Audit

ESR is a certification from the National Institute for Sustainable Development (INDR) in Luxembourg which publicly recognizes organizations active in the field of CSR through an independent audit process. The ESR label allows business leaders to structure, formalize and enhance their social responsibility initiatives in order to create shared value.

LuxFLAG is an independent and international non-profit association which aims to promote the raising of capital for the responsible investment sector, in particular by awarding a recognizable label to eligible investment vehicles.

Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. These businesses are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have been developed by the United Nations (UN) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These call on countries around the world to address the challenges we face, such as climate change, poverty, inequality or sustainable economic growth and define targets to be reached by 2030.

(« UNGC ») is a global framework that invites signatory organizations to commit to assess, define, implement, measure and communicate a strategy for sustainable development, aligned with universal principles of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

Updated in 2011 - for the fifth time since they were first adopted in 1976, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations for responsible business conduct issued by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Endorsed in 2011, the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) implement the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” framework. The document sets out the duties of States and the responsibilities of companies to ensure that businesses operate with respect for human rights.

Created in 2000, the principles are designed to help extractive companies maintain the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

IFC – sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group— is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries.

Coming into full force on January 2021 across the EU, the regulation aims to stem the trade in four minerals – tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold - which sometimes finance armed conflict or are mined using forced labour. The regulation requires importers to follow a five-step framework laid out by the OECD to strengthen due diligence.

Set up in 2005, the EU ETS aims to help EU Member States achieve their commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way hinged on the 'cap and trade' principle. Allowing participating companies to buy or sell emission allowances means that emission cuts can be achieved at least cost.

Developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and adopted in 2016, CORSIA is a market-based scheme adopted to ensure any rise in international aviation emissions above 2020 levels are offset. Pilot phase runs from 2021 through 2023.

Independent, non-governmental international organization, ISO develops and publishes International Standards since 1946. Among the most commonly used standards worldwide are ISO 26000 on social responsibility, ISO 9001 on quality management, ISO 20400 on sustainable procurement, etc.

ENERGY STAR® is the USA government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative is a non-profit group of consumers, businesses and conservation organizations dedicated to promoting smart technologies that improve power efficiency and reduce energy consumption of computers.

The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems – from ICT industry end-users, policymakers, technology providers, facility architects, to utility companies. The Power Usage Effectiveness, which was developed by The Green Grid, has become the are widely accepted benchmarking standard for measuring data center efficiency.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world - available all building types. It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

HQE™ is the French certification awarded to building construction and management as well as urban planning projects. HQE™ promotes best practices, sustainable quality in building projects and offers expert guidance throughout the lifetime of the project.

The WELL Building Standard ® focuses specifically on the health and wellbeing of users with the purpose that buildings contribute to the health and wellbeing of users.

United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative) is a global partnership between the United Nations and stakeholders in the banking sector. The "Principles for Responsible Banking" encourage banking players to adopt environmental, social and governance criteria and aim to promote sustainable finance.

The European Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) require large companies with more than 500 employees to publish regular reports on the social and environmental impacts of their activities. This helps investors, consumers, policy makers and other stakeholders to evaluate the non-financial performance of large companies and encourages these companies to develop a responsible approach to business.

The Regulation on Taxonomy was formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on June 2020. The Taxonomy aims to offer common definitions of what should be considered "green" and what is not to help investors recognize which activities are responsible. This classification allows, among other things, to contribute to the EU becoming climate neutral by 2050 and achieving the Paris Agreement targets for 2030.

The Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on the sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (“SFDR”) will enter into force on 10 March 2021. The regulation aims to reduce information asymmetries in sustainable investment products and in investment decision‐making and advisory practices, with regards to :

• the integration of sustainability risk ;


• the consideration of adverse sustainability impact ;


• the promotion of environmental or social characteristics.

The Regulation is completed by regulatory technical standards (“RTS”), which specify the detailed requirements on the content and presentation of disclosed information and transparency, regarding potential adverse impacts. A first version of the draft RTS has been published, however the detailed requirements on the content, methodologies and presentation of sustainability-related disclosures are being worked on based on consultation and collaborative work amongst the Commission, the ESA, national competent authorities and a number of trade associations in the financial services sector.

(GRI) is an international independent standards organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights and corruption. The standards support companies in developing public reporting on organisations’ positive and negative contributions to sustainable development.

An integrated report (IR) is a concise communication about how an organization’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects, in the context of its external environment, lead to the creation of value in the short, medium and long term.

Sustainability Accounting Standard Board (SASB) is a US body that establishes a set of globally applicable industry standards designed to help organizations report on their impacts on the environment, economy, and society as a whole. These standards are primarily aimed at investors because they focus on the financial issues of sustainable development.

Carbon Disclosure Project (« CDP ») is an international organization that establishes a framework to help businesses understand, quantify, measure and report on their contribution to climate change, forest conservation and water security. It presents to clients and investors how an organization manages its environmental footprint and sets targets for reducing it.

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures («TCFD») is a group of experts that draws up recommendations and analysis reports on the short and long term risks and opportunities of climate change on the operations of organizations. These voluntary recommendations support organizations in the preparation of their financial and non-financial reports with consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures, as well as their strategy regarding climate change.

AA1000 Accountability Principles (« AA1000AP ») is a set of internationally accepted guiding principles by which organizations assess, manage, improve and communicate their responsibility and performance towards sustainable development. The four main principles are Inclusivity, Materiality, Responsiveness, and Impact.

AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard (« AA1000SES») is a global stakeholder engagement standard, supporting organizations in their efforts to assess, design, and implement an integrated approach to stakeholder engagement, and to communicate fairly and accurately with stakeholders and the public about those efforts