Launch of the bilingual Sustainability Index Magazine, 2nd edition: ESG profiles and new developments in sustainability

Launch of the bilingual Sustainability Index Magazine, 2nd edition: ESG profiles and new developments in sustainability

The Sustainability Index Magazine, 2nd edition, highlights the top performers in sustainability according to the Romania CST Index, as well as the latest trends and innovations in corporate sustainability from local and international experts.

  • The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services Agency launches the second edition of Sustainability Index Magazine, a premium bilingual publication (Romanian – English) that aims to present the current status of corporate sustainability in Romania.
  • Readers will find in the magazine the results of the only corporate sustainability index in the country, Romania CST Index, as well as interviews with national and international experts, educational articles, and case studies.
  • The publication aims to promote corporate sustainability as a responsible business management practice, as well as to help companies to develop a more effective strategy based on aggregated market information.

Sustainability Index Magazine is following in the footsteps of Community Index Magazine, the bilingual yearbook containing the results of Community Index: a ranking of programs and projects run by Romanian companies to invest in communities, launched in 2019.

The publication can be particularly useful not only for professionals in the field, but also for local and multinational companies, investors, universities, PR agencies and authorities.

The second issue of the magazine has more than 100 pages and the online version is offered free of charge to contribute to the development of the field. The yearbook in digital format as a flipview can be viewed here: https://sustainabilityindex.ro/sustainability-index-magazine-2024-3/

What’s in the Sustainability Index Magazine?

The second edition of the Sustainability Index Magazine brings to the forefront sustainability profiles of companies that have published sustainability reports for their operations in Romania. The profiles are organized along several dimensions in order to have a real and clear picture of companies’ objectives and investments in Romania: audit of sustainability reports, key figures, targets achieved and future goals.

The yearbook also features exclusive interviews with globally and regionally recognized corporate sustainability experts such as:

  • Michel Scholte, Impact Entrepreneur, Speaker & Co-Founder, Impact Institute; Instructor, CSRD Academy
  • Oghosa Erhahon, Independent Consultant, Hydrogen Policy Expert, TEDx Speaker and Co-Author of “Touching Hydrogen Future”
  • Harald Friedl, Circular Economist & LinkedIn Top Voice

The yearbook also features interviews with nationally recognized personalities with extensive experience in sustainability management and strategies, such as:

  • Marco Hößl, CEO Kaufland Romania and Republic of Moldova
  • Fady Chreih, CEO Regina Maria
  • Valentin Truță, General Director Premier Restaurants Romania
  • Gemma Webb, CEO & President RetuRO
  • Raluca Dascălu, Communications Manager JYSK ROMÂNIA
  • Roxana Puia, Marketing Director ENVIRON Association
  • Luiza Dumitru, Communication & Marketing Director OSCAR Downstream
  • Corina Radu, CEO Solutions4Impact Consulting
  • Alina Liciu, Managing Partner The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services

What is Romania CST Index?

Romania CST Index (Corporate Sustainability & Transparency Index), launched in 2016, is the first ranking in our country dedicated to performance and transparency in the field of corporate sustainability/ESG. The index proposes a comprehensive and transparent analysis, aligned with international standards, and is the largest database on sustainability indicators of companies in the country.

To carry out the analysis, the index uses public company data on environmental, social, and governance issues. Indicators assessed cover areas such as climate change, sustainable products, labor practices, community investment, risk management, responsible marketing or supply chain, among others.

What are the main objectives of Romania CST Index?

A sustainability index is important because it is a tool to assess a company’s performance in comparison with other players in the industry and in the country. Romania CST Index aims to contribute to increasing the level of transparency on sustainability indicators and to recognize the companies with the greatest progress in Romania in addressing the principles and requirements of international standards for corporate sustainability management and reporting.

Thus, the Romania CST Index aims to promote corporate sustainability as a responsible business management practice. The index can also help companies to better develop their strategy based on market intelligence.

