Author: Aayush Gupta

Increasing mental health concerns intersect with endeavors like ESG work, permeating every aspect of life. In order for sustainable, ethical, and socially responsible initiatives to succeed, mental well-being must be addressed. In these systems, how well are individuals doing? In the midst of Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s a good time to explore the relationship between ESG principles and mental health.

ESG’s Overlooked “S”

Environmental and governance aspects of ESG receive much attention, while the social dimension-especially mental health-is often overlooked. Despite its importance to social sustainability, mental health is often ignored or neglected.

The Mental Health Crisis

A sobering picture is painted by mental health statistics. In the world, one in four people will experience mental or neurological disorders in their lifetime. Worldwide, stress, anxiety, and depression have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health crisis has also had a significant impact on the corporate world. High levels of stress, burnout, and decreased productivity have become prevalent among employees, highlighting the urgent need for companies to prioritize mental health support and create a supportive work environment.

The Corporate Connection

Organizational performance is directly impacted by the mental health of employees. Untreated mental health issues can lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism, and presenteeism, as well as higher healthcare costs. Furthermore, they undermine employee engagement, creativity, and innovation by contributing to a toxic work culture. For example, a study by the National Institute of Health found that workers with depression were 39% more likely to report job dissatisfaction and 45% more likely to report job insecurity.

The Investor Perspective

When evaluating companies, investors increasingly consider their social impact. Businesses that prioritize employee well-being and have robust mental health initiatives in place are viewed favorably since they demonstrate long-term sustainability and resilience. As confirmed in a study by Harvard Business Review, companies that prioritize sustainability also tend to be more attractive to investors since they tend to have lower operating costs and a higher return on investment. Companies that prioritize social impact are also likely to attract top talent, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce.

Let’s remember that Mental Health Awareness Week encompasses more than environmental concerns. It encompasses the wellbeing of individuals within communities and organizations. It is possible for companies to foster healthier, more resilient workplaces and contribute to a more sustainable future by incorporating mental health considerations into their ESG frameworks. 

The future of investing is being shaped by ESG benchmarks and indices, join us as we explore what they are, why they matter, and how they’re evolving.

What are ESG Benchmarks and Indices?

Companies or investment portfolios can be evaluated based on ESG benchmarks and indices. Using them, investors can make more informed decisions based on sustainability and ethical considerations by comparing the ESG practices of different entities.

1. ESG Benchmarks:

An ESG benchmark typically measures the ESG performance of a subset of companies within a particular industry or region. For investors, these benchmarks serve as indicators of how well companies in a given sector address environmental, social, and governance issues. Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), MSCI ESG Ratings, and FTSE4Good Index Series are some examples of ESG benchmarks.

2. ESG Indices:

The ESG indices, on the other hand, are investment indices that contain companies that meet certain ESG criteria. Stocks or bonds of companies with strong ESG profiles are tracked by these indices. Investing portfolios can be constructed using ESG indices, or existing portfolios can be compared to them as benchmarks. Some well-known ESG indices include the MSCI ESG Leaders Index, S&P 500 ESG Index, and STOXX Global ESG Leaders Index.

The Future of ESG Investing and role Rimm’s solutions

As awareness of ESG issues grows, benchmarks and indices based on ESG issues will be in demand. As investors seek opportunities to align their financial objectives with their values, ESG considerations are becoming increasingly integrated into mainstream investment practices. As a result of technological advancements, such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence, ESG assessments and risk modeling are becoming more sophisticated. Consequently, ESG benchmarks and indices are becoming more accurate and granular, empowering investors.

The AI-powered Rimm Sustainability solution – Bespoke myCSO – is an all-in-one solution for companies of all sizes to manage their ESG requirements. With myCSO, you can build fully customized solutions from Rimm building blocks such as a Carbon calculator, a double materiality calculator, or a risk management solution. Our benchmarking database includes over 20,000 companies, and our question library contains more than 4000 questions that enable us to conduct detailed ESG analysis. For investors and portfolio managers, myCSO can be customized in such a way that it displays all the ESG metrics of portfolio companies on a single dashboard screen, helping investors make strategic decisions based on those metrics and performance. By providing standardized metrics and benchmarks for evaluating ESG performance, myCSO is changing the investment landscape across industries.

Invest wisely, invest sustainably, and invest for a better future!

