Environmental, social, and corporate governance, or ESG for short, is a way for big companies to make sure they are doing good things for the planet, the people who work for them, and the communities where they do business.
Imagine you have a lemonade stand. If you only care about making money and don't care if you are using a lot of water to make your lemonade or if the cups you use can't be recycled, then you are not doing good things for the environment. If you don't treat your friends who help you at the lemonade stand fairly or don't give back to your community by donating some of your profits to a good cause, then you are not doing good things for the people and the community around you.
Big companies are like your lemonade stand, but much bigger. They can have thousands of employees and many factories or stores all over the world. They need to make sure that they are doing good things for the planet, the people who work for them, and the communities where they do business. This is where ESG comes in.
Environmental means doing good things for the planet. This includes things like reducing the amount of energy they use or the amount of waste they create. They might also try to use materials that are better for the environment or try to protect things like forests and wildlife.
Social means doing good things for the people who work for the company and the communities where they do business. This includes things like paying fair wages, treating workers with respect, and making sure everyone is treated equally. They might also give back to their communities by donating money or volunteering.
Corporate governance means making sure the company is run well, with good leadership and decisions. This includes things like having ethical standards, following laws and regulations, and being transparent about how the company is doing and what it is doing to be better.
When companies focus on ESG, they are trying to be good citizens, not just good businesses. By doing things that are good for the environment, the people who work for them, and the communities where they do business, they can help make the world a better place for everyone.