3 ways to improve your ESG score: Social

What is ESG?

ESG - environmental, social and governance criteria are a set of socially conscious standards used by businesses. Reporting on these standards helps companies get closer to being value-led and contributing to real-world change.In this three-part article series, we’ll be taking a look at the ways in which you can improve on your ESG scores - in this particular article we’ll be looking specifically at the social element. Corporate social responsibility tactics are nothing new, but consumers' increased ability to sniff out a woke-washer means making one wrong move could leave your business cancelled. If you want to do something tangible, there’s no better time to start building on the foundations of your ESG strategy and authentically connect with your consumers.

How are social scores ranked?

Social scores are calculated based on a business’s interaction with the health and wellbeing of its employees, local communities, as well as international development. They also take into account all stakeholders within the supply chain, working to proactively improve people’s lives, not just provide a fair deal.

What are the main issues we now face?

Two critical issues continue to disproportionately impact the health and safety of the world's most vulnerable communities in the UK and the Global South: the climate crisis and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. International development regressionAs a result, major progress in international development has come to a halt, or in some cases has gone backwards. To put this into context; it’s estimated that by 2030 588 million people will be living in extreme poverty. Increasing UK deprivationAlthough the government offered some support during the peak of the pandemic through the furlough scheme, they have not prepared the most financially vulnerable for what comes next. Not enough is being done to prevent people slipping into homelessness.Inequalities in health and social careMarginalised groups are not gaining access to the health and social care they need. For example, Young Black people, minority ethnic groups, and LGBTQ+ communities are much less likely to access mental health services than other young people.Growing discrimination and hateDiscrimination and hate crime is on the rise, though it often goes unreported in official UK government figures. Whether it’s in the workplace or online, this absence of reporting leads to a lack of perceived public importance; more desperately needs to be done to eliminate hate from all of society.

How to improve your ESG Score - Social

So, those are the biggest issues we’re currently facing socially. But what can you do to help?

Share audience insight

Brands are experts in reaching target audiences, often having grown a loyal following with the help of big media spends and marketing campaigns. Sharing audience expertise with nonprofits who need access to them is a great way to give more than just money.Who’s setting a good example? In addition to supporting Young Minds through fundraising, restaurant chain Wagamama helped to provide health information, advice and signposting through food drops to ‘locked down’ university students. This clever audience-sharing device meant more young people were made aware of support services like Young Minds’ crisis messenger.

Use your product to raise awareness

If you’re looking to get involved in public health issues, assisting charities to deliver their services is a great way to get help. As a start you should consider how your current products could help spread awareness of public health services and support. Someone who’s doing this well is breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! They work with several clothing brands reminding people to check for any changes in their breasts. Using #BraHijack, CoppaFeel have worked with brands such as ASOS, F&F, Next and Gossard to place little reminders inside of lingerie at a relatively low cost to the brand.

Support your employees

Brands should take advantage of the abundant resources provided by charities to raise awareness of public health issues within their own workforce. It might be opening up conversations around mental health, or encouraging people to check for symptoms. Who’s doing it well? Tesco and Diabetes UK formed a partnership to amplify the message around type 2 diabetes, inspiring Tesco staff and customers to make healthier food choices. The ‘Helping you to live healthier’ partnership includes a guide for its colleagues to shop, cook and eat well, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Download the Get Fit for Purpose report

Free to download, the Get Fit for Purpose report features the advice from a ‘dream team’ of over 20 experts from charities, NGO and advocacy groups such as WWF, Stop Hate UK and Amnesty International. It's packed to the brim with everything they can teach us about honing social purpose through 2022.

Want To Advertise What You’re Doing To Make A Positive Impact? We Can Help

If you need help articulating your social purpose then get in touch with us here and we’ll help you bring your business into 2022.