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

Increasing awareness of ESG factors has changed the way businesses operate. Companies are expected to be transparent and accountable about their environmental and social impacts. In this blog, we share how companies can do this through Impact Reports and why they’re important.

How do ESG Impact Reports work?

An ESG Impact Report provides an overview of a company’s performance across several ESG dimensions. In these reports, KPIs and metrics are used to assess performance by gathering data on relevant ESG factors and assessing their materiality to the business and stakeholders. For credibility, companies generally adhere to established reporting standards and guidelines, integrate ESG reporting into their corporate reporting, engage with stakeholders during the process, and undergo third-party verification or assurance. Through ESG Impact Reports, companies can understand the key impact drivers and outcomes that their specific business has, allowing both themselves and stakeholders to gain valuable insights into the ESG performance and promote transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

How can Rimm help?

Rimm’s myCSO, an AI-powered ESG solution aligns to the emerging winners among industry frameworks (CSRD, IFRS, UN SDGs, UN Positive Impact Initiative etc.) and involves detailed desktop analysis with input from selected stakeholders (management, Board, investors, colleagues etc.). The Impact Report focuses specifically on the quantified impacts of the UN SDGs, which makes it easy to comprehend impact and address areas of strengths and weaknesses. In businesses, ESG impact reports play an important role in demonstrating transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Businesses can gain a competitive advantage and drive positive change by disclosing their performance across environmental, social, and governance criteria. Developing a sustainable future will increasingly depend on ESG impact reporting as demand for sustainability grows.

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

With the core of insurance revolving around managing risks, principles that are inextricably linked to environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, the insurance sector has an understanding of ESG risks and their impact. However, with increasing expectations from stakeholders and customers alike, the industry needs to change. Read more below.

Insights into ESG in the insurance industry

The concept of ESG refers to a wide range of factors that influence the long-term performance and sustainability of businesses. A number of these factors are becoming increasingly important for risk management, investment strategies, product development, and general business practices in the insurance industry.

Investing in ESG-compliant insurance

It is also important to consider ESG factors when investing in insurance. As insurers seek to align their portfolios with sustainable and responsible practices, they increasingly incorporate ESG criteria into their investment strategies.

There has been an increase in insurance companies investing in ESG-themed funds, engaging with companies to improve their ESG performance, and divesting from industries that have high ESG risks, such as fossil fuel industries.

How can Rimm help?

The insurance industry is experiencing a transformation due to ESG factors, driving a shift towards sustainability, responsible business practices, and stakeholder engagement. Through the adoption of ESG principles, insurers are not only mitigating risks and enhancing resilience but also promoting sustainability and inclusion.

Rimm Sustainability is a pioneer in ESG management and data solutions. Rimm’s flagship product myCSO which is an AI-powered ESG data management solution allows you to seamlessly integrate ESG data into a single platform and track all the relevant data metrics like carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2, 3), double materiality and more. Rimm’s specific AI-powered tools align with all 6 objectives (climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, the circular economy, pollution, effect on water, and biodiversity) which are necessary to judge a green investment which allows you to get a better strategic perspective.

• Biodiversity Tracker: Tool that maps your company’s biodiversity footprint and resulting impacts.
• Greenwashing Sonar: Analyzes public ESG disclosures for accuracy in claims and data.
• SDG Impact Tracker: A more quantitative methodology that assesses alignment with SDGs and tracks progress over time.

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

As investors, customers, and employees demand more transparency and responsibility from organizations, ESG compliance has become a key focus for businesses worldwide. Read more about the compliance journey below. 

Understanding ESG Compliance

ESG compliance refers to the integration of environmental, social, and governance considerations into a company’s operations and decision-making processes. This holistic approach goes beyond traditional financial metrics to assess a company’s long-term sustainability and impact on society and the environment.

The Importance of ESG Compliance

ESG compliance is no longer just a matter of corporate social responsibility; it is now a business imperative. Companies that prioritize ESG considerations can benefit in several ways:

1. Risk Management
   

   By identifying and mitigating ESG risks, companies can protect their reputation, avoid regulatory fines, and enhance their resilience to external shocks.

2. Cost Savings
   

   Implementing sustainable practices can lead to cost savings through improved efficiency and resource management.