What are the results of the analysis?

2024 comes with many challenges, but also opportunities for the corporate environment in the EU and implicitly in Romania to integrate sustainability considerations into business decisions. Legislative changes at European bloc level set ambitious new targets for transparency and ESG performance, but also bring more clarity and consistency.

The Romania CST Index 2023 analysis shows a slight increase in the number of companies publishing sustainability reports. We are also seeing progress in setting smart targets on environmental, social and governance factors, and best practices from industry leaders that point to opportunities for improvement across the sector.

However, the number of companies publishing sustainability reports continues to be low, below 10% in 2023 in Romania, out of the more than 750 companies that have this obligation.

ESG is however starting to be integrated in several departments of organizations: finance, procurement, HR or marketing. This change indicates a need to increase the number of trainings on sustainability principles so that all these professionals understand the importance of integrating these principles into their business strategy and practices.

Finally, an important aspect emerging from the analysis is the need for a data collection and monitoring strategy and infrastructure. The sustainability strategy should include a high number of SMART indicators. Targets need to be measurable, clear and aligned to the industry and specificity of the organization. Analysts and investors need this information in order to compare different organizations in the same industry and assess who is performing best.

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About the Editor

The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services is a sustainability consultancy established in 2013 with the aim of supporting companies in Romania on integrating corporate sustainability into their business strategy. The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services has an approach focused on long-term results, the use of IT technology for a high level of accuracy of sustainability indicators and analysis/research to support company decision makers in defining corporate sustainability strategy.

The agency’s most important and complex project is the Romania CST Index, formerly called Romania CSR Index, ranking launched in 2016 and which is the only one in Romania that assesses companies’ sustainability indicators: information on sustainability management, economic, environmental and social impact. The Index is launched every year at the Best Practices in Corporate Sustainability conference.

In 2019, the agency launched the Community Index, the most comprehensive ranking of corporate community investment projects and a centralizer of the best CSR campaigns run each year by Romanian companies. The ranking results, together with case studies and interviews with national and international experts, are presented every year in Community Index Magazine, the only bilingual yearbook dedicated to community investment by Romanian companies.

Envisioning a hydrogen-powered future

Interview with OGHOSA ERHAHON, Independent Consultant, Hydrogen Policy Expert, TEDx Speaker and Co-Author of “Touching Hydrogen Future”

Envisioning a hydrogen-powered future

Hydrogen, often perceived as a buzzword in the energy discourse, holds great significance as a crucial element for achieving global net-zero objectives. Not only it signifies a technological shift but it also embodies a responsibility in our collective journey towards decarbonization. Regardless of the uncertainties surrounding the energy transition, one thing is crystal clear: the vital role of human capital.

In this exclusive interview, Oghosa Erhanon shares valuable insights from her co-authored book, “Touching Hydrogen Future,” and her TEDx speech, “Carbon Neutrality.”

Oghosa is a seasoned legal expert with a rich background in crafting policies and strategies across energy and sustainability sectors. Her multifaceted experience includes roles in government-led missions, donor-funded programs, and consultancy management spanning continents from Africa to Europe. From advising on the GIZ-Global Hydrogen Diplomacy Programme to serving as a Hydrogen Policy Expert for the Research Institute for Sustainability, her expertise has shaped global conversations on energy transformation.

Discover the complexity of opportunities and challenges brought by the hydrogen transition, guided by Oghosa’s wealth of knowledge and expertise.

  1. Hydrogen is an element of hope for both our economy and our future regarding climate change. What are, in your opinion, the most valuable applications for hydrogen in achieving net-zero goals?

Hydrogen, possibly a buzzword but a critical energy vector, comes with its responsibility towards reaching global net-zero goals. Hydrogen development brings versatile applications for pathways towards decarbonization. Let’s take the hard-to-abate industries: the ones which would be harder to simply electrify. Hard-to-abate industries include steel production, cement production and ammonia synthesis etc. which are necessary industries for industrialization. So, as our global population increases the world needs roads, housing, and general infrastructure. Low-carbon hydrogen facilitates the decarbonization of these hard-to-abate industries, ultimately reducing emissions that would otherwise have been emitted.


