Bronze Level - ESG Initiator

Overview & Purpose

The Bronze level represents the foundation stage of ESG maturity. At this level, organisations are starting to embed environmental, social, and governance principles into their culture and operations. Typical scores reflect early engagement — often between Level 1 (Defined) and Level 2 (Managed) — with key questions achieving minimum thresholds for Defined practice. The focus is on laying essential groundwork: setting direction, building awareness, and piloting systems for reporting and improvement.

This page provides structured guidance for organisations at Bronze level, including typical gaps, priority actions, and available support resources.

Typical Gaps at Bronze

Organisations at the Bronze level often face the following common maturity gaps:

• Inconsistent ESG policies — informal or undeveloped commitments

• Limited ESG training or awareness — employees unfamiliar with key terms or expectations

• No formal monitoring or KPIs — ad hoc tracking of emissions, energy, or waste

• Limited evidence of governance — few records of ESG being discussed or managed

• Basic supplier or ethics screening — only reactive due diligence

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Priority Actions by Domain

1. Embedding ESG into Culture & Operations

• Develop an introductory ESG training programme for staff.

• Draft and begin reviewing initial ESG policy documents.

• Pilot basic ESG reporting (e.g. annual carbon footprint or governance statements).

• Communicate ESG priorities through internal channels and leadership messages.

2. Managing Corporate Emissions

• Begin monitoring Scope 1 and 2 emissions using simple tools or estimations.

• Identify quick wins for emissions reduction, such as energy-saving behaviours or equipment upgrades.

• Draft a basic reduction plan with short-term targets.

3. Optimising Energy Use

• Conduct a baseline energy assessment across operations.

• Identify high-consumption areas and explore low-cost savings.

• Draft a first-stage energy management policy.

4. Waste & Recycling

• Undertake a basic waste audit and map common material streams.

• Establish segregation practices (e.g. bins, signage, collection).

• Introduce recycling for paper, packaging, or metals.

5. Water Use & Conservation

• Map out baseline water usage across sites.

• Promote low-flow devices and immediate efficiency actions.

• Begin discussing water-saving targets in operations meetings.

6. Employee Wellbeing & Welfare

• Review and reinforce basic H&S compliance across departments.

• Launch a few health awareness initiatives (e.g. hydration, posture).

• Start building a case for OHS management system adoption (e.g. ISO 45001 readiness).

7. Ethical Standards

• Start basic supplier screening using minimal social impact questions.

• Document steps to prevent child or forced labour in key areas.

• Draft a working version of an Ethical Sourcing Policy.

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Planning Support & Templates

To accelerate Bronze-level improvements, we recommend using structured templates and support modules:

ESG Syllabus Modules

• B1: Integrating ESG into Organisational Culture and Operations

• B2: Corporate Emissions Management

• B3: Resource Optimisation – Reduction First

• B4: Optimising Employee Wellbeing and Welfare

• B5: Establishing Ethical Standards

SC21 Modules (Selected Examples)

• Early Stage:

  • Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Environmental Legislation Activities

  • Cost Benefit from Recycling and Energy

• Progressive Integration:

  • Business Management Systems

  • Lean Inventory Management

  • Health & Safety Management

  • Purchasing Fundamentals

Tip: Use the Bronze action planning output to map out next steps, assign responsibility, and track progress before your next assessment cycle.