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ESG: three letters that are changing the global market

Purple background. illustration of the bottom part of the globe and on top some colorful buildings with symbols of sustainable practices representing ESG

We’ve already told you that initiatives that promote a fairer and more inclusive world make all the difference, right? Therefore, sustainability has been an issue increasingly discussed inside and outside organizations.

Besides being a matter of social responsibility and commitment to people and the planet, it has become an important strategy for valuing brands, especially among large companies, which use ESG practices as allies in attracting new talents and investors.

After all, what is ESG?

This term stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. This concept has gained more and more strength in recent years, but its origin is actually old. Since 2004, through the Who Cares Wins initiative, the UN, with the financial subsidy of institutions from several countries, has been raising actions to make the world more globalized and connected. In fact, according to this initiative’s report, companies that adopt ESG practices tend to have more positive financial results than others.

Let’s better understand what these guidelines mean and the importance of taking advantage of them in your organization to see the results that will come up?

Understanding these three letters:

E (Environmental): is related to issues of environmental impact, such as global warming, waste management, carbon emissions and excessive consumption of natural resources. For example, what promotes an integrated management of strategy, questioning the long-term impacts.

S (Social): it represents accessibility, engagement, diversity and inclusion practices, reinforcing the importance of human relationships throughout different publics, such as: customers, employees, suppliers and communities. It is at this point, for example, that Hand Talk works with the Sign Languages translations, promoting accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people. 

G (Governance): It is related to the ethics, transparency and responsibility towards risks taken by a corporation. This means that the last letter of the “ESG” refers to the responsibility of organizations to society, through good management practices, conduct and sustainability.

The ESG and SDG pillars go hand in hand

In the universe of ESG practices, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stand out, as they set off more clearly the goals that can be achieved with these guidelines. They are part of a global agenda that embrace four main dimensions, which are: social, environmental, economic and institutional.

It is no coincidence that the S appears both in ESG practices and in the SDGs. Society increasingly demands that organizations take responsibility for human needs, health, education, improved quality of life and justice. And it is exactly at this point that we want to highlight.

Where does Digital Accessibility come in?

It is precisely in this connection between the ESG pillars and the SDGs that accessibility gains strength. Those who invest in it know that they are directly promoting SDG 10, which concerns the reduction of inequality within countries and between them.

This objective also aims to commit, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.

Focused on meeting the need and helping more organizations to adopt good ESG practices, Hand Talk offers a first step to start making a difference: the website accessibility plugin that is available in Brazilian Sign Language and soon will be also available in American Sign Language. This solution, which performs automatic translations via artificial intelligence into Sign Languages, promotes the autonomy of millions of deaf and hard of hearing people, who communicate using signs, connecting them with the organizations they want.

Brands win too

Organizations that adopt accessibility on their websites, not only position themselves for good sustainable practices, but also open doors to a huge consumer audience. 

Anyway, when we talk about more accessible, sustainable and transparent organizations, there are countless initiatives and paths that can be followed. The important thing is to keep in mind that all of this must be part of an ongoing journey of transformation. After all, every change has a first step. Learn more in our blog!

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