Already before COVID-19, ESG awareness has reached the next level with unprecedented investment growth in ESG funds and sustainable businesses. Over the past few years, research has shown that ESG strategy pays off by delivering superior financial returns. COVID-19 is only going to accelerate those trends since ESG funds are outperforming the wider market (Q1 2020). The pandemic has also brought to light the materiality of ESG-related risks and the deep linkages between businesses and their stakeholders across the value chains. COVID-19 will accelerate the trend towards adopting ESG strategies even further — creating a greater sense of urgency and responsibility toward everything from consumer behaviour to climate change, supply-chain practices, the future of work and mobility. We believe that unprecedented disruption being wrought by this pandemic will accelerate the adoption of ESG objectives not only by large companies but also SMEs.

Existing and future regulatory changes at EU-level (EC’s Action Plan on Sustainable Finance) provide a further decisive impetus to embrace sustainability aspects.

We can advise clients in devising the ESG strategy and communicating it to various stakeholders. ESG strategy is not a stand-alone issue, but should be integrated into the overall company’s strategy, operating environment, and business model. Our services include ESG due diligence, gathering sustainability and ESG key performance indicators (KPIs), industry benchmarking, identifying risks, proposing action plans, monitoring and reporting on performance. We can also assist in defining the communication strategy with various stakeholders, including investor engagement and preparing sustainability / ESG report.  The transition toward sustainable solutions often requires investments, and we can identify appropriate financial resources, including EU funds to provide financing in embracing sustainability practices. In addition to in-house resources, we can rely on our network of industry specialists and service providers to support complex and highly technical products.

Mirna Marovic, CEO at VX Associates, is a holder of EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA®) diploma and has obtained sustainability qualifications from Harvard Business School (Sustainable Business Strategy), London Business School (Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility), the London School of Economics and Political Science (Climate Change: Economics and Governance), Climate Bond Initiative (Green Bond Placement), GRI Academy (GRI Reporting and Sustainability Standards).