3. Access to Capital
   

   Investors are increasingly considering ESG factors when making investment decisions. Companies that demonstrate strong ESG performance may have better access to capital and lower borrowing costs.

4.  Enhanced Brand Value
   

   ESG compliance can enhance brand reputation and attractiveness to customers, employees, and other stakeholders.

The ESG Compliance Journey

Embarking on the ESG compliance journey involves several key steps:

How can Rimm help?

ESG compliance is no longer a choice for companies; it is a business imperative. By embracing ESG principles, companies can enhance their long-term sustainability, mitigate risks, and create value for all stakeholders. While the ESG compliance journey may be challenging, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Rimm’s flagship solution – myCSO, an AI-powered tool that helps companies of all sizes in their sustainability journey. myCSO helps companies create sustainability reports with a high degree of transparency and accuracy. Companies can benchmark against their peers with Rimm’s proprietary database of 20,000+ companies. Our proprietary assessment tool aligns to the emerging winners among industry frameworks (CSRD, TCFD, UN SDGs, UN Positive Impact Initiative etc.) and involves detailed analysis powered by Rimm with input from selected stakeholders (management, Board, investors, colleagues etc). Start your journey today and position your company for success in a rapidly changing world.

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

Singapore, a global hub for finance and commerce, is taking proactive measures to address climate change. One of these measures involves requiring climate-related disclosures from companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and some non-listed entities. Find out what it all entails in our blog below.

The Need for Climate-Related Disclosures:

Global climate change poses significant risks to economies, businesses, and societies. The effects of climate change include physical damage to infrastructure, disruption of supply chains, regulatory changes, and reputational risks for companies.

Risks and opportunities associated with climate change are increasingly recognized by both companies and investors, influencing their business decisions. When companies provide transparent, reliable information on their sustainability performance, they are better equipped to meet demands from their lenders, customers and investors, which will elevate Singapore’s position as a green economy. 

Key Components of Reporting Requirements:

As of 2025, Singapore will require SGX-listed companies and certain non-listed entities to begin disclosing climate-related information in accordance with IFRS International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. 

Reporting Timeline 

2025: Scope 1 and 2 Emissions need to be reported
2026: Scope 3 emissions, or value-chain emissions to be reported
2027: To obtain external limited assurance on Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions two years after reporting from an independent auditor. 
2029: Large non-listed companies will report on Scope 3 Emissions by this year

The Important Details

1. Scope and Coverage: The reporting requirements will apply to a broad range of companies, including publicly traded companies listed on the SGX and some non-listed entities that meet specified criteria. Taking into account companies across different industries, the reporting framework provides a comprehensive view of Singapore’s corporate landscape.
2. Disclosure Standards: Companies will be required to adhere to internationally recognized disclosure standards, specifically the recommendations of the ISSB and other relevant frameworks. Companies can use these standards to disclose climate-related risks, governance, strategy, and metrics uniformly and comparably.
3. Reporting Guidelines: Singapore’s regulatory authorities will issue guidelines and templates to help companies comply with reporting requirements. Reporting formats, deadlines, and information companies need to disclose will be outlined in these guidelines.
4. Compliance and Enforcement: Companies will be expected to comply with reporting requirements and ensure the accuracy and completeness of their disclosures. Companies that do not comply with regulatory requirements may be penalized or sanctioned. Integrity and credibility are upheld by Singapore by enforcing compliance.

What are the Benefits, Challenges and Opportunities ahead? 

How can Rimm help?

Rimm provides their clients with an award-winning ESG solution – myCSO which is fully powered by AI. Our solution can help Singaporean companies to stay ahead of the curve. Our automated reporting is aligned to all major ESG standards around the globe including ISSB. Our unique solution known as Transition Risk 360 (TR360) can assist companies in tracking their climate-related risks and track their carbon footprint more effectively and efficiently. The TR360 tool assesses your company’s transition risk as the market moves towards a low-carbon economy. Other Risk management tools include Risk rating and Risk approximation which can help a company mitigate risks which can predict risk intervals with a high degree of accuracy. 

For a limited time, Singaporean corporations and enterprises will be able to benefit from up to 70% grant support* that is government-approved when you utilize Rimm’s solutions, making climate reporting more accessible than ever before.

