ESG Policies

Clear, well-written ESG policies are the foundation of responsible business practice. They set expectations, support compliance and provide evidence that an organisation takes its environmental, social and governance responsibilities seriously. For many organisations, ESG policies are also the starting point for sustainability reporting, certification and procurement.

Responsible Business supports organisations across the UK with ESG policy development, offering both bespoke ESG policies and practical policy templates that are proportionate, credible and aligned with current expectations. Our approach focuses on clarity and relevance. Policies should work in practice, not sit unused in a folder.

What Are ESG Policies?

ESG policies are formal documents that set out how an organisation manages its environmental impact, social responsibilities and governance arrangements. They provide structure, accountability and transparency. ESG policies are increasingly expected by customers, investors, public sector bodies and certification frameworks.

Well-designed ESG policies help organisations:

• demonstrate responsible business practice

• meet regulatory and contractual expectations

• support ESG reporting and impact measurement

• prepare for certifications such as BCorp and EcoVadis

• strengthen governance and risk management

• provide clarity for staff and stakeholders

For many SMEs, ESG policies are not about compliance alone. They are about credibility and readiness.

Why ESG Policies Matter

Expectations around ESG policies have increased significantly in recent years. Organisations are being asked to provide evidence of responsible practice in tenders, supplier questionnaires, due diligence processes and certification assessments.

In the UK context, ESG policies are often requested as part of:

• public sector procurement

• NHS and local authority tenders

• supply chain sustainability assessments

• investor due diligence

• BCorp and EcoVadis submissions

• Responsible Business and ESG reports

Without clear ESG policies in place, organisations can appear underprepared or exposed to risk. Strong ESG policies show that responsibilities are understood, documented and embedded.

Bespoke ESG Policies vs ESG Policy Templates

Different organisations need different levels of support. Responsible Business offers two routes: bespoke ESG policies and ESG policy templates.

Bespoke ESG Policies

Bespoke ESG policies are written specifically for your organisation. They reflect your sector, size, risk profile and operational reality. This approach is particularly suitable for organisations that:

• operate in regulated or high-risk sectors

• work closely with the public sector

• are pursuing certification

• want policies aligned closely with strategy and reporting

Bespoke ESG policies are tailored, defensible and designed to stand up to scrutiny.

ESG Policy Templates

ESG policy templates are ideal for SMEs that need a clear, professional starting point. Templates provide structure and consistency while remaining accessible and affordable.

Our ESG policy templates are:

• written in plain English

• aligned with UK expectations

• suitable for immediate use

• adaptable as organisations grow

Templates are often used as part of an ESG health check or early-stage responsible business journey.

How ESG Policies Support Certification and Reporting

ESG policies play a central role in certification and reporting frameworks.

For BCorp, policies provide evidence of governance, worker practices, community responsibility and environmental management.

For EcoVadis, ESG policies underpin scoring across environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

For ESG impact reporting and Responsible Business Reports, policies provide the backbone for explaining approach, accountability and progress.

Well-aligned ESG policies reduce duplication and make reporting and certification far more efficient.

Our Approach to ESG Policy Development

Responsible Business takes a practical and proportionate approach to ESG policies. We do not over-engineer documents or apply generic language that does not reflect how organisations actually operate.

Our process typically includes:

• understanding your organisation and risks

• identifying which ESG policies are required

• drafting policies that reflect real practice

• ensuring clarity and accessibility

• aligning policies with reporting and certification needs

Policies are written to be used, understood and trusted.

Who This Service Is For

Our ESG policy services are suitable for:

• SMEs building ESG foundations

• growing businesses preparing for tenders

• organisations seeking certification

• companies responding to client or investor requests

• public-sector-facing organisations

• businesses producing ESG or impact reports

Whether you need one policy or a full suite, we tailor the support accordingly.

Why Choose Responsible Business

Clients choose Responsible Business because we combine policy awareness with commercial realism. We understand that ESG policies must meet expectations while remaining proportionate.

Organisations value our work because we offer:

• practical ESG policy expertise

• clear understanding of UK expectations

• policies written for real-world use

• support aligned with reporting and certification

• transparent and accessible pricing

Our ESG policies help organisations move forward with confidence.

Next Steps

If you need ESG policies in place, we can help you decide whether bespoke policies or templates are the right starting point. We can also align ESG policies with wider strategy, reporting and certification work.

Get in touch to discuss your requirements or explore our ESG policy templates.

Examples of ESG Policies We Provide

Responsible Business supports organisations with a wide range of ESG and responsible business policies. Common examples include:

Environmental Policies

• Environmental Policy

• Carbon Reduction Policy

• Climate and Net Zero Policy

• Biodiversity and Nature Policy

• Resource and Waste Management Policy

Social Policies

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

• Health and Wellbeing Policy

• Modern Slavery and Ethical Labour Policy

• Community and Social Value Policy

• Training and Skills Development Policy

Governance and Ethics Policies

• Code of Conduct

• Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy

• Whistleblowing Policy

• Data Protection and Information Security Policy

• Supplier Code of Conduct