DemystifyingESG

The Best Resources for Regulatory Guidance in Today’s Fast-changing Climate

by Erica Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion Corporation
I

n the world of rapidly changing regulations, who can I trust to keep me up-to-date? The IAPD Environmental Committee has come together to share with you their favorite trustworthy resources. The sites and sources discussed below are not an exhaustive list by any means, but certainly a great place to start.

A person in a suit types on a laptop, with icons representing environmental sustainability and business floating above the keyboard.
Shuttershock.

What Makes an ESG Website Reliable?

Before diving into the specific sites, it’s important to understand the criteria for assessing the reliability of ESG websites. Trustworthy ESG platforms generally possess the following characteristics:

  • Transparency of data sources and methodology
  • Regularly updated information
  • Independence and lack of bias
  • Alignment with recognized standards (e.g., GRI, SASB, TCFD)
  • Credibility among investors and regulators
  • Accessibility for both experts and the general public

Now for the good stuff:

European Commission – Sustainability Reporting
https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/doing-business-eu/sustainability-due-diligence-responsible-business_en

This is a reliable source because as the body that introduced the CSRD, the European Commission’s website is the authoritative source for legislative updates, official announcements and resources on the CSRD and its implementation. You will find information on the regulation itself, links to relevant policy documents and guidance for companies to comply with new sustainability reporting standards.

In April of 2025, the EU introduced significant modifications to CSRD that will help to balance sustainability goals with the need for economic competitiveness. There are four main areas where changes are proposed:

  1. Sector-Specific and Non-EU Reporting Standards
  2. Reduction Reporting Scope and Complexity
  3. Development of Non-EU Company Reporting Standards (NESRS)
  4. Balancing Sustainability and Competitiveness

These changes hope to reduce the cost to companies to be compliant and make compliance more attainable for smaller companies.

Greenplaces

www.greenplaces.com

Greenplaces provides a centralized tool for companies to collect, manage and report data related to their environmental impact, social responsibility and governance practices. This allows businesses to track progress toward their ESG goals and prepare reports for stakeholders, investors and regulators.

  • Simplified Sustainability Management: Greenplaces streamlines the complexity of sustainability management, providing businesses with a centralized platform to track, report and reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Regulatory Compliance: The platform helps businesses stay compliant with sustainability and environmental regulations by providing them with accurate reporting tools and certifications.
  • Enhanced Brand Reputation: By adopting Greenplaces’ sustainability tools, businesses can demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility, which can improve their reputation among consumers, investors and other stakeholders.
  • Cost Savings: In addition to reducing carbon emissions, Greenplaces helps businesses identify inefficiencies in their operations, which can lead to cost savings in energy usage, resource consumption and waste management.
American Chemistry Council – Plastics Division
https://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is a prominent industry association in the United States representing the chemical industry, including the performance plastics sector. The ACC’s Plastics Division is focused on advancing sustainability initiatives, providing data on recycling technologies and encouraging best practices in plastic manufacturing. Key resources ACC features include:

  • Sustainability and Recycling Initiatives: ACC’s website highlights efforts to promote sustainable plastic use, including the development of chemical recycling technologies and initiatives to increase plastic recovery rates.
  • Data and Policy Analysis: ACC regularly publishes data on plastic production, recycling rates and policy developments that influence the performance plastics industry. This information is crucial for industry players to stay informed about market trends and regulatory changes.
  • Sustainability Action Plans: The ACC provides a framework for companies in the plastics sector to adopt sustainability action plans, addressing critical issues such as waste reduction and the development of sustainable materials.

As the performance plastics industry faces mounting scrutiny over its environmental impact, ACC’s resources can help businesses make informed decisions and implement more sustainable practices.

