TQCSI Environmental, Social and Governance Code:2024
What is the TQCSI ESG Code?
The TQCSI ESG Code has been created in response to growing multi-industry consumer and stakeholder demands for verification of how organisations manage their ongoing risks, opportunities and obligations associated with environmental, social and governance issues. Where relevant, it also provides space for an organisation to address their management of risks, opportunities and obligations in relation to Indigenous and First Nations peoples and cultural minorities. The Code is aimed primarily at small to medium sized organisations who wish to make a positive impact in social accountability and meet contemporary industry norms. The TQCSI ESG Code is, effectively, a standard to be used for organisations who are implementing a management system, incorporating ESG, anywhere in the world.
The Code is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the guidelines of ISO 26000 and other similar guidelines and requirements implemented throughout the world
It provides a framework for facilitating an honest and transparent assessment of environmental, social and governance goals relevant to the organisation. The main feature of this TQCSI ESG Code is its flexible nature. It allows organisations to declare their individual environmental, social and governance goals described in an ‘ESG Declaration’, which is publicly available and maintained under the organisation’s management system. Certification can then be achieved for the management system with verification of the ESG Declaration.
Click here to view the TQCSI ESG Code
ESG Management System Requirements
An Environmental, Governance and Social Management System requires organisations to:
- Understand their ESG related external & internal issues, and interested parties
- Have a Policy Statement describing senior management’s commitment to ESG improvement
- Assess potential ESG related risks
- Develop an ESG Declaration based on the organisation's goals, ensuring all categories of the code are included
- Monitor controls identified during risk assessments to ensure their effectiveness
- Develop and monitor ESG objectives and targets
- Ensure staff are competent and understand the organisation’s ESG risks, as well as their roles and responsibilities within the ESG management system
- Embrace the principles of sustainable procurement, ensuring the purchase of materials and engagements of contractors complies with the organisation’s ESG goals
- Identify, report and rectify any ESG nonconformances
- Take corrective action for significant or repetitive ESG nonconformances
- Conduct internal audits of the ESG management system.
ESG Documentation Requirements:
- Policy Statement – defines the organisation’s commitment to relative ESG issues
- ESG Declaration – establishing the organisation’s ESG goals
- Organisational structure – identifying who has functional ESG related roles, responsibilities and authorities
- Procedures – for reporting ESG related issues and nonconformances, establishing management system objectives as well as the risk assessment process
- Records of management system objectives, nonconformances, risk assessments, reviewing goals, and corrective action, must all be retained
- Licences, permits and qualifications must be documented
Benefits of an ESG Management System:
- Ensures companies cover their legal and regulatory requirements in relation to environmental, social, governance and Indigenous & First Nations peoples and cultural minorities, where relevant
- Demonstrated consideration of ESG obligations for customers and stakeholders
- Gain stakeholder and customer trust that your organisation’s ESG obligations have been considered and managed
- Expand potential tendering opportunities by demonstrating ESG Code compliance through 3rd party certification
- Enhanced company profile
- Ensure business continuity
- Confidence that ESG risks are controlled.
TQCSI Certification Process:
- contact your TQCSI Office and ask for a quote or apply on-line - TQCSI will need to know what your business does and how many employees (full time equivalent)
- to prevent delays, don’t wait until your ESG Management System is fully implemented.
Certification Mark for ESG Code:
The certification mark can be used on all promotional material to promote your certification.
Need Help?
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..