Resources

ESG Glossary

A concise collection of the ESG terms we use across our content. Pick a letter range to browse the vocabulary.

B Corp

Certification awarded by B Lab to companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability toward all stakeholders.

Biodiversity

The variety of ecosystems, species and genes in a given environment. Under ESG standards (notably CSRD/ESRS) it is a specific impact area with dedicated metrics.

Carbon Credit

A tradable instrument representing the reduction or removal of one tonne of CO₂e. Purchased to offset residual emissions through verified mitigation projects.

Carbon Footprint

The total measure of greenhouse-gas emissions (in tCO₂e) generated directly or indirectly by an organisation, product or service.

Carbon Neutrality

A state where the CO₂ emissions of an organisation, product or service are balanced by an equivalent amount of avoided or offset emissions.

CBAM

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: it puts a price on the carbon embedded in imported goods (cement, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, hydrogen, electricity) to prevent carbon leakage.

CDP

A non-profit running the leading global environmental disclosure system, collecting data on emissions, water and forests from companies and cities.

Circular Economy

Economic model that reduces waste and resource use by keeping materials and products in use as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling.

CSDDD

EU directive on sustainability due diligence: it requires large companies to identify, prevent and mitigate negative impacts on human rights and the environment across their value chain.

CSRD

EU Directive 2022/2464 that extends and strengthens sustainability reporting obligations for large companies and listed SMEs, requiring the ESRS standards and assurance of ESG data.

Decarbonisation

The progressive reduction of an economic activity's greenhouse-gas emissions through efficiency, electrification, renewables and process change.

DNSH

The European 'do no significant harm' principle: an activity deemed sustainable must not undermine any of the other environmental objectives of the EU Taxonomy.

Double Materiality

A cornerstone of the CSRD: a company must report both its impacts on sustainability (impact materiality) and the effects of sustainability risks and opportunities on the company (financial materiality).