Until recently, contributing to charity was enough for companies to fulfill their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) obligations. Today, this is far from sufficient. Investors, employees, and customers are interested in how a company manages its energy, whether it takes care of its people, and if it plays fair. All of this falls under the concept of ESG.

Clearly defined and measurable - that's the ESG approach. This acronym represents a companys impact on the environment, care for employees, customers and community (social), and corporate governance. The term ESG was first coined in 2004 when the UN presented a report aptly titled "Who Cares Wins".

Since then, ESG has been under increasing scrutiny - not just from the public, but also from regulators. In 2014, the European Commission introduced directives for non-financial reporting (NFRD). What does this mean? Large companies with more than 500 employees must openly disclose how they affect the world around them. This is useful not only for investors but also for customers who want to know who they can trust and provide their money to. That's why ESG increases companies' credibility and, consequently, their profits.

For non-profit organizations, ESG represents their natural world. They have long been ensuring that their activities are socially and environmentally responsible. ESG can be a way for them to select projects and partners, but also a path to gaining financial support from donors who want to support meaningful initiatives.

Ultimately, ESG is not just about numbers and regulations, as it might seem at first glance. It's about how companies engage in positive changes in society through their behavior. And that's something that really matters.