Antaris attended the HSR Conference which took place on the 4th of May in UCD, Dublin.
This 1-day conference explored how companies can meet their ESG and sustainability goals and meet the demanding regulatory and standards requirements.
At the event Gerard Higgins, CEO of Antaris, led a panel discussion on the implications of ESG (environmental, social, governance) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive on business and the safety practitioner role.
During the informative and enlightening hour-long discussion, Gerard explained that ESG covers “a wide range of issues from climate change to modern slavery, management to diversity. Essentially, the whole concept of sustainability is about meeting our needs without compromising the needs of future generations.”
Gerard also noted that we are on the cusp of a massive paradigm shift with the creation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which was published in December 2022.
Complying with the provisions will be mandatory for large and listed companies in the EU.
“The Directive brings a new level of rigour to ESG,” Gerard said. “Reporting will move on from something that is sometimes marketing-led – so called greenwashing – to something that is more rigorous and useful.”
The information that companies have to report is highly prescriptive and includes data relating to climate change and pollution, biodiversity, and the circular economy, a company’s own workforce and workers in its supply chain, end users and affected communities and business conduct.
Health and safety was also one of a number of social issues covered in the discussion. And what was Gerard’s advice to practitioners?
“Get senior management to buy-in, establish a baseline of the information you already have and then do a gap analysis, so you know where the gaps are that you need to address.”
Antaris is on a mission to reimagine the way sustainability consultancy is delivered.
As sustainability leaders, by your side, we act to deliver the most actionable, elevated and tailored support in ESG & management system consultancy to individuals and organisations at every stage of their sustainability journey.