Further, hydrogen as an appreciated application is valuable in energy storage. As a last frontier on the decarbonization journey, long-duration energy storage – like hydrogen – offers a solution to excess energy generation, especially from renewable energy sources. An example is enabling the integration of renewable energy into the grid and advancing the decarbonization journey.

2. You are one of the co-authors of “Touching Hydrogen Future: Tour around the Globe”. Almost 150 years after Jules Verne first envisioned a world powered by hydrogen, the book paints a picture of a transformed world powered by hydrogen and other energy transition vectors. What is your input in educating and inspiring the next generation to embrace and actively contribute to the development of hydrogen technology?

The “Touching Hydrogen Future” book changed our lives! My co-editors, Erik Rakhou and Rosa Puentes, and our over 27 co-authors have been some of the most inspirational people I have created with. We started this conversation in 2021, raising an idea of what the world could be with focus and determination towards achieving our decarbonization goals across industries and communities.

The book covers so many interesting topics for the next generation to embrace and actively contribute to the development of hydrogen technology. It’s worth mentioning that what I appreciate about the chapters covering Namibia, China or Kazakhstan is that they offer space for the younger generation to imagine what is possible. Navigating careers and emerging technologies ahead of net-zero future can easily be overwhelming – I find it easier to start from what an ideal world looks like and then work backwards. For example, let’s say you are a civil engineer: What would the future need from you? Start there!

3. In your TEDx Talk, “Carbon Neutrality: Small Changes, Big Impact”, you discuss the urgent need for carbon neutrality and the role individuals and nations can play in reducing carbon emissions. What are the key takeaway ideas from your speech you want to share with our readers?

Oh, what a time that was! Reaching Carbon Neutrality is to be a continuous effort without any hard stop. What we see with targets and deadlines is that they act as guidelines towards ensuring strategies and metrics are adequately in place to enable sustainability. So, when people say “reaching net-zero emissions or carbon neutrality”, we expect, by 2040, for example, a country positioned to decarbonize industry or meet neutrality to have frameworks, projects, strategy, projects completed, educational facilities, and continuous development working to provide low carbon systems.

My initial story towards carbon neutrality is the concept of carbon sink: finding ways to sequester carbon. It is vital to consider tree planting, biodiversity, protecting ocean reefs and so on, but my key takeaway is empowering everyone to know that decisions – big or small – have an impact. However, the main impact will have to come from the biggest emitters – and that’s where the majority of the emission trading schemes, cross-border carbon adjustment methodologies etc. are cracking down on.

I also believe that reaching carbon neutrality is a privileged experience. The reason being that so many countries, for example, barely reached their optimized energy consumption levels. Now they have an opportunity to develop systems that have sustainability and low carbon possibilities from the onset.

4. You believe green hydrogen requires a massive scale-up of renewable energy capacity, and this process could boost employment opportunities and the creation of new jobs. Could you offer some examples of such professions?

This is an increasingly popular question. I appreciate communities like Green Careers Hub and their work in elevating these possibilities especially when it comes to discussing employment and sustainable jobs for the future. The energy transition is posed with so many uncertainties but one thing we know for sure (beyond artificial intelligence) is that we will need people for this transition.

People who are savvy in design, who know how to handle technology, work on community sensitization, and who understand legal frameworks, financial structures, intellectual property and even knowledge management. So many exciting positions! I also understand where the fear comes from especially with school leavers or professionals in traditional energy spaces navigating the transition. Sustainable jobs are the future: the fundamental skills we learn now are adaptable for the next five, ten and even thirty years!

