Knowing how the ESG score is calculated is no longer just for large corporations.
It’s something every company, big or small, must understand if it wants to stay competitive.
ESG metrics, which measure environmental, social, and governance impact, are becoming a key tool to understand where we are and how prepared we are for what’s coming.
But let’s be honest: most companies have no idea how this is measured.
Is it just about complying with regulations? No. It goes much further.
It’s about knowing whether your company is making decisions that make it more efficient, more attractive to investors, and more aligned with market demands.
In this article, we’ll clear up the confusion.
We’ll look at what you need to measure correctly, which standards exist, and how to start working with real data.
Because without data, there is no strategy.
Before we start reporting or making decisions, we need to understand what exactly an ESG score measures and how it’s calculated.
There’s no magic formula.
ESG scores vary depending on who calculates them, what data is used, and what the company or investor wants to evaluate.
But there is a common base: analyzing how we manage environmental, social, and governance issues in a quantifiable way.
An ESG score measures non-financial risks and opportunities.
In other words, how we are impacted by and respond to issues like emissions, employee treatment, or transparency in corporate governance.
It’s not just a pretty number to show off.
This score defines whether we’re reliable, whether we’re exposed to unnecessary risks, and whether we’re ready to compete long-term.
This is where it gets interesting. There’s no single entity or universal system.
It depends on who calculates it, what data they use, and what they want to assess.
These are companies dedicated exclusively to rating others.
They collect public and private data, apply their own models, and assign a score.
But be careful, each agency has its own criteria, so don’t expect the same rating everywhere.
Some companies hire consultants for a more personalized evaluation.
This involves custom methodologies, interviews, site visits... more detailed, but also more expensive and slower.
There are also tech solutions that collect your data and automatically calculate your ESG score.
Their advantage is clear, they automate something that would otherwise be a major headache.
In our case, as an ESG solution, we’re not consultants or auditors.
We help gather all your ESG data and connect it to whatever you need: EINF, SBTi, CSRD, ISO certifications, or what comes next.
Should you follow a standard or build your own model?
It depends on your sector, goals, and stakeholders.
International standards help you speak the same language.
Some of the best known are:
Can we relax? Not quite.
If you don’t choose a clear methodology, it’ll be hard to prove progress or compare yourself with others.
Calculating the ESG score isn’t hard if you have the right data and a smart strategy.
Now that we’ve covered how it works and who’s behind it, let’s look at how to actually use the score to your advantage.
There’s no single way to calculate your ESG score, but there are three approaches that most companies and evaluators use.
Each has its own logic and benefits.
Here, we’re talking real numbers.
Emissions, workplace accidents, gender pay gap, employee turnover...
Everything is measured with clear, verifiable indicators.
The key is choosing relevant KPIs, and ensuring they’re based on up-to-date emission factors that reflect current methodologies.
Measuring just for the sake of it won’t help.
You need to focus on what actually affects your business and generates value.
This method focuses on what we say we do.
It reviews codes of conduct, internal policies, annual reports, and public commitments.
The risk?
If there’s no data to back it up, the score becomes empty words.
And that’s no longer enough.
The fastest and most scalable option.
You connect your ESG data, and the system applies algorithms that generate a clear, traceable score.
Advantages? Real-time data, continuous analysis, and the ability to integrate your score into multiple reports: EINF, CSRD, taxonomy, and more.
In our case, we don’t audit or consult.
We are a tech solution that gathers your ESG data and transforms it into something useful for any need.
An ESG score is not a final grade.
You need to read it in context, understand where it comes from and what it actually measures.
Two companies may have the same score and still not be at the same level.
It depends on what variables were measured and how deep the analysis was.
An industrial company cannot be compared with a services firm.
The same applies between countries or between SMEs and multinationals.
ESG risks are not the same.
Your score may change depending on who calculates it.
Why? Because each methodology prioritizes different criteria.
The important thing is to understand which one fits your reality and what you want to use it for.
Regulations keep growing.
Measuring correctly from the start helps you avoid surprises and report efficiently and without stress.
If your data is already structured, adapting to new standards becomes much easier.
More and more investors demand ESG criteria.
If you can’t prove your score, you’re out of the game. It’s that simple.
Having a reliable ESG score opens the door to financing, partnerships, and better terms.
It can also help align your strategy with sustainable finance frameworks that are already being adopted in the market.
A strong ESG score says you’re doing things right.
And sooner or later, that shows up in customer trust, employee engagement, and investor interest.
If your competitors aren’t measuring, they’re flying blind.
And in a world with growing regulations and expectations, that’s a risk you don’t need to take.
Knowing where you stand gives you a head start, while others are still figuring it out.
Understanding how your ESG score is calculated is just the beginning.
What really matters is how you use it to your advantage. And that’s what we’ll tackle next.
Calculating your ESG score can seem daunting if you don’t know where to begin or what obstacles to expect.
These are the four most frequent blockers we see, and how you can overcome them without the drama.
Most companies have the data, but don’t know where it is.
It’s spread across departments, Excel files, emails, and disconnected reports.
The solution?
Centralize and structure everything in one place.
Only then can you turn information into something useful and ready to report.
We get it, daily operations don’t stop.
And if you don’t have a team dedicated to sustainability, ESG scoring ends up on the back burner.
How do we fix it? With automation and simplicity.
Scoring your ESG performance shouldn’t take weeks of manual work. If it does, something’s wrong.
Which framework is the right one? GRI, SASB, CSRD...? That question creates confusion and inaction.
The key is to translate your ESG data into multiple formats.
One data set should serve many purposes, without redoing everything every time.
Many companies hand everything over to consultancies.
While they can add value, this often leads to slow, expensive, and hard-to-scale processes.
What if you could take control from within?
That’s where a tech solution gives you autonomy and real-time visibility.
We’re not auditors and we’re not consultants.
We are a solution for companies that want to measure and manage their ESG impact clearly, simply, and efficiently.
We gather all your ESG information, no matter the format or where it is, and turn it into automatic, traceable scores.
So you can use that same data for whatever you need:
EINF, CSRD, SBTi, taxonomy, ISO certifications, or any standard the market requires.
The key is to connect data to business objectives.
And for that, you don’t need more consulting.
You need a solution that works. And fast.
ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance.
Three essential areas to understand the impact and resilience of a company beyond financial results.
Why does it matter?
Because today’s market no longer tolerates a lack of data on sustainability.
And if you don’t measure, you can’t compete.
There’s no single universal formula.
There are standards, methodologies, and rating agencies that evaluate companies, but each uses its own system.
The most important thing is to have structured, adaptable data.
That way, you can respond to any requirement: CSRD, taxonomy, SBTi, ISO and others.
If you report, if you have investors, if you sell to large clients, or if you operate in regulated markets, you need it.
And if not now, you will soon. This is not a passing trend.
It’s about being ready for what is already the new standard.
It depends on your team and your resources.
If your data is well organized, you can move forward.
But if not, the smartest move is to use a solution that does it for you.
Just make sure you avoid slow processes or outdated reports.
The key is to maintain control and agility.
The ESG score is not static.
Ideally, it should be updated continuously or at least with each fiscal year.
Why? Because data evolves, regulations change, and what works today might not be enough tomorrow.
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Carbon footprint calculation analyzes all emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, usage, and disposal.
The most recognized methodologies are:
Digital tools like Dcycle simplify the process, providing accurate and actionable insights.
Some strategies require initial investment, but long-term benefits outweigh costs.
Investing in carbon reduction is not just an environmental action, it’s a smart business strategy.
