Policies, Action Plans, Metrics and Targets

In the context of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the definition of Policies, Action Plans, Metrics and Targets (PAT) is crucial for the implementation of a comprehensive and compliant ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategy.

Our consultants support companies in defining and implementing these four areas:

Policies: 

Policies represent the principles and commitments a company makes on specific sustainability issues; these policies are formal documents that define the company's approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues relevant to its business.

Action Plans: 

Action Plans outline the operational measures that the company intends to take to implement ESG policies; they are more specific and practical than policies and include details such as concrete actions to be taken for each identified risk or opportunity area, timeframes for implementation, resources allocated and responsible roles.

Metrics: 

Metrics are quantitative or qualitative tools used to measure and monitor progress in ESG areas; ESRS requires companies to use standardized and, where possible, comparable metrics across industries, to ensure transparency and comparability.

Targets:

Targets are specific and measurable results that the company intends to achieve in a given time frame; ESRS encourage companies to set clear and ambitious goals, which reflect stakeholders' expectations for improvement and are aligned with international commitments, such as those of the Paris Agreement for climate.

Effectively defining and implementing ESG Policies, Action Plans, Metrics and Targets is essential, not only to meet ESRS compliance requirements, but also to drive continuous improvement in corporate sustainability.