CSRD: Popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities

Exclusive interview with Michel Scholte

Impact Entrepreneur, Speaker & Co-Founder, Impact Institute; Instructor, CSRD Academy

CSRD: Popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities

CSRD mandates comprehensive and consistent reporting on sustainability metrics, driving companies to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance more transparently. It is also seen by many as overwhelming, burdensome or costly. There are still many questions left unanswered.

In an exclusive interview for Sustainability Index Magazine, Michel Scholte helped us identify the most popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities around the intriguing CSRD.

Michel is an impact entrepreneur, keynote speaker, sustainability writer, director and co-founder of Impact Institute and True Price. In this role, he focuses on calculating and improving the true price of products, including social and environmental costs. Impact Institute provides data, software, (digital) education and advice on impact measurement and management. Michel is also a founding board member of Impact Economy Foundation, where he develops an open-source impact accounting method together with Harvard Business School’s Impact Weighted Accounts Initiative.

  1. Impact Institute is a social enterprise on a mission to empower organizations and individuals to realize the impact economy through open-source standards for impact measurement and valuation. How would you define “impact”? What is your piece of advice for a company that aims to identify and improve impact, but is not sure where and how to start the journey?

At Impact Institute, we define “impact” as the tangible and intangible consequences of an organization’s actions on the environment, society, and economy. It encompasses both positive and negative effects, measured not only in financial terms but also in social and environmental dimensions. Essentially, impact represents the real-world footprint of an organization’s activities.

For companies aiming to identify and improve their impact, my advice is to start with a comprehensive impact assessment. Begin by mapping out your value chain and identifying key areas where your operations intersect with environmental and social factors.

Engage with stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and communities to gather diverse perspectives on your impact. Use robust measurement tools and frameworks, such as the Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative, to quantify and analyze these impacts.

Once you have a clear picture, prioritize areas for improvement based on their significance and feasibility. Set measurable goals, integrate them into your core business strategy, and continuously monitor progress. Transparency and accountability are crucial. Communicate your impact goals and achievements openly to build trust and drive collective action.

Remember, the journey towards positive impact is ongoing and requires collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability at all levels of the organization.

2. CSRD ACADEMY was started by Impact Institute to empower businesses and professionals to help them comply with the CSRD and address the current sustainability challenges through the guidance of leading experts in sustainable development, finance, education and compliance. Which are, in your view, the top three consequences of CSRD for the transformation of the role of businesses? What about the key opportunities you envision for companies?

Through CSRD ACADEMY we educated more than 500 professionals and 100 companies across Europe and beyond. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will significantly transform the role of businesses in three major ways:

  1. CSRD mandates comprehensive and consistent reporting on sustainability metrics, driving companies to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in a more transparent manner. This heightened transparency will foster greater accountability and trust among stakeholders, including investors, customers, and regulators.
  2. Businesses will need to integrate sustainability into their core strategies, decision-making processes, and operations. This shift from peripheral CSR activities to central strategic imperatives will encourage companies to innovate and adopt more sustainable practices, leading to long-term resilience and competitiveness.
  3. CSRD emphasizes stakeholder engagement and requires companies to consider the interests and impacts on various stakeholders. This will drive businesses to engage more deeply with their stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and addressing material issues that are critical to their long-term success.

There are multiple key opportunities for companies under CSRD, but I will focus on the top three. First of all, early adopters of comprehensive sustainability reporting can differentiate themselves, attract sustainability-conscious investors and customers, and gain a competitive edge. Secondly, identifying and managing ESG risks proactively, companies can mitigate potential financial and reputational risks. Last but not least, the push for sustainability can spur innovation, leading to more efficient processes, cost savings, and new business models that align with a low-carbon and circular economy.

3. What are the most popular myths around CSRD and the most common mistakes made by companies in reporting?

Many believe CSRD will be overwhelmingly burdensome and costly. While compliance does require effort and investment, the benefits of improved risk management, enhanced reputation, and long-term sustainability far outweigh the initial costs.