ESG Today
https://www.esgtoday.com

ESG Today aims to be the go-to resource for financial professionals, corporate decision-makers and investors on the ever-evolving subject of ESG. Here are ways that it does this:

  • Informed Decision-Making: ESG Today provides readers with the information they need to make informed decisions regarding sustainability practices, ESG investments and corporate governance.
  • Timely Insights: The platform keeps businesses, investors and policymakers up to date with the latest trends and regulatory changes in the ESG space, ensuring that its audience is always in the know.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: From financial impacts of ESG investing to the latest sustainability initiatives, ESG Today covers a wide range of topics, offering something for everyone in the ESG ecosystem.
  • Credible and Reliable: ESG Today is known for its reliability and credibility in providing accurate, factual and well-researched content on ESG topics, helping users make decisions based on trustworthy information.
Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com

Their articles often focus on the intersection of ESG with financial markets, business performance and global economic developments. Here are the types of articles that they might write:

  • News and Analysis: Bloomberg frequently reports on the latest developments in ESG policies, regulations (like the CSRD) and trends in corporate sustainability. They analyze how these factors are impacting businesses, investors and the economy.
  • Corporate ESG Performance: Bloomberg tracks how companies are integrating ESG factors into their operations, governance and financial strategies. They might highlight major companies’ progress (or lack thereof) on sustainability goals, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and environmental impact.
  • ESG Investment Insights: Bloomberg often covers ESG investing, including the performance of ESG funds, the rise of sustainable investing and investor sentiment on environmental and social issues. They also discuss the integration of ESG criteria in investment decision-making.
  • Regulatory Developments: As global regulations around ESG reporting evolve, Bloomberg provides updates and analysis of new policies, including the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and various national and international ESG-related frameworks.
KPMG

https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/esg.html

As one of the largest global professional services firms, KPMG provides a wealth of information on ESG issues, focusing on sustainability reporting, corporate governance, responsible investing and the integration of ESG factors into business strategies similar to Bloomberg. Here are some types of publications that relate to ESG:

  • Global ESG Surveys: KPMG conducts global surveys and polls on ESG trends. For example, their annual KPMG CEO Outlook report often touches on ESG priorities for business leaders.
  • Sector-Specific Insights: KPMG offers tailored insights for specific industries on how ESG regulations and trends affect them, from banking and finance to manufacturing and energy.
  • Webinars and Articles: KPMG also hosts webinars and publishes articles that provide actionable advice on implementing ESG strategies and understanding complex regulations.
  • Case Studies: KPMG shares case studies of organizations successfully implementing ESG strategies and the lessons learned along the way.
Assent
www.assent.com

Assent is a service organization that many companies are partnering with to help them manage their collection of regulatory information. Whether you are the manufacturer or the distributor, this service can prove to be very useful. They even provide a bunch of free resources. Such resources as a Full Material Disclosure template, along with REACH, RoHS and Prop 65 templates. Using these free resources can help you to get ahead of your customers’ requests. Here is a summary of their key services:

  • Improved Regulatory Compliance: Assent helps companies stay compliant with a wide range of global regulations, which is especially important in highly regulated industries like electronics, automotive and consumer goods.
  • Risk Mitigation: By providing tools to assess and manage supplier risks, Assent helps companies minimize potential ESG-related risks in their supply chains, which could impact their reputation or lead to legal issues.
  • Increased Transparency: Assent’s platform enables companies to gain greater visibility into their supply chains, making it easier to identify areas for improvement in sustainability practices and governance.
  • Operational Efficiency: The automation of data collection, reporting and compliance workflows reduces the time and resources required to manage ESG and supply chain compliance.
  • Stronger Supplier Relationships: With Assent, companies can work more closely with their suppliers to ensure they meet ESG standards, building stronger, more ethical and sustainable relationships.

Reliable ESG information is indispensable for responsible decision-making — whether you are a regulator, investor, corporate manager or concerned citizen. Both the United Kingdom and the United States offer a range of trusted websites that help users navigate the complexities of environmental, social and governance data.

The best practice is often to consult multiple sources — government databases for raw data, nonprofit organizations for thematic insights and commercial rating agencies for synthesized scores. By triangulating across these reliable platforms, stakeholders can develop a more nuanced and credible understanding of ESG risks and opportunities.

As regulations evolve and expectations grow, staying informed through these reliable ESG websites will be crucial for maintaining ethical, sustainable and financially sound practices.

Erica Wright is the President of Sales at Finger Lakes Extrusion Corporation. For more information, contact Finger Lakes Extrusion Corporation at 32437 Route 21, Canandaigua, NY 14424-8716, USA; by phone at (585) 905-0632; by email at info@flextubing.com or online at www.fingerlakesextrusion.com.