ESG Roadmap
Improving sustainability in eight steps: from ambition to action
Doing business sustainably does not have to be complicated. At Baker Tilly, we believe in practical solutions that fit your organisation. This eight-step ESG framework is a proven effective approach. With support from our ESG Hub, you will translate your sustainable ambitions into tangible results, step by step.
Whether you want to comply with legal reporting requirements or proactively show what social impact you are making, these steps will help you to integrate ESG into your organisation effortlessly.
From strategy to data collection, and from management to HR; different departments contribute. Baker Tilly’s ESG Advisory team provides support with working sessions and smart tools, such as our ESG Hub. In this way, you create support among your employees, a higher level of knowledge, more engagement and insightful documentation.
Step 1 - Double materiality analysis: bring focus and involve stakeholders
Which ESG themes should your organisation focus on? With double materiality analysis (DMA), you identify the most relevant ESG themes. You gain insight into:
Your organisation’s impact on people and the environment
The potential impact of certain ESG themes on your organisation’s financial performance
The DMA is an important first step for a well-founded sustainability strategy.And most importantly: conducting a DMA is a mandatory part of the CSRD. Our pragmatic ‘light’ variant is a good basis to start on the VSME.
How do we approach this?
With our digital tool ESG Hub, you go through the steps of the DMA in a structured, quick and easy way. With this way, you can see your progress and comply with all the rules. Testing the outcomes with stakeholders gives you valuable insights from different perspectives in the value chain. This helps you make a better sustainability strategy and strengthens the relationship with your supply chain partners.
Step 2 - ESG data collection: understand where you are now
Once you know which ESG themes are most relevant to your organisation, it is time to measure where you are now: the baseline measurement. This data collection provides a robust basis to formulate your ambitions.Perhaps you haven’t calculated your carbon footprint yet, for example? Our ESG specialists will help you calculate your scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
How do you use the ESG Hub?
The ESG Hub makes it easy to collect the right data. You can see exactly what data is needed to comply with CSRD or VSME standards, and where there are still gaps in your policies or documentation. The ESG Hub centralises all the information in one place, which is not only convenient and clear, but also helps you create a focused sustainability report.
Step 3 - Mission, vision & ambition: set your course
Where do you want to go? And how does that align with what you stand for as an organisation? In this step, you translate the material ESG themes into clear ambitions that fit within your mission, vision and strategy. You will analyse the current business model and explore how your organisation can develop further towards a future-proof way of working, broad value creation, and impact.
Working in sprints
In a two-week sprint, you will work with your board and project team on the framework of your ESG strategy. We work with you to formulate strategic themes with a clear ambition for each theme. We take an organised approach to this:
Preparation by you and your team
Interactive working sessions
Validation
Joint review
Through this co-creative approach, all stakeholders feel ownership of the defined ESG strategy. This is how you ensure energy, direction and support for the next steps.
Step 4 - ESG strategy: the right approach for your goals
How do you translate your mission, vision and ambitions into a concrete approach? A strong ESG strategy provides direction, priorities and focus. With this, you anchor sustainability goals in daily practice, as well as in high-level decision-making.
With our pragmatic, hands-on approach, you translate ambitions into strategic goals. No unnecessary paperwork, but practical steps and results. This is how you create a strategic edge with a clear focus and internal engagement.
Working together
Again, we will organise a two-week sprint. The project team works on concrete targets and initiatives for each ESG theme. And using smart tooling, such as AI, we develop initiatives, policies and results. The rhythm remains the same: preparation by you and your team, interactive work sessions, validation and review with the management. This way of working together in sprints generates deep engagement, energy and broad support.
Step 5 - Action plans: from strategy to implementation
In this step, you work out your goals into even more concrete action plans in a ‘roadmap’. The focus is on the short and medium term. With our ESG Hub, you get into action quickly, think training, developing CO2 reduction plans and researching environmental and social risks in the value chain.
Results in two weeks
In this final two-week sprint, the project team formulates practical actions and priorities for each ESG theme. We give you tools to manage the progress and impact of activities in short cycles. This allows you to make quick adjustments in this fast-changing world. Co-creative collaboration keeps everyone involved and ensures continuous insight into impact and progress.
Step 6 - Reporting: show what you achieve
How do you share your sustainability performance with your customers? By reporting. Bring your strategy, achievements and ambitions together in a clear and inspiring sustainability report. You can share this internally, or share it as an external report that meets CSRD or VSME standards - depending on what suits your organisation.
The report transparently shows how your organisation contributes to sustainability goals. With this, you strengthen your reputation and competitive position.
Work from a template
We offer practical reporting templates that comply with the voluntary VSME standards for SMEs. We customise this template for your company so you can fill it with the data, insights and initiatives from the first five steps of the ESG framework.
Prefer to outsource reporting? No problem, we will prepare the report for you in full. We also like to think about the next step: what do you need to obtain assurance (a limited degree of certainty with your report)?
Step 7 - Evaluate: keep moving
Where are you in relation to your goals? Are you still on course? With clear policies and effective evaluations, you gain insight into what works well, and where things can be improved. With this, ESG becomes an indispensable part of your organisation.
With regular evaluation moments, you test whether the measures are effective and whether they match the sustainability goals and stakeholders’ expectations. You monitor performance, identify areas for improvement and adapt the strategy to new circumstances
Discuss the KPIs
We recommend discussing the most important KPIs quarterly in the MT or board meeting. This enables you to monitor the progress of your sustainability initiatives and make timely adjustments. Our ESG advisors will be happy to help you when you encounter challenges in practice.
Step 8 - Improve: accelerate your sustainable growth
How do you keep developing and maybe even accelerate? By continuously adjusting and improving, you not only strengthen the impact of your ESG policy, but also create lasting value for your organisation and your stakeholders. This step is all about managing risks, seizing opportunities and scaling up where possible.
Data management and smart dashboard
We help you improve your sustainability performance. From setting up a green mobility policy to training buyers with a new code of conduct for suppliers.
Where necessary, we involve specialists from other consulting divisions of Baker Tilly. For example, do you want to get to work with the results of your employee satisfaction survey? Working with a smart dashboard? Or are you looking for a smart solution for your ESG data management? We bring together the right people and partners to take your ambitions forward.
Getting started with ESG?
Our ESG Advisory advisors will be happy to work with you!
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