There is also a misconception that CSRD imposes a one-size-fits-all approach. In reality, CSRD allows for sector-specific adaptations, recognizing that material impacts and reporting needs vary across industries.

One of the most common mistakes in reporting includes poor data quality and the lack of reliable data sources that can undermine the credibility of sustainability reports. Companies often fail to invest in robust data collection and management systems.

Another mistake we identified is that, when reporting, some companies focus on superficial disclosures rather than addressing material impacts. It’s crucial to provide meaningful and substantive information that reflects genuine sustainability efforts.

It is also important to mention that failing to engage with stakeholders can result in overlooking critical issues and missing valuable insights. Effective reporting should be inclusive and responsive to stakeholder concerns.

4. You are a frequent Speaker on topics that include sustainability reporting frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and ESG metrics. In what ways do you believe CSRD will impact relationships in the business environment?

CSRD will profoundly impact company and stakeholder relationships in various ways.

By mandating detailed and reliable sustainability disclosures, CSRD will enhance trust between companies and their stakeholders. Transparent reporting allows stakeholders to make informed decisions and hold companies accountable for their ESG performance.

CSRD encourages ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive approach to sustainability.

Companies will need to actively engage with stakeholders to understand their concerns, expectations, and priorities, leading to more responsive and impactful sustainability strategies.

As companies align their operations with sustainability goals, the interests of various stakeholders – such as investors seeking long-term returns, customers demanding sustainable products, and communities concerned about environmental and social impacts – will increasingly converge. This alignment can lead to stronger, more resilient relationships and shared value creation.

The grand re-boot: Everyone can be a circular economist!

Interview with Harald Friedl, Circular Economist & LinkedIn Top Voice

The grand re-boot: Everyone can be a circular economist!

An urgent and complete “re-boot” of the economic system is needed more than ever. Harald believes the current model of consumerism has reached unacceptable states. The good news is that everyone has the power to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy, foster innovation and collaboration, and create a new model whose essence is regenerative by design. A model that would bring more happiness to all people.

Harald is an internationally renowned circular economist. He advises the United Nations in several countries and is working with top companies on their road towards circularity. His extensive consulting experience spans across industries, as he served as the CEO of the do-tank Circle Economy in Amsterdam, and spearheaded the circular transition in his home country, Austria, in his role as Circular Economy Accelerator for the Austrian Government in 2022. The global yearly “Circularity Gap Report” Harald co-initiated is one of the most referenced publications in the field of circular economy.

In this exclusive interview for Sustainability Index Magazine, Harald shares inspiring insights and concrete steps to make the circular dream a tangible reality.

  1. You’re on a mission to inspire 111 million people and address the “lack of awareness” gap which is holding back the accelerated transition to a circular economy. How are you making this project tangible and, most importantly, why?

The circular economy is all about “doing things fundamentally better – and not just a little bit less bad.” We have let the economy and pursuit of the bottom line take over how we run things.

I believe we have to take a broader view of what we want in life and how we steward our resources.

I find the circular economy, which is regenerative by design, a great and actionable concept. It’s easily explainable – to a Minister, a CEO or a child in my son’s school. Most of us agree that we have to take care of the planet and the people. The huge environmental, social and economic crises we have caused because of the traditional economic model are now damaging the very base of our existence. Hundreds of millions of people are forced into migration because of climate change, water and air pollution that have reached globally alarming levels. Not to mention the micro plastic that has entered our blood stream!

The good news is that we can still change all of this! What we need is an urgent and complete “re-boot” of the economic system and our model of consumerism that has reached unacceptable states (take the super-fast fashion industry as an example).

