All ISO standards for ESG and sustainability

Let’s talk about two of the most important acronyms in sustainability reporting: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

ESG defines “what” companies should monitor, manage, and disclose to demonstrate responsible and sustainable practices. ISO provides the “how”: a set of internationally recognised standards that guide organisations toward best-in-class implementation.

Individually, each plays an important role. But together, they offer a powerful framework to move from ambition to action.

In this article, we’ll explore how ISO standards can strengthen your ESG strategy and why understanding both is essential for any organisation serious about driving positive impact.

What are ISO standards and why do they matter for ESG?

ISO creates globally recognised standards for a wide range of processes, including sustainability and ESG. ISO standards work as blueprints for building a more sustainable business.

Here’s how they support ESG goals:

1. Credibility: They’re a way to show genuine commitment to responsibility, not just greenwashing.
2. Measurable impact: ISO standards help you make real, quantifiable improvements.
3. Cost efficiency: They often optimise resources and reduce costs, a key aspect of good governance.
4. Stakeholder confidence: They align you with the growing expectations of investors, customers, and employees. 

ISO standards help give ESG structure. They turn your goals into something you can act on, measure and improve over time.

Key ISO standards for sustainability

Let's break down the most important ISO standards related to ESG and sustainability:

Note: Some of these fall into multiple ESG categories, but their primary focus categorises them.

ISO 14001: Environmental management systems

ISO 14001 is the go-to standard for improving your organisation’s environmental management.

It gives a clear structure to:

1. Identify and manage their environmental impact
2. Continually improve environmental performance 
3. Take a systematic approach to setting and achieving goals

ISO 14064: Measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions

ISO 14064 is a key standard that helps organisations tackle climate change.
This offers a framework for:

• calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals;
• building company-wide GHG inventories;
• managing and reporting on GHG-focused projects.‍

‍By following this standard, businesses can:

• accurately measure their carbon footprint;
• set realistic emission reduction targets;
• report their progress transparently, which stakeholders and regulators increasingly demand.
  

ISO 14064 also boosts the credibility of climate reporting, especially when aligning with initiatives like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Want to know how ISO 14064 fits into the world of carbon accounting? Find out in our article: Main carbon accounting standards in 2025.

ISO 50001: Managing energy use

ISO 50001 focuses specifically on energy management.
It helps organisations:

• track how and where they consume energy;
• identify areas with high energy use;
• take practical steps to use energy more efficiently and reduce.

What impact can this have? With ISO 50001, some companies have cut energy costs by as much as 30%, showing that energy savings go hand in hand with financial ones.

ISO 26000: Social responsibility

ISO 26000 guides companies on how to turn social responsibility into action.
It helps you:

• understand what social responsibility means in practice;
• move from good intentions to tangible actions;
• learn and share best practices relating to social responsibility.

It covers key topics like human rights, working conditions, and community involvement, and leans heavily into the social side of ESG.

ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety

ISO 45001 is all about creating safer workplaces.
It supports businesses:

• identify workplace hazards;
• implement strong safety controls;
• foster a culture where safety is a shared priority.

Companies with ISO 45001 certification have reported a 22% reduction in workplace incidents over five years.

ISO 37301: Compliance management systems

ISO 37301 helps businesses stay compliant and ethical.
It helps you:

• understand and follow the relevant laws and regulations for your operations;
• build a workplace culture that values compliance;
• be proactive with managing ethical and regulatory risks.

With ESG scrutiny intensifying, ISO 37301 provides the framework to ensure your business abides by the law.

Other relevant ISO standards for ESG

While the standards above cover most of ISO's ESG-related frameworks, there are a few others that can help support your ESG goals:

ISO continually updates existing standards and introduces new ones to respond to emerging ESG issues.

For example, the recently released IWA 48:2024 provides principles for ESG implementation, and ISO 53001 is being developed to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

How to choose the right standards for your ESG strategy

Selecting the right ISO standards for your ESG strategy: 

1. Focus on your top ESG priorities. Is energy use, environmental impact, or social responsibility your main concern?
   
2. Factor in industry-specific requirements and regulations.
   
3. Consider what matters most to your stakeholders; be it investors, employees, or customers.
   
4. Don’t try to do it all at once. Start where the need is greatest, then build out from there.
   
5. Bring in an expert if needed. Working with someone who understands both ISO and ESG can make the process much smoother.
   
   

How ISO standards complement other ESG frameworks

ISO standards play well with other ESG frameworks. Instead of replacing one with the other, you can use them side-by side for better results.

Here’s how ISO supports some of the most used frameworks:

• GRI (Global Reporting Initiative):
  ISO standards can help you gather the data needed for GRI reporting.
  
• CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive):
  ISO standards can help you build the processes to meet reporting requirements.
  
• SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals):
  ISO standards can be your roadmap to achieving these global objectives.

As ESG requirements grow, ISO standards remain a stable foundation to help you meet them.

Best practices to benefit from the guidance of sustainability-related ISO

To make the most of ISO standards in your ESG strategy:

1. Make sure leadership is on board. ISO and ESG must be company-wide efforts, driven from the top.
   
2. Weave ISO standards into your daily operations, don’t treat them as side tasks.
   
3. Train your team so everyone knows what’s expected of them.
   
4. Measure and celebrate progress. Track improvements and recognise milestones to keep motivation high.
   
5. Keep growing. ISO frameworks are built for continuous improvement, not just a once-off achievement.
   
6. Be open about your ESG journey. Sharing progress, good or bad, builds trust with stakeholders. 

The future of ISO standards in ESG

ISO is always evolving to keep up with sustainability needs.

Here are a few updates to watch:

Overcoming common ISO implementation challenges 

Rolling out ISO standards can be challenging. Here’s how to handle the most common hurdles: 

1. Limited resources: Applying ISO standards can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Start with the most impactful standards and work your way down.
   
2. Complexity: Some standards take time to unpack. Making use of external experts, like Plan A, can help simplify the process for carbon reporting.
   
3. Resistance to change: Employees might resist new processes or procedures. You can combat this by sharing the standards' benefits and how they support company goals.
   
4. Too much data: Invest in tools to help track, analyse, and report ESG data more effectively.
   
5. Losing momentum: After initial implementation, it's easy to lose focus. Weave ISO standards into business strategy to avoid this and schedule regular check-ins.

ISO standards and ESG are two sides of the same coin regarding corporate sustainability. ESG helps define what matters, from environmental performance to social impact and governance. ISO, meanwhile, offers the practical tools to put those ambitions into action.

Adopting ISO standards allows companies to:

1. Build a stronger, more credible ESG strategy.
2. Make real improvements to their environmental and social impact.
3. Strengthen governance and compliance.
4. Operate more efficiently while reducing costs.
5. Stay aligned with growing stakeholder expectations.

In a world where responsible business is becoming the standard, ISO helps turn sustainability from a challenge into a competitive advantage.

Wondering how to make the process easier? Plan A is a carbon management platform, led by leading experts that can help you on your way. Book a free call to get started.