The Synergy Between EHS & ESG Reporting

What it really means — and why it matters for your business

There's no denying it: ESG reporting is exploding globally. But how does ESG actually connect with your EHS work? And what's the real upside of disclosing your carbon emissions?

To unpack this properly, we leaned on two people who know their stuff: EcoOnline's SVP of ESG & Sustainability, David Picton, and Chief Scientific Officer, Richard Tipper — a duo with over 30 years of experience and even a Nobel Peace Prize in the mix. Their webinar, Synergy Between EHS and ESG Reporting, dives deep into what organisations need to know right now.

ESG, Simplified

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's strip ESG back to basics.

Environmental – Your impact on the planet: energy use, waste, water, emissions.
Social – How you treat people: diversity, inclusion, human rights, community impact.
Governance – How your organisation is run: ethics, anti-corruption, supply chain oversight.

Three pillars. One simple goal: run a responsible, resilient business.

Why ESG Reporting Has Taken Off

ESG regulations have grown 150% in the last decade — and for good reason. Globally, businesses, regulators, and investors all want transparency. They want to see that you're not only compliant but contributing positively to the world around you.

ESG reporting gives you a single, honest view of your organisation. It highlights what's working and what isn't. And it positions you against the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals — a global commitment shared by 193 countries and something many organisations are working towards to support goals like positive climate action, sustainable cities and communities and of could responsible consumption of natural resources.

In a recent survey by EcoOnline one clear trend: the pressure to report is only going to increase in the next two years. With investor expectations rising, ESG reporting is no longer a 'nice to have'. It's now directly linked to trust, stability, and long-term value.

So, why does ESG reporting actually matter? Because it gives you a real, honest view of your organisation — everything from your supply chain risks to your greenhouse gas emissions. And with that clarity, you can get ahead of issues long before they become costly problems.

ESG as a Risk & Resilience Tool

Let's be real: climate-related disruptions are already hitting businesses hard. Think supply chain interruptions, damaged infrastructure, or materials shortages. Global climate losses could reach £762 billion by 2026 (NZ1765 Billion) it's no longer something you can ignore.

ESG reporting helps you stay ahead of this. By understanding your emissions, supply chain risks, and exposure to climate events, you can plan smarter — and build a business that can bend without breaking.

By using ESG data to plan smarter — like lining up secondary suppliers in low-risk regions — you build resilience into your operations. That's not just compliance; that's protecting productivity, reducing downtime, and keeping your business competitive when others are scrambling.

As Tipper put it:

"It's starting to be more about business resilience and how we adapt the business to be more fit for the future."
Richard TIpper

So, Where Does EHS Fit In?

Here's where things get interesting. EHS and ESG aren't separate worlds — they're deeply connected.

ESG gives you the big-picture insights (carbon, waste, water, supply chain).
EHS gives you the systems, discipline, and data you need to make it work.

In fact, 36% of senior EHS leaders believe EHS teams will be central to ESG strategy going forward. Why? Because they're already used to breaking down silos, collaborating across departments, and turning data into action.

If ESG is the destination, your EHS processes are the roadmap.

Words of Wisdom from the Experts

Picton and Tipper offered some practical, no-nonsense advice for organisations starting or scaling their ESG journey:

1. Treat ESG as a continuous cycle.
Picton's acronym says it all: LIFT – Learn, Identify, Focus, Try.

When it comes to ESG, you aren't 'done' there is always more you can do. As an organisation, and individuals we need to learn what matters, identify the priorities, focus on things we can act upon and try some initiatives, programs, and campaigns and then go back to top of the cycle again. Each time you cycle the hope if you get a little better at it.

2. Get leadership buy-in early.
Use the 5 R's to make your business case, sadely not all senior leaders in organisations are bought in and so it's still a sales job for some, others are on the fence and only need a little convincing that it's also just a good business thing to be doing.
Revenue, Regulation, Risk, Responsibility, Reputation.
Hard to argue with that!

3. Bring finance in from the start.
Better data quality. Less admin. More action, what's not to link about that? Pulling in your finance team early gives you the assurity that you cna have soem good data preparation and better quality data. Spreadsheets flying around the business? Not a great long-term plan, there are much better ways of doing this.

What Now?

Start reporting. Start learning. Start improving. ESG reporting opens the door to real insights about your business — and real resilience for the future.

At Many Caps Consulting, this is exactly the kind of clarity we help organisations achieve: Compliance. Simplified. ESG made understandable, useful, and actionable using the ESG reporting software form EcoOnline.

If you want your ESG journey to be easier, less overwhelming, and actually valuable to your organisation, we're here for it.