Such a new model has to be “circular” and “regenerative” by design. I strongly believe such a system would bring more happiness to all people. How can we make that tangible? By following three clear steps. Firstly, we need to urgently raise enough awareness about the “circular economy” as an action plan for sustainable change. Secondly, all countries urgently need roadmaps, analog to “Climate Action Plans”, so they can take action toward the necessary transition measures. Thirdly, we need to build the circular business models and socialize a new way of sustainable consumerism so that the “right demand” stands ready to support and drive the “circular native businesses” of the future.

Everybody can and shall be a circular economist and help clean up the mess we have put ourselves into!

2. How do you see policy and regulation influencing this transition? What are your benchmarks in terms of specific policies or initiatives that have been particularly effective in driving progress? Could you offer some examples?

Smart policymaking is now more urgent than ever. Without it, we are not going to realize the change we need and for the future we deserve. In short, the top five policy measures that a government that is serious about circularity should push are:

  1. Fiscal instruments to incentivize circular practices. For example, Finland aims to “formulate justification and proposals for a circular shift of taxes,” including tax relief for circular enterprises. Spain plans to examine taxing plastic production from fossil fuels, combined with incentives for a circular plastics hub.
  2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes make producers of products responsible for end-of-life resource management. There is movement on plastics, packaging, and electronics. We need more of that. 
  3. Public procurement. The state can set an example and use public resources in a way that incentivizes circular businesses. The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain are committing to integrating circular economy criteria into public procurement practices.
  4. Sector-specific Action Plans. Countries like the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have developed or committed to developing sector-specific circular economy action plans, recognizing the need for tailored approaches across priority sectors such as construction, plastics, and manufacturing.
  5. Monitoring and Governance. Robust monitoring frameworks and governance structures have been established to track progress and hold stakeholders accountable. For example, the Netherlands mandates an annual “Integrated Circular Economy Report” by its Environmental Assessment Agency, while Finland has a dedicated steering group to coordinate implementation.

Effective circular economy policies require a systemic and inclusive approach targeting key barriers along entire value chains.

3. Collaboration across sectors is crucial for the success of circular economy initiatives. Can you share some examples of successful partnerships between businesses, governments, and NGOs in advancing circular economy goals?

I love to work on circularity, as it is all about collaboration. I am really proud that, in 2018, I co-initiated the global “Circularity Gap Report”, which has become a real reference point for seeing the progress with the circular transition. We launched it with countries, the United Nations, NGOs as well as businesses and business alliances.

That has created buy in and credibility.

I love initiatives like the “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment”, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Not only it creates a vision and unites all stakeholders, but it has also catalyzed significant commitments and actions, such as companies pledging to increase their use of recycled plastics. More action is needed, especially regionally and in specific industries. Multi-stakeholder platforms such as the African Circular Economy Alliance are also very promising initiatives I admire.

4. What role do companies have in bridging the circularity gap? What would be their biggest gain for playing their part responsibly?

Companies can accelerate and deliver what is at the core of the circular economy: innovation and collaboration. They will also find several real gains with the transition, such as cost savings, new business models, more resilience in a more and more supply-side driven economy, growing demand or enhanced reputation.

5. What do you think is the main challenge or blockage hindering the widespread adoption of circular economy practices? How can it be overcome?

The main problem is the mindset. I feel many have been losing themselves in the rat race and the pursuit of individual happiness. If we could open our minds again to the community and the power of connection, I believe we would very naturally discover different forms of collaboration. 

That’s why I am hopeful that circularity and regeneration will be adopted and implemented at an increased speed. Just imagine! We could push for this at the same time: developing a new economic model that is not only focused on profit, educating the new generations, making a new sustainable form of consuming hip and trendy, and supporting policy makers with setting the right parameters today, and not tomorrow. Accelerated change is possible today!

 I love to believe in this and I am proud to get up every day – and do it!

