investment in new products and services 

Governance encompasses the factors around how businesses are operated. This includes executive structure, strategic decision-making, ethical considerations, and the relationship between business and the state. Here are some governance ESG metrics examples.

Executive’s pay ratio 

How much executives are paid in relation to the average employee is being brought into question. In the most extreme cases, executives may earn more than 5,000 times as much as the average employee. Broader questions around wealth inequality and the nature of value creation mean that we need to have a hard look at executive pay. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Executive compensation in comparison to average employee compensation

Quality of governing body 

The background and makeup of the executive team and board play a role in ESG. Quality of the governing body covers things like:

• The other obligations of the executive team are in terms of positions and affiliations, both past and present. Specifically, if there are conflicting interests at play.
• Executive diversity in terms of key social identifiers such as race, gender, orientation, etc.
• Each individual’s ESG track record.

The governing body ultimately sets the strategy and culture of the organization. If there are red flags around leadership’s behavior and they have conflicting interests, mistrust, and unethical behavior may flourish. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Diversity ratio of the executive board, number of other commitments

Ethics and anti-corruption policy 

Having a common framework of ethics in addition to anti-corruption measures. This applies to every level of the organization, from the executive to entry-level employees. Ethics and corruption apply to different aspects of the business, including how customers are treated, how finances are managed, and how business is conducted. Without strong ethics and anti-corruption policy, there is no guideline to identify and deal with bad behavior. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Yes/no to having an anti-corruption policy

Tax paid 

Companies often find ways to legally pay as little tax as possible by exploiting loopholes in the system. Although this benefits the company’s growth and, in turn, shareholder profit, less tax paid means less money flowing into the local economy and less money for social services.  

Examples of ESG metrics: Amount of tax paid, tax paid in relation to revenue

Ecosystem ESG 

The ESG reporting metrics of all partners in an ecosystem of a company collectively have an impact on that company’s ESG. If your company, for instance, operates in an ethical way, but your partners do not, then you are indirectly enabling them through business cooperation. The ESG failures of your ecosystem may come back to haunt you if not addressed. 

Examples of ESG metrics: Key ESG reporting metrics of vendors, supplies, partners

Depending on the framework you choose, you may have as many as 20+ ESG reporting metrics that you need to optimize for. On top of your regular business commitments, crafting an ESG strategy that can be successfully executed can be challenging. With this in mind, it can be useful to find a framework that aligns strategy and execution, such as the OKR method, to ensure you meet your ESG commitments in addition to your other business goals. 

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