Hi Reader, I was looking at some of the data we've compiled in the JSE ESG dataset, which reveals an interesting dynamic of how the same data point can tell two different stories. But first, in case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago we launched an African-centric full-coverage ESG dataset with close to 25,000 disclosures, three years of history and a benchmark layer with the JSE, available now on the JSE Market Data MarketPlace. And we have a webinar coming up next week to showcase the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I'm a little embarrassed. For many of you this is the first time a newsletter has arrived from me in close to a year. I've broken all the rules of what the content gurus say about consistency, and I'll unashamedly put the blame at the door of busy-ness. It's been a wild 2026 so far and we've been building some really interesting stuff with some even-more-interesting clients and partners. So I'll be sharing some fortnightly reflections on those builds, with some information about...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A CSO at a major private-equity fund said something that won’t leave me: “My pet complaint is the ‘ESG score’ investors sometimes ask for. There is no single organisation that calculates a Fund’s ESG score, but several, using different methodologies. And to my knowledge no recognised international body that vets these things. Very irritating, I just leave the question blank on surveys.” It’s blunt, but fair and it mirrors what we see across Southern Africa every week. Just...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, For the final newsie of September I would like to reflect on how our assumptions about ESG/sustainability maturity can constrain us, and offer up a framework that doesn't frame it as a ladder - something only big businesses with big budgets can climb. The ladder framing is misleading. In reality, the ESG journey is about mindset, intention, and how ESG connects to your business model. I’ve seen early-stage companies blaze trails because sustainability is part of their DNA, while...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Would you agree that ESG journeys often begin the wrong way around? A company is measured against disclosure frameworks, reporting standards, and international benchmarks before anyone has taken the time to really understand the business itself. I’ve seen the frustration that comes with this “outside-in” approach. One company told me they’d had three different consultants line them up against various frameworks, but not one had asked the basic question: what’s already working here?...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, It’s tempting to frame ESG and sustainability as an external pressure -something driven by customers, regulators, or investors. But what if the more powerful entry point is internal? What if ESG maturity begins not with the outside-in, but with the simple lens of business continuity? I was reminded of this in a recent conversation with a client (hat tip to them) who framed their ESG journey around operational resilience rather than compliance. Their starting point wasn’t reporting...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, There’s a moment that creeps up quietly in many businesses: a supplier questionnaire lands in your inbox from a large customer, and suddenly, your team is in scramble mode. You’ve got a tight deadline, pages of ESG questions, and an internal scramble to figure out what counts, what doesn’t, and what you even have to show. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. What we’re seeing across sectors in Africa is an unmistakable trend: outside-in ESG pressure is increasing. Large...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Reading through the latest Alexforbes Sustainability Reporting Sentiment Survey (link here), I found myself conflicted. On the surface, it paints a promising picture: 70.5% of participants support mandatory sustainability reporting 42.2% support double materiality Most want alignment with global frameworks like and ISSB, but tailored to SA’s local context But here’s what’s bothering me: that’s not what I’m hearing on the ground. Across conversations with ESG leads, CFOs, and even...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Are you treating ESG and sustainability in your supply chain as a scorecard… or a stepping stone? I'm finding that more procurement, sustainability, and transformation leaders are recognising that ESG assessments alone aren’t moving the needle. We gather the data, flag the risks, maybe even knock a few suppliers off the list - but has anything really changed? Here’s the question I keep coming back to: what if supplier ESG wasn’t just about assessment, but about enablement? Instead...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read