Lansare anuar bilingv Sustainability Index Magazine, ediția a 2-a: Profiluri ESG și noile evoluții din sustenabilitate

Anuarul Sustainability Index Magazine, ediția a 2-a, aduce în prim plan top performeri în sustenabilitate conform rankingului Romania CST Index, precum și cele mai recente tendințe și inovații în sustenabilitate corporativă de la experți locali și internaționali

București, 28 iunie 2024

  • Agenția The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services lansează a doua ediție a anuarului Sustainability Index Magazine, o publicație bilingvă premium (română – engleză) care își propune să prezinte statusul actual al sustenabilității corporative din România.
  • Cititorii vor regăsi în revistă rezultatele singurului index de sustenabilitate corporativă din țară, Romania CST Index, precum și interviuri cu experți naționali și internaționali, articole educative, și studii de caz.
  • Publicația urmărește să promoveze sustenabilitatea corporativă ca o practică responsabilă de management al afacerilor, precum și să ajute companiile să-și dezvolte o strategie mai performantă pe baza informațiilor agregate din piață.

Sustainability Index Magazine calcă astfel pe urmele Community Index Magazine, anuarul bilingv care conține rezultatele indexului programelor și proiectelor derulate de companiile din România pentru a investi în comunități, lansat în 2019.

Publicația poate fi deosebit de utilă nu doar pentru profesioniștii din domeniu, ci și pentru companiile locale și multinaționale, investitori, universități, agenții de PR și autorități.

Al doilea număr al revistei are peste 100 de pagini și varianta online este oferită cu titlu gratuit pentru a contribui la dezvoltarea domeniului. Anuarul în format digital, ca flipview, poate fi vizualizat aici: https://sustainabilityindex.ro/sustainability-index-magazine-2024-3/

Ce conține Sustainability Index Magazine?

A doua ediție a Sustainability Index Magazine aduce în prim plan profiluri de sustenabilitate ale companiilor care au publicat rapoarte de sustenabilitate pentru activitatea din România. Profilurile sunt constituite pe mai multe coordonate pentru a avea o imagine reală și clară asupra obiectivelor și investițiilor companiilor în România: auditul rapoartelor de sustenabilitate, cifre cheie, ținte atinse și obiective viitoare.

Anuarul oferă în exclusivitate și interviuri cu experți din domeniul sustenabilității corporative, recunoscuți la nivel global și regional, precum:

  • Michel Scholte, Impact Entrepreneur, Speaker & Co-Founder, Impact Institute; Instructor, CSRD Academy
  • Oghosa Erhahon, Independent Consultant, Hydrogen Policy Expert, TEDx Speaker and Co-Author of “Touching Hydrogen Future”
  • Harald Friedl, Circular Economist & LinkedIn Top Voice

Anuarul conține, de asemenea, interviuri cu personalități recunoscute la nivel național, cu experiență vastă în management și strategii de sustenabilitate, precum:

  • Marco Hößl, CEO Kaufland România și Republica Moldova
  • Fady Chreih, CEO Regina Maria
  • Valentin Truță, General Director Premier Restaurants România
  • Gemma Webb, CEO & President RetuRO
  • Raluca Dascălu, Communications Manager JYSK ROMÂNIA
  • Roxana Puia, Marketing Director ENVIRON Association
  • Luiza Dumitru, Communication & Marketing Director OSCAR Downstream
  • Corina Radu, CEO Solutions4Impact Consulting
  • Alina Liciu, Managing Partner The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services

Ce este Romania CST Index?

Romania CST Index (Corporate Sustainability & Transparency Index), lansat în 2016, este primul ranking din țara noastră dedicat performanței și transparenței în domeniul sustenabilitate corporativă. Indexul propune o analiză complexă şi transparentă, aliniată la standardele internaţionale, și constituie cea mai mare bază de date privind indicatorii de sustenabilitate ai companiilor din țară.

Pentru realizarea analizei, indexul folosește date publice ale companiilor în ceea ce privește aspectele de mediu, sociale, și de guvernanță. Indicatorii evaluați acoperă domenii precum schimbări climatice, produse sustenabile, practici de muncă, investiții în comunități, gestionarea riscurilor, marketing responsabil sau lanțul de aprovizionare, printre altele.