Sign up for the grant here!
*Terms and Conditions Apply

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

Happy International Women’s Day! For this year’s theme of #InspiringInclusion, we take a look into how DE&I are embedded into the core of Rimm and into our own lives.

Why is International Women’s Day important?

Every year since its inception the world celebrates International Women’s Day, placing a spotlight on the achievements of women and raising awareness of the need to continually strive for women’s equality. Through leadership, activism and education, women have profoundly shaped the world we live in today, and the COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on the critical role women play in services essential to society. Despite this, economic disparity and uneven access to certain opportunities still exist between men and women, highlighting the joint need to both celebrate the achievements of women today and raise awareness of the changes needed for the women of tomorrow. 

How are equality and inclusion considered at Rimm?

As an organization that champions the uptake of more environmental, social, and governance-driven decision-making, equality and inclusion are important topics for us to engage with and act on. 

Championing equality and inclusion as a workplace
With offices in Singapore, London and Japan, our workplace is culturally and racially diverse, something which we value as an organization as a diverse workforce means multiple viewpoints and experiences, which supports innovation and creativity. From c-suite to interns, women sit at all levels of our business and represent almost half of our employee base.

Including social factors in our ESG assessments 
Equality and inclusion are key facets of social responsibility, and firms who wish to improve the social aspects of their operations must first measure how they are currently performing. When completing certain ESG assessments on our platform, myCSO, companies are asked questions related to equality and inclusion such as the gender ratio in their employee base, board diversity and certain welfare indicators in their supply chain. By collecting this data and comparing it to global standards or benchmarking it to their peers, organizations can identify where to start and what actions to take to improve equality within their business. 

Hear from the women at Rimm

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked Rimm employees what inspiring inclusivity means to them, and how they aim to do so in their everyday lives. 

“Inclusion is essential in creating a harmonious and safe environment for everyone to thrive and flourish, where no one is discriminated against for their background, gender or sexuality. Inspiring this movement starts by putting our foot down against inequality, in all aspects of our lives.”
~ Andrea Sim McWhinney, Brand and Product Communications Lead

“Building an integrated society is critical to address the major challenges confronting humanity.”
~ Geraldine Bouveret, Chief Research Officer 

“To me, inspiring inclusion means creating an environment where people feel psychologically safe to share their thoughts and ideas, regardless of who they are. Establishing this as a foundation is key to allowing people to feel included and valued, both in and out of work.”
~ Lauren Satchwell, Integrated Marketing Lead

“To me, #InspireInclusion encompasses various principles, but foremost among them is the recognition that we all inhabit the same planet and must respect each individual regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.”
~ Susana Cristina Moreira Pedro , Product Manager

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

Organizations are now collecting and storing large amounts of non-financial data for ESG. In this blog post we discuss why data security is important in the context of non-financial ESG data, the methods available to do so, and the steps we take as an organization to protect client data.

Why is data security important?

Data breaches are an unfortunate byproduct of the highly connected and digital world we live in, placing a responsibility on organizations to ensure sufficient data protection measures are in place. With the rise of ESG, organizations now have to collect large amounts of non-financial data, in addition to the financial data already being collected and stored. Whether for sustainability reporting requirements or to inform strategic decision-making, protecting this data is vital before it’s publicly released.

As the volume of non-financial ESG data being collected by organizations continues to increase, ensuring that the data is being handled securely and ethically is an important governance consideration which, if done well, can contribute to greater resilience and long-term, sustainable business growth.

By investing in robust data security measures, organizations can avoid the financial costs of damages associated with data breaches, reduce the overall risk of financial and non-financial data being lost or stolen, and reduce the risk of reputational damage.

How can data be protected?

As technology has developed, the ability to contain data breaches has also improved, and there are now a myriad of ways that organizations can protect their data. To create and implement an effective data security policy, consideration must be given to the type and volume of data being stored, where vulnerabilities exist, and how best they can be mitigated. 

Approaches to data security include creating security layers to increase the chances of identifying and halting potential attacks, introducing role-based access to control what access rights certain individuals are entitled to, and asking users for multiple pieces of evidence to verify their identities, known as multi-factor authentication (MFA). 

Keeping data security measures updated in line with industry standards is also a useful way to ensure the protections put in place are robust enough. There are several ISO and industry standards relating to data security and privacy, including GDPR, ISO 27001 and SOC2. 

