Corporate sustainability is an approach that aims to create long-term stakeholder value through the implementation of a corporate strategy that focuses on the ethical, social, environmental, cultural and economic dimensions of doing business. The definition of a sustainable company can be expressed as a company’s commitment to a responsible business model, whose aim is to ensure sustainable development with a strong focus on the health of the planet and the social and economic well-being of people. In fact, these are the applications of ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) criteria in organisations/companies: E: Responsible use of natural resources Reduction of environmental impacts Emissions management S: Working conditions Protection of human rights and local communities Gender equality G: Transparency Ethics Accountability If, on the other hand, we talk about corporate sustainability certification and its assessment, we should make it clear that rather than corporate sustainability certification, it is correct to refer to certifications in the plural, as there are a myriad of standards, which vary according to the type of company, product and objective one wishes to communicate. These include ISO 9001 for Quality, ISO 14001 for the Environment, ISO 50001 for Energy and SA 8000 for Social Responsibility.