Care sunt obiectivele principale ale Romania CST Index?

Un index al sustenabilităţii este important deoarece este un instrument de evaluare a performanței unei companii în comparație cu ceilalți jucători din industrie și din țară. Romania CST Index își propune să contribuie la creşterea nivelului de transparenţă privind indicatorii de sustenabilitate și să recunoască companiile cu cel mai mare progres din România în abordarea principiilor şi cerinţelor standardelor internaţionale pentru managementul şi raportarea sustenabilităţii corporative.

Astfel, Romania CST Index urmărește să promoveze sustenabilitatea corporativă ca o practică responsabilă de management al afacerilor. Totodată, indexul poate ajuta companiile să-și dezvolte mai bine strategia pe baza informațiilor din piață.

Care sunt rezultatele analizei?

2024 vine cu multe provocări, dar și oportunități pentru mediul corporate din UE și implicit din România de a integra considerații de sustenabilitate în deciziile de business. Modificările legislative la nivel de bloc european setează noi obiective ambițioase pentru transparență și performanță ESG, dar aduce totodată și mai multă claritate și coerență.

Analiza Romania CST Index 2023 indică o creștere ușoară a numărului de companii care publică rapoarte de sustenabilitate. Observăm, de asemenea, progrese în ceea ce privește setarea de obiective smart privind factorii de mediu, sociali și de guvernare, și bune practici din partea liderilor din industrie care indică oportunități de îmbunătățire pentru întregul sector.

Totuși, numărul companiilor care publică rapoarte de sustenabilitate continuă să fie redus, sub 10% în 2023 în România, din totalul celor peste 750 de companii care au această obligație.

ESG începe totuși să fie integrat în mai multe departmente ale organizațiilor: financiar, achizitii, HR, sau marketing. Această schimbare indică o nevoie de creștere a numărului de training-uri privind principiile sustenabilității pentru ca toți acești profesiniști să înțeleagă importanța integrării acestor principii în strategia și practicile lor de business.

În final, un aspect important care reiese din analiză este necesitatea unei strategii și infrastructuri de colectare și monitorizare a datelor. Strategia de sustenabilitate trebuie să includă un număr ridicat de indicatori SMART. Obiectivele trebuie să fie măsurabile, clare și aliniate la industria și specificul organizației. Analiștii și investitorii au nevoie de aceste informații pentru a compara diverse organizații din aceeași industrie și pentru a evalua cine are cele mai bune rezultate.

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Despre Editor

The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services este o agenţie de consultanță in sustenabilitate, înființată în 2013, cu scopul de a sprijini companiile din România privind integrarea sustenabilității corporative în strategia de business. The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services are o abordare axată pe rezultate pe termen lung, utilizarea tehnologiei IT pentru un nivel ridicat de acuratețe a indicatorilor de sustenabilitate și analize/research care să sprijine decidenții din companii în definirea strategiei de sustenabilitate corporativă.

Cel mai important și complex proiect al agenției este Romania CST Index, în trecut denumit Romania CSR Index, ranking lansat în 2016 şi care este singurul din România care evaluează indicatorii de sustenabilitate ai companiilor: informaţii despre managementul sustenabilității, impactul economic, de mediu şi social. Indexul este lansat în fiecare an în cadrul conferinţei Best Practices in Corporate Sustainability.

În 2019, agenția a lansat Community Index, cel mai cuprinzător ranking al proiectelor corporate de investiții în comunități și un centralizator al celor mai bune campanii de CSR derulate în fiecare an de companiile din România. Rezultatele ranking-ului, împreună cu studii de caz şi interviuri ale unor experţi naţionali şi internaţionali sunt prezentate în fiecare an în Community Index Magazine, singurul anuar bilingv dedicat investițiilor în comunități derulate de companiile din România.