developing policy to phase out single-use plastics

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the global corporate community to react to the unforeseen. Also other challenges, such as global warming and extreme weather events have been pushing companies to prepare for risks other than only those of a purely financial nature. An integrated approach and sufficient focus is therefore key. For investors, the relevance and importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors has never been more pressing. The 2020 EY global investment study revealed that no less than 98% of investors conduct a formal or informal review of non-financial disclosures, compared to only 64% in 2013. The extent to which businesses are prepared for ESG risks, plays a central role in an investor’s decision-making and long-term investment management.