Sustainability and ESG: our vision

Just a few years ago, ESG was perceived by many as an incomprehensible acronym which entire purpose was to be a fashionable topic of discussion on social networks, scientific journals and in meaningless international forums. But everything has changed. Today, environmental, social, governance (ESG) and sustainability considerations influence virtually every aspect of a company’s operations.

Modern ESG is a comprehensive and full-fledged strategic planning tool that is not inferior, and in terms of the range of problems considered, significantly exceeds such ‘classical’ tools as BSC or OKR. Companies that are advanced in terms of organizing business processes are developing entire methodologies for strategic control and even day-to-day management based on the ESG philosophy. Properly planned and implemented solutions developed in accordance with ESG principles are resilient and remain effective for decades, since they are designed for future generations from the very beginning.

Today, ESG is the destiny not only of those few philanthropists whose thoughts and actions are driven by a sincere desire to improve the world around them, but also of any business for which its own survival in a rapidly changing world is important. Although in today’s Kazakhstan there is (yet) no state ‘gendarme with a baton’, punishing for non-compliance with the best world practices, active business development is already extremely difficult. Companies that do not comply with ESG principles are experiencing more and more difficulties every year in finding partners for the implementation of large infrastructure projects, in attracting financing, and in entering global markets. Conversely, proactively implementing an ESG – based strategy opens up new opportunities not available to others, such as lower lending rates or the issuance of green bonds, the prospect of growth in the market value of publicly traded securities of sustainable companies.

Lawyers and associated partners of ADM Valner study and apply knowledge in the field of ecology and sustainable development long before it ‘became a mainstream’. We constantly monitor trends, find the best practices and spread them on the Kazakhstan’s market like a virus to ensure the development and increase in profits of local businesses.

Since ESG implementation is a complex, long and non-linear process, we offer the following types of business support at all stages of the strategic process:

Data collection: we prepare a list of questions for the primary business audit, determine stakeholders, control points and the amount of necessary data, transform disparate data into a form suitable for analysis;
Data analysis: we determine key performance indicators, draw conclusions about the state of affairs in the company in terms of ESG, allowing us to make management decisions, as well as publish ESG reporting, determine ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’;
Strategic planning: we advise management and business owners on adjusting or developing a business strategy using an ESG tool, including organizing and conducting strategic meetings, strategic sessions, brainstorms, etc., developing or adjusting a strategic plan;
ESG goals setting;
Development of schedules for achieving goals, action plans, road maps;
Supporting the process of implementation of the strategic plan: we monitor compliance with schedules, identify bottlenecks and develop action plans to eliminate them, train employees in the principles and philosophy of ESG, develop and implement local regulations (policies, regulations, etc.);
Monitoring the process of implementation of the strategic plan: we collect and analyze data, prepare reports on the implementation of the strategic plan, identify and eliminate bottlenecks, and, if necessary, adjust the timing and activities of the project.

Taking into account the characteristics of each business and its operating activities, we develop a unique methodology for developing and implementing a strategy based on the ESG philosophy in each individual case. ESG compliance is a cyclical process, so the methodologies we develop are based on cyclical approaches (PDCA, etc.).

Despite the worldwide popularity of ESG, there is no universally binding understanding of this philosophy. For us, ESG is the principles of life and business based on respect: E (Ecology) – respect for the planet and future generations, S (Social) – respect for those currently living, regardless of their age, nationality, gender, religious affiliation, social origin etc., G (Governance) – respect for the res publicum, which is peaceful coexistence, adherence to the law, norms of justice, honesty, openness to the world and mercy.