EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
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Sustainability law
We understand the principles of doing business in a dynamically changing world, where sustainability and ESG are not only a matter of good practice, but – above all – the subject of binding regulations.
A few decades ago, it was believed that environmental protection and development cannot go hand in hand, and economic activity must inevitably lead to the exploitation of natural resources. Today we are dealing with a radical change in the perception of sustainability, decarbonization, corporate governance and ESG. Companies find themselves in a new reality in which growth and business development must take place along with acting for the benefit of society and protecting natural resources. In response to growing regulatory and public image requirements, environmental, social and corporate governance issues have become part of the strategy of enterprises, as well as a determinant of development of opportunities and obtaining finances.
Companies that ignore social, environmental or corporate responsibility may face regulatory penalties, rejection by consumers looking for sustainable brands, and difficulties in obtaining financing for their operations.
At EY, we believe that sustainability policies and regulations should be the starting point for any discussion on the role of sustainability in business strategy, as each strategy must fall within applicable legal standards. As a minimum, a sustainability strategy should be designed to comply with existing and future legal obligations, and once these conditions are met, the company or organization can decide whether it wants to go a step further in terms of increasing ambition or accelerating the achievement of the objectives set out by law. In such a situation, we help to identify voluntary standards and good practices supporting sustainability goals tailored to the client’s business profile.
What is sustainability and ESG (Environmental,
Social and Governance)?
Sustainability can be defined as a development in which
companies and other organizations take responsibility for
the impact on their externalities in the environmental,
social and corporate areas. ESG, on the other hand, is how
entities manage these issues and incorporate them into all
their business activities. The European Green Deal is a
leading example of a comprehensive growth strategy based
on the principles of sustainability and ESG.
Our professional legal advice allows the companies and organizations to obtain the necessary support in adapting to current or future policies and regulations regarding sustainability and ESG. Moreover, thanks to our advice, clients will also be able to assess the benefits for their business in terms of building long-term goals and values based on voluntary standards and good practices of green transformation. They will also be able to manage the risk associated with functioning in the current business and regulatory landscape, where failure to take into account the principles of sustainability may be costly and detrimental to the public image.
In addition, our Green Deal Center of Excellence offers legal advice on policies and regulations stemming from the European Green Deal. The main goal of the Center is to prepare clients for the upcoming implementation of the European Climate Law into national law, which will ensure that EU political declarations on the decarbonisation transformation will evolve into binding laws and will set the framework for all EU regulations in this field for the next 30 years.
Legal and business impact analysis services:
Our strenghts
Individual approach to the client
We analyse the individual exposure, risks and capabilities of each company taking into account current and future policies, regulations or standards for sustainability and ESG and offer strategic legal and regulatory advice to help clients navigate ever-changing policies and regulations.
Knowledge of sustainability regulations and trends
The first step in developing a sustainability strategy is to understand the current legal framework and upcoming legislative changes, but also changes in policies and business trends. Our holistic approach and knowledge of the wider context allows us to design internal compliance procedures based not only on identified regulatory obligations to mitigate legal risks to the organization, but also to build long-term value based on good practices and trends.
Support in business transformation based on sustainable development and ESG guidelines
Identifying regulatory requirements or sustainability standards usually means that companies will have to restructure both their organizational structures to incorporate ESG into corporate governance, as well as commercial agreements with sellers and suppliers by including sustainability clauses, or will need to modify supply chain management. We accompany our clients at each of these stages, supporting them during the implementation of new solutions.
Adapting the sustainability strategy to the specific industry and client’s situation
When assessing sustainability from the perspective of different industries, we see that in different sectors there are different areas on which sustainability is focused. We have experience in implementing ESG strategies for industrial clients, oil and gas companies, food companies, agriculture, telecommunications, technology or even beauty sector industry.
EY sustainability and ESG secondment service for your business
Companies need to intensify their efforts and create systems that ensure compliance with sustainability regulations in order to avoid business risk. In a situation where a company needs to implement sustainability changes faster than is able to restructure its work organization, hire or train employees, we offer the support of a dedicated EY specialist for sustainable development and ESG, who at the stage of implementing new procedures or permanently can perform the duties of the director of sustainable development.
EY has been recognized as a leader in sustainability consulting services by Verdantix
EY is one of 15 sustainability services companies that have been evaluated and placed in the Verdantix quadrant and ranked #1 ahead of all bidders in terms of dynamics and capabilities. EY ranks ahead of PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey and Accenture. EY ranks highest in ESG /sustainability strategy and performance management programs and is also in the top three when it comes to climate change strategy and risk management.
EY’s European Green Deal Center of Excellence
Because the European Green Deal is not a monolithic concept, the traditional lines between energy, finance, corporate governance and environment fade, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Our Center of Excellence is a focal point of contact around the EGD measures and offers a full suite of solutions that can help clients navigate their regulatory complexities.
Our strength lies in many years of experience in the global market
We combine years of experience of attorneys-at-law and advocates with knowledge of the business areas of our customers, thanks to which we increase the efficiency of their activities, while reducing the costs of their operations.
Our legal advisory services regarding issues related to the transition to sustainable development concerns three areas: sustainability law and ESG, energy law and environmental law. In addition, we have a specialized European Green Deal Center of Excellence which advises on the regulations and policies of this largest legislative initiative in the European Union on sustainability and ESG.
The EY Regulatory Advisory Team combines knowledge of law, economics and technical and environmental aspects, which allows us to create the best solutions in the field of industry, energy, environmental protection, international trade and sustainability.
Our activities focus on both domestic and EU issues and have an impact on the business environment of the largest Polish and foreign companies .
We make business work for sustainability, and sustainability work for business.