Photo from Getty Images
Originally Posted On: https://dankbudz.com/blog/esg-cannabis-industry/
Cannabis companies are devoting more time and resources to ESG. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are set out by companies to hold themselves more accountable for their actions, from production practices to climate change initiatives. It is important for companies to prioritize ESG because it can protect them from reputational harms in the public eye, demonstrate a commitment to the environment, and attract new investors who prioritize ethical business.
Canna companies that focus on ESG often have improved operating performances and better risk management outcomes than those who don’t prioritize these principles. By emphasizing ESG activity within their operations, companies have the opportunity to create change while maintaining positive financial results. The cannabis industry is starting to pay more attention to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors. Here’s how these issues are affecting the industry, and what business owners can do to stay ahead of the curve.
It’s finally a cannabis-friendly era. The cannabis industry is something to marvel over; its rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the past decade, we’ve seen it slowly but steadily gain traction in the market and solidify itself as a legitimate business for investors worldwide. With nearly two dozen states legalizing marijuana for recreation, there’s no doubt the cannabis industry is doing well.
Of course, the actual products have also launched us into a new age of care within plant-based medicines, bringing more natural and health-forward treatments to patients all across the country. It’s exciting that what was once seen as an illicit substance has become an official commodity in so many places around the world.
Cannabis and ESG Concerns
The tech industry is undeniably booming, with sales and profits increasing year after year. But along with its success comes the need to take responsibility for its environmental and social impact. Issues such as e-waste, air pollution, unethical labor practices and data insecurity keep popping up in headlines, showing that the industry is not immune to or disconnected from the consequences of its growth.
Increasingly, firms are seeking sustainable solutions to better balance out their positive contributions with these potential risks. Change will take time, but if we all work together towards a greener future for tech, there’s no limit to what can be achieved!
ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance)
ESG has been a really important focus in the cannabis industry in recent years, as more and more investors place a premium on ethical investments. After all, it’s not only about the potential growth of profits – it’s also about making sure that companies are being socially responsible, treating workers fairly and adjusting their environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or adopting sustainable manufacturing practices.
Financiers want to invest their money with assurance that the firms they back adhere to the highest standards of transparency and sustainability. ESG criteria provide an objective way for investors to measure long-term performance and make informed choices about how best to support innovation in this rapidly expanding field.
Benefits of a Good ESG Score
In today’s world, investors and consumers alike desire socially responsible investments that fulfill their expectations for sustainable and ethical growth. Having a strong ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) score is integral to ensuring your business can meet those expectations. By focusing on the processes driving your organization forward, a strong ESG score can encourage further trust from stakeholders while actively reducing the negative impacts of production.
Moreover, it provides economic advantages to organizations due to more efficient operations, improved customer satisfaction, better retention rates with employees, as well as increases in financial results. With numerous benefits associated with a high ESG score, it is essential for any business to prioritize these initiatives and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
How Cannabis Can Address ESG
Companies across the globe are increasingly looking to align their operations and policies with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards as part of their larger sustainability strategy.
Photo from Getty Images
ESG ratings act as a measure of how well a company is performing in these areas, and as businesses work to stay competitive, many are looking for ways to boost their ESG score.
Some of the strategies companies have implemented include:
Purchasing Green Energy for Operations
There are a lot of reasons businesses might choose to go green and purchase renewable energy. Some companies do it to save money on their electric bills, while others want to reduce their environmental impact. Whatever the reason, more and more businesses are making the switch to renewables every day. Advocates and regulators of the green movement constantly think of what motivates cannabis businesses to buy green energy.
Restructuring Supply Chains for Compliance
As companies strive to become more socially responsible, the structure of their supply chains has come under scrutiny. Many experts agree that in order to ensure compliance with social responsibility standards, supply chains need to be restructured. Cannabis entrepreneurs can explore ways to restructure their supply chains to improve social responsibility compliance.
Introducing Green Packaging
Green packaging is becoming more prevalent and there are a number of ways that businesses can get creative with packaging. One common way to use green packaging is to use recycled materials. This can include using recycled paper for boxes and bags, or using recycled plastic for bottles and containers.
Biodegradable materials offers another way to go green since these materials will break down over time. So, they won’t harm the environment when they are disposed of. Finally, you can also choose eco-friendly printing methods such as soy ink or water-based inks.
Implementing Corporate Governance
In the wake of several high-profile corporate scandals, many investors have become more interested in the role that robust corporate governance structures can play in mitigating risk.
While no system can completely prevent wrongdoing by employees or executives, a well-designed governance framework can help to ensure that such incidents are less likely to occur and that they are more quickly identified and addressed if they do happen.
Challenges to Improving ESG Scores
Companies everywhere are quickly realizing the importance of ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance in order to stay competitive. From investors and shareholders to the general public, people expect corporations to not only meet their economic obligations but also strive for higher ethical standards. The challenge then lies in meeting these expectations while still maintaining profitability.
Companies must master responsible natural resource management, use sustainable production methods and pursue diversity initiatives in order to increase their ESG scores. Some of these strategies can add significant costs, so it is essential for companies to factor those potential expenses into their budget planning process.
Beyond financial concerns, there can be cultural resistance within certain workforces that need to be actively addressed if a truly positive impact is going to be made on a company’s ESG metrics. It takes a lot of effort and resources for companies to make this transition, but the long term prosperity that results from improved ESG scores makes it a worthwhile journey.
Investors Use ESG Data for Decisions
As investors become increasingly aware of their power to make an impact beyond financial return, they are turning to ESG data to inform where they put their money. As evidence continues to build highlighting the long-term benefits of investing in companies focused on green energy and sustainability initiatives, savvy investors see this type of value-based investing as a way to bring about meaningful change. For example, many individuals invest in tech giants leading the way towards reducing global emissions and emission trading opportunities.
By consulting easily accessible ESG scores and ratings, investors seek out organizations with strong environmental policies that reduce global pollution and wasteful practices. Furthermore, investors are recognizing how organizations committed to socially responsible business practices foster an atmosphere of trust between the company and its stakeholders. With access to more comprehensive reporting processes than ever before, it’s no wonder that investors have been turning to ESG data time and time again to help them make decisions about where to allocate their investments.
Photo from Getty Images
Cannabis Will Continue to Focus on ESG
Recent trends in cannabis industry investing appears to indicate that ESG factors are playing an increasingly large role. Major companies in the space have taken the lead to strengthen their corporate social responsibility and environmental impact efforts, while other firms continue to implement forward-looking initiatives such as transparency and communication across their supply chain networks.
These moves demonstrate a clear recognition of just how essential addressing ESG issues is becoming, with innovative strategies being developed throughout the sector which promise to help shape our understanding of what sustainable business practices look like moving forward. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, so too will the focus on ESG factors – it’s something that all companies need to be aware of moving forward. Keep coming back to Dank Budz for the latest news on cannabis culture as well as tips related to products and use.