How we protect client data

At Rimm, we believe that data security is an important part of ESG, whether it is the ethical handling of data or compliance, the non-financial data that organizations gather should be secured and protected, just like financial data. We take data security seriously and know it is important to clients, which is why our platform is hosted on an enterprise-class high performance cloud infrastructure with multiple layers of security. Our platform is also hosted within Amazon Web Services data centers, which are secure and certified.  

Our security system is governed by a comprehensive set of Policies & Procedures, including Access Control, Data Classification, Encryption, Information Security and Physical Security. Below are some of the key approaches used to ensure we protect our clients’ data: 

Interested to learn more about our solutions? Book a session to talk with our team today. 

In this blog post, we explore how ESG modularity has become a key element in aiding sustainable investment decisions at a time when investors are demanding transparency around ESG. Find out how your company can get started on easier compliance methods with minimal disruption to your existing workflows.

Understanding ESG Modularity

The concept of ESG modularity refers to the ability to break down the broad spectrum of ESG considerations into modular components or individual factors. As opposed to treating ESG as a monolithic framework, modularity allows investors to evaluate and prioritize specific elements. ESG issues can vary significantly across industries, regions, and companies, so a one-size-fits-all approach may not be appropriate.

The Importance of Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the key benefits of ESG modularity. When investors break down ESG criteria into modular components, they can tailor their approach to align with their unique preferences, risk tolerances, and investment objectives. Investors can take advantage of this flexibility to concentrate on the ESG factors that matter most to them, such as reducing carbon emissions, enhancing gender diversity, or strengthening community engagement.

Enhancing Decision-Making

By providing investors with a granular understanding of risk and opportunity associated with their investments, ESG modularity can also enhance decision-making. A more nuanced analysis of ESG factors can be conducted rather than relying on broad ESG scores or ratings. A deeper level of insight can lead to better risk management and more informed decisions.

Integration Across Asset Classes

ESG modularity also facilitates the integration of ESG considerations across asset classes. Investors can apply modular ESG frameworks to evaluate the sustainability performance of their entire portfolios, regardless of whether they invest in equities, fixed income, real estate, or alternative assets. Regardless of asset class, this holistic approach ensures that ESG considerations are seamlessly integrated into the investment process.

Bespoke myCSO from Rimm Sustainability

Rimm’s Bespoke myCSO is a modular ESG solution that allows clients to customize their sustainability solutions to match their specific needs. With Rimm’s varied building blocks like assessments, impact reports, carbon calculators, etc. The client can create their own plug-in-play modular solution.

Regulatory and compliance mandates imposed by governments can be met with this solution by large enterprises. Using Bespoke myCSO, clients can save time and meet all regulatory and compliance requirements easily.

Insights into the Future of Sustainable Investing

Sustainability investing continues to gain momentum, and ESG modularity is poised to play an important role in shaping its future. With bespoke myCSO, investors can benefit from greater flexibility, insight, and integration capabilities, while also achieving competitive financial returns. Investors, asset managers, and other stakeholders can use bespoke myCSO to drive long-term value and advance sustainability.

Sustainability encompasses more than environmental concerns in today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment. A company’s long-term sustainability depends on the wellbeing of its employees. In this blog, Aayush Gupta, our Customer Marketing and PR lead, explores how employees’ wellness is connected to sustainability in the workplace.

Understanding the connection

1. The Human Element of Sustainability: Often, sustainability is linked to environmental stewardship. In reality, it is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. In order for sustainable development to work, humans have to be at the center. It’s all about employee wellbeing since engaged, healthy employees drive innovation, productivity, and long-term success.

2. The Wellbeing Imperative: The hyper-connected world of today poses a variety of challenges to employees. Stress at work, burnout, sedentary lifestyles, and mental health problems are all part of the modern workplace. To foster a culture of well-being that supports employees, it’s important to recognize and address these challenges.

In a nutshell

The well-being of employees isn’t just a feel-good initiative; it’s also a strategic imperative that impacts productivity and sustainability. Companies can foster engagement, productivity, and innovation by prioritizing employees’ health and happiness. In addition to benefiting individuals, investing in employee well-being helps the organization stay successful for a long time. Our most valuable asset is our people, so let’s keep that in mind as we navigate the modern workplace. A successful business depends on its